Founder, Nanyang Tech & Co-found, The Watch Club Asia, Oh Kwang Leong
Founder, Nanyang Tech & Co-found, The Watch Club Asia, Oh Kwang Leong (Photo: Veronica Tay)

A Good Year

“The year 2008 was a big one for me. In that year, I opened my first brick-and-mortar computer retail store, earned my degree, got married and had my first son. After seven years of secondary school, it meant a lot to me to graduate with my IT degree and catch up with my peers. I told myself that I should get a watch to commemorate all these events. I bought the 36mm Rolex Datejust in steel and white gold with a black dial and diamond hour markers.”

Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tadao Ando Limited Edition in ceramic
“Understated” – Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tadao Ando Limited Edition in ceramic. (Photo: Veronica Tay)

A Quiet Statement

“Watches I like fall into three categories: low-key ones I can wear overseas without worrying about them being stolen, sporty ones, and elegant watches for events. Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tadao Ando (pictured) fits into the first category. I had been thinking about getting something more unusual in recent years, and this watch appealed to me because it has a very clean, Zen-like dial. Also, its case is made of black ceramic, making it scratch-resistant and wearable anywhere.”

Related: Bulgari marks 10 years of the Octo with the world’s thinnest mechanical watch

M.A.D.1 Red in steel
“Fun” – M.A.D.1 Red in steel. (Photo: Veronica Tay)

Giving Back

“Giving back to the community is important to me. When the M.A.D.1 Pink Dial Project watch by MB&F founder Maximilian Busser was announced, I wanted to get it for my wife because the proceeds from its auction went towards fighting breast cancer. I was prepared to pay up to US$80,000 (S$113,735) for it [editor’s note: the retail price of the current, production M.A.D.1 model is around US$2,900] but I didn’t get it because it eventually auctioned for US$172,000. What surprised me was that Max Busser subsequently reached out to me on social media to thank me for bidding and offered me the chance to buy the M.A.D.1 Red (pictured). Of course, I bought it.”

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sky- Dweller in steel and white gold
“Versatile” – Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sky- Dweller in steel and white gold. (Photo: Veronica Tay)

Related: Rolex watches every successful man should own before 40

Crowning Glory

“After all these years, Rolex is still my favourite brand and one of my favourite models is the Sky-Dweller (pictured), which has an annual calendar and a GMT function. It is Rolex’s most complicated watch. Since the Sky-Dweller was launched in 2012, it doesn’t have a long history. I have three versions. The fact that I bought them from the beginning appeals to me. Twenty years from now, I will feel like I was part of the Sky-Dweller’s history when I look at them.”

Patek Philippe Aquanaut Ref. 5164A-001 in steel
“Sporty” – Patek Philippe Aquanaut Ref. 5164A-001 in steel. (Photo: Veronica Tay)

Better Together

“Together with four friends who are also into watches, I started The Watch Club Asia in February 2019. We formed this group because we are passionate about watches, and we want to educate our members about watches, their movements, and their history. The best thing about being part of TWCA is organising events for our members, such as Chopard’s recent watchmaking class. Money can’t buy these experiences.”

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