Tell us about the rest of the watches.

Here is a Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse Ref. 3987 with a white porcelain dial—it’s a dress watch with a distinctive oval face. As you can tell by now, I am fond of vintage styles. When I wear clothing in the 1950s and 1960s style, this watch is the perfect complement. 

The next watch is a Rolex 4108 Cellini Exotic Wood from 1974 in a rectangular shape with rounded edges. I collect various shapes, including square, octagonal, and oval. My goal is to acquire them all. This watch is relatively affordable as the price hasn't increased much over time. With the growing interest in vintage watches among collectors, that may soon change.

The last one is a Rolex Datejust 1601 with a “tiger eye” stone dial and a Jubilee bracelet from 1975. The strap looks beautiful on the wrist. As a child, I often saw my parents wearing straps like this; they were very popular back then, and I had always wanted one for myself. 

In case you missed it: What makes a Rolex timepiece... a ‘Rolex’?

Among the five, which is your favourite?

The Rolex with the black onyx dial. It is unique with a President bracelet with gold links resembling bamboos. I’ve wanted this watch for a long time and it took me a while to find one that was in good condition—the stone dial is very fragile. I ended up going abroad to buy it. 

What got you started on collecting vintage watches? 

As a child, I observed adults enjoying purchasing watches when they travelled abroad. I didn’t understand why buying a watch was considered an investment, given its high cost. Why didn't people invest in something else that guaranteed returns? Now I understand that it’s about passion. For me, however, it's a matter of curiosity. 

During the pandemic, I wondered about the watch market, so I did some research. I stumbled upon a Rolex onyx and I found it incredibly beautiful. But I thought it was a bit too expensive, and I didn’t have the chance to see it in person yet. So, I started with something simpler—a Cartier Tank. It’s been a slippery slope since.

It’s a passion that is very difficult to explain but I know I will never tire of it. When people talk to me about watches, many discuss trading them. But I don’t want to trade.

If you had an extra 25th hour in a day, what would you use that for?

I think it would depend on the situation on that particular day. The key is prioritisation. Everyone has the same amount of time; it's how we manage it that sets us apart. The value of one hour is dependent on what is important at that moment.

For instance, when my flight was delayed for an hour, causing me to miss my grandmother’s cremation ceremony, that hour became incredibly valuable to me. That one hour held immense significance on that particular day.

What is your philosophy on time?

I believe that time itself doesn't necessarily make everything better but it does offer us opportunities to improve situations. Time grants us opportunities but it's up to us to take action on these opportunities to succeed.

Originally appearing in Thai, this article was translated into English by Tulip Naksompop.

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