Talking Time: Watch collector Eric Chua has an eye for proportion

Counting up

“My dad bought me my first serious watch for my 21st birthday in 2000. He asked me to choose one, and I opted for the Breitling Chronomat Longitude GMT. I liked that it wasn’t a common watch, and had chronograph and GMT functions. When I was 28, I was made a partner at the architectural visualisation firm I was working at, and I marked the occasion by getting myself a Rolex Daytona.”

(Related: Talking Time: This collector bought two De Bethune watches within a week)

On the move

“I like watches with complications. The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time Ref. 5164 (pictured) was the first watch in the Aquanaut range to have a complication. I used to travel quite a bit for my various businesses, so I got it because of the dual- time function and a day/night indicator. I would wear the watch for business meetings while overseas, but I would limit where I wore it for safety’s sake, even though many people probably don't recognise the watch.”

(Related: Shaun Djie is a collector of classics across eras)

Suits him

“The A. Lange & Sohne Saxonia Moon Phase (pictured) was my first dress watch and my first watch in rose gold. Around that time, I had gone into a suit business, and was wearing suits every day, so I thought a dress watch would be appropriate. I was at a mall for lunch when I passed a retail shop and saw the Saxonia Moon Phase. I went in, checked it out, and bought it in five minutes. Lunch that day was quite expensive. (Laughs.)”

A visual art

“I studied architecture, and I’m very visual, so aesthetics are important to me. When selecting a watch, I consider its proportion, composition, and functions. As my watch journey evolved, I began to appreciate the 'less is more' concept. That’s how I got into H. Moser & Cie. in 2020. I still like complications, and I appreciate how the brand maintains its minimalist style even with complex pieces like the Streamliner Flyback Chronograph (pictured).”

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Second time round

“When purchasing a watch, fate can play a role. When the H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Centre Seconds with a Matrix Green smoked dial came out at the end of 2020, it was hard to get because of the high demand. In January 2021, I saw one at a pre-owned watch shop, and I tried countering with a lower price, but I didn’t succeed. When I went back a month later, it was gone. In November, a private collector listed the same model online, so I went to view it. By looking at the serial number, I realised it was the same watch. I ended up buying it this time, and I paid a couple thousand dollars more than the previous asking price.” (Laughs.)