My Journey as a Watch Collector

It started innocently enough back in 2010 when I purchased a Seiko 5 sports watch in Medinah, Saudi Arabia. The reason I bought the watch was because of the exposure on watches that I got from one of my colleagues in office. He was a watch enthusiast.

I was still an ‘infant’ when it came to the hobby and instead of going full tilt on a premium brand, I started small. Even then I knew that Seiko, especially the ‘5’ series were the best entry-level watches to get. 

It wasn’t long before the first purchase became a flood of purchases. Not only did I purchase directly from authorized dealers, also from online merchants. The watch hobby has in fact introduced me to the world of internet shopping. 

Also, I decided on getting new instead of pre-loved watches. I prefer to be the first owner of a watch. To confirm that I don’t have the same passion for pre-loved or vintage watches, I bought a few. Although this batch of pre-loved watches was a fair mixture of high-end and low-end brands, I still did not exhibit the same level of love to them as I do to new watches.

The biggest thing this hobby has done to change my life is the interest in blogging. It is no longer just reading and acquiring the watches but to share what I know to the world. I currently have three blogs. On social media I have created one Facebook Page, a Twitter account, as well as an Instagram account.

It is this part of the hobby, the social media and blogging, which started to make money for me. 

I was ‘discovered’ by an international watch review website and was taken in as a contributing editor. Articles about watches I wrote are uploaded to the website for a token fee. Passive income is also generated via advertisements on the blogs.

The genre of watches I am interested in is mostly sports related. Dive watches are my favorite. Next are military style watches and then pilot watches.

Most of my watches are mechanical powered. There are a few quartz powered timepieces in the collection. Pure battery powered, mechanical and rechargeable battery powered as well as solar and rechargeable battery powered are examples of the quartz technologies I collect. 

I keep my watches standard. Many other collectors tend to swap bracelets and straps with after-market options. I feel it is important to keep a watch in its original state. This helps preserve the authenticity and completeness of a watch for collectors.

To be continued.

Movement makers historically affiliated to ETA

For all watchnerds: An old list of movement makers historically affiliated to ETA.

Interesting short-cut to charging your Seiko Kinetic watches using Braun's toothbrush induction charger

Sometimes thinking like a "MacGyver" solves a lot of thorny questions. One of such questions is this; "Can one charge the capacitor on a Seiko Kinetic watch by induction?"

The answer is YES. Below is the cheap hack you can use.

A basic Braun toothbrush induction charger

Ways to place the watch to catch the maximum magnetic resonance

If your watch is completely drained, within a few minutes it should start moving. After a few hours your watch should have sufficient energy to power it for about a few day to a week.

The 6th Malaysia Watch Forum Annual GTG at Istana Hotel Kuala Lumpur

On Saturday 17 January 2015, the members of the Malaysia Watch Forum Annual (or MWF) organised its 6th annual get-together (or GTG) at Istana Hotel Kuala Lumpur. Members from all over Malaysia converged to talk watch and to "show-and-tell" their respective collections.

A buffet dinner with 37 attendees. On my table, we put our watches on display.

The customary table display of all the watches present on that night. We cleared a table and started to arrange the watches nicely on it.

The participants are getting excited to see the end result of that night's table shot.

More and more watches were put on the table.

Camera time.

A very short video to show you the ambiance on that night.

Here is the AP gang.

The BR gang.

The Seikos.

The IWCs.

A four wrist-ed shot.

More IWC.

Some PAMs.

A JLC.

A Chopard.

Group shot. The 2 ladies were the only two from the opposite sex.

A memento from Disneyworld - a Mickey Mouse automatic watch

Just got back from a very exciting holiday in Disneyworld, Florida (will be talking about it soon). As a memento of that visit, I got myself a Mickey Mouse automatic watch. It comes with a nice watch box.

The watch itself is fashioned like a sports watch. Big, bulky and manly looking. The best thing about it is the skeleton dial (which allows you to see in the innards) and the subtle mickey mouse icon on it.

For more about it, visit the review here:

Disney Parks Authentics Gears Link Mickey Mouse Watch Automatic - It is practical, robust and looks really good on the wrist, A Review 

 

 

Got a new watch box

Had to get another watch box to keep my growing watch collection in a proper place. Bought this piece from one of of my FB friends for RM160 (all in). The package came well wrapped.

Nice walnut wood base...

...able to keep 12 watches in elegance.

Attended a Jaeger-LeCoultre (JLC) Masterclass on engraving in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

Recently, during the Swiss Watch Gallery exhibition in the Center Court of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, I was invited to attend a masterclass on engraving by Jaeger-LeCoultre (or JLC). This invitation only event, allows participants to learn how to engrave by a master engraver from JLC.

Close to the anointed hour, I was already at the Center Court waiting for the class to begin. A small class of just 7 participants.

While waiting, I walked around the exhibition looking at the various watch brands on show. Took a selfie to pass the time.

The lecturer was a master craftsman called Miguel hailing from Switzerland. Unfortunately, he was not able to speak English hence the need for a French translator to be present.

When we entered the room, it was like a workshop with high tables and chairs. We were then asked to don lab coats. To start the class, the lecturer started with a history of engraving in JLC.

On the trays are some examples of engraving that JLC's master craftsmen are famous for. Note that all appear to be from the case-back of a Reverso.

After a brief history lesson, he proceeded to show us how to engrave with different techniques.

The various styles of engraving. Some uses paint, while some creates 3D images. One thing for sure, every piece is hand made.

To engrave require one to use a magnifying eyepiece to see the subject better.

After showing us how it is done and sharing some tips we were asked to go to our individual workstation to start on a simple project. The lady on the right is the translator.

 

My desk partner fully suited up. At this time we were quite nervous.

  

 

Stole a quick selfie of myself while waiting for the final instructions.

 

All of us were given this very sharp pick. This pick needs to be sharpen after 10 strikes on a target or else it would not be able to cut properly after that. After 5 strikes, you need to rub it against the pick paper to clean off any fine shavings that attached itself to the pick.

To hold it is like holding a pen with the round wooden handle being rested at the palm of your hands.

 

The project that we were tasked with is to replicate the JLC logo on a small block of steel. Actually, just a straight line to complete the logo. Sound simple but it took us 30 minutes to just complete the task and by then we were sweating profusely with the strain and stress (mentally as well as physically).

At the end, as a gift, JLC gave us this key chain were we can also mount our creation.

 

A happy boy....

 
That's not all, we all got a certificate for attending this course! Here is one of the participants receiving it from Miguel.

 

Here's mine!

A book on Graham Watch Company

While walking window shopping in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, I happened to enter a watch shop that carries the Graham watch brand. After talking to the sales representative, she was nice enough to give me a nice hardcover book on the history of the Graham watch Company for my reading pleasure.

Happy to receive it. Got something interesting to read in the evening!

My watch collection hobby

I have been collecting watches since 2010. In the last 4 years I have amassed a sizable collection. From sports watches to formal, from diver watches to pilot, new to vintage and many others in between. The hobby has been both rewarding in terms of knowledge and fun.



It is an expensive hobby. You need to be earning decent living before you can indulge in this hobby. Even then, if you get carried away, you can be spending a fortune!



The watches bought has value. However, it is very seldom you get an appreciation in value. Nevertheless, the used watch market is very lively and if you need to generate some cash, it is possible to do so. Expect a loss of 50%.

Watch enthusiast lunch meeting organised by Malaysia Watch Forum and F J Benjamin (M) Sdn Bhd - Bell and Ross

On 13 September 2014, Malaysia Watch Forum and and collaboration with F J Benjamin (M) Sdn Bhd, the authorised dealer for Bell & Ross watches organised a lunch meeting with watch enthusiast in Kuala Lumpur. The purpose of the event was to introduce the company and Bell & Ross watches. Information on the latest offerings was also made available to the guests.

The event was held in a restaurant in the Intermark Building that was completely booked for this private event. To make it more interesting, guests were encouraged to dress in camouflage military. 

Here you see the organisers preparing themselves before registration time.

Slightly more than 50 avid watch collectors turned up for the event. After a short mingling session, we all took our seat for lunch.

To make the event unique, the AD set aside a few B&R watches on trays for each table for guests to look and review.

The representative of MWF introducing the big boss of F J Benjamin (the one with the long hair) for the opening speech. It was a nice speech where he started introducing the company and the brand from historical perspective. He also mentioned about the new models that will be launched in the very near future. Although photos of the watches was shown to us, he did ask all of us to refrain from taking photos as it has not be officially launched yet.

More B&R to be molested while we eat.

Here, the boss of F J Benjaminwas giving us a briefing of the photos that were put on the wall. It is a timeline of the design changes from the initial ("00") right up to the "05"-th change that is happening now.

The food in the restaurant, "Beast by Big", was tasty. I ordered the burger and it tasted really good.

After the end of the meal and mingling session, the all-important customary table shot of all the watches (only B&R though) that were present at the event was made. The guy doing the arrangement was very artistic.

All the square case watches were put in a circle.

All the round and tonneau shaped watches were put in another circle. My BR02 was there as well.

Another shot of the main circle with the additional red radar watch placed in the centre.

Based purely on retail price, what you are seeing is approximately, RM300,000 worth of watches on the table.

The AD also put up a B&R wall clock which looks really cool. I am not sure whther it is something available for sale.

Arranging the various wall clocks makes a nice decorative wall.

For this event I wore my authentic flight suit with name tags. In fact, I won first price for the best dress guest!

Another selfie. Unfortunately, couldn't get the flash to work.

All this photos (apart from the first one) was taken using my iPhone. The first photo was taken by the organiser and forwarded by "Whatsapp" prior to the event. Once I get more photos from the other guests, I will put it up.