Watch collecting, in some ways, require some sort of philosophies for one to go the right way. One of the ways to acquire such philosophies is to talk with seasoned collectors who have been in this hobby for a long time. I was lucky enough to meet with Mark Chan, a seasoned and sophisticated collector, in his watch shop Jellybean Watches in Wanchai.
“Be true to yourself.”
It is one of the most important codes to observe when it comes to watch collecting. Trends can change easily and one could be influenced easily nowadays by social media as to what to collect next. One of the best ways to establish a solid collection is to know your watches in depth by digging into their history and stories. Watch collecting should not be a competition. It should be fun and knowledge-based. There are books to be read and homework to be done before making a purchase. It is so much about what you have learnt that when the opportunity is served, you can make the right buying or selling decision. Sharing and exchanging with others could be one of the best ways to get to know more and more of the watch world.
The Patek 3800 Nautilus is one of the pieces shown today at his shop. At one point Mark had all the 3800s in six metals in a 3800 exclusive display box which is, again, ultra rare. This 3800/1p is a mesmerizing piece in the sense that the platinum case has such a heft that complements so greatly with its soft ,but sharp, gradient blue dial. It is certainly not any Nautilus you will see casually anywhere. At 37mm, it is sized for any wrist and this size will only get more popular in the coming couple years as smaller watches are gaining momentum.
You may have seen a Rolex King Midas. But I bet you may not have seen two of different metals at the same time. Here they are: the King Midas in white gold and yellow gold. Maybe you have seen two of them together but I bet not many have seen the box for King Midas. It is not the watches only, sometimes, that are fun to collect. The accessories are part of the game as well. The King Midas is definitely one of the hottest watches on the market now as watches with unique design and integrated bracelets are coming back thanks partly to the release of the new Piaget Polo. Interestingly, the white gold King Midas weighs more than a platinum PP3800. Solid Rolex in the old days!
Cartier is an interesting brand that blends jewelry with watchmaking perfectly. You can probably think of no other brands that can produce so many significant watches in different shapes. The Tank, Santos, Americaine, Cloche, Normale, you name it. This Normale in white gold features a 24 hour skeleton dial that blends the sun and the moon at 12 and 6’o clock perfectly with the gears. You just can’t beat Cartier when it comes to genius design and aesthetics.