In this collector’s feature, Stanley celebrates his birthday this week and it’s also been 6 months since he started as a writer at Deployant. We decided to invite him to share his passion for watchmaking and his collection.
Collector’s Opinion: Stanley Leung speaks of his love for meaningful watches
1. How did you get into watches? When was that?
I started getting into watches when I was 13 years old when my mother bought me my very first Swiss watch, the Tag Heuer Formula One. It was a gift to me when she made money from her stock portfolio that I monitored.
From then on, it is a relationship and bond (no pun intended) that I have formed with watches and the world of finance. At the age of 18, I was given my late father’s gold Rolex Cellini (a family heirloom), which sent me even deeper down the rabbit hole. After graduating from the University of Western Australia, my godparents gave me a Ferrari Granturismo powered by the ETA 2824.
When I was 22, I decided to delve into the world of banking, just like my friend Quiet Chua, the natural inclination towards the world of watchmaking really begins. It was the only “tool” I had in meetings that kept me on time just by glancing at it (without being rude by pulling out my phone), and it’s also a beautiful piece of jewelry that a man should have character to express one’s personality.
Based on all the above experiences, I believe that at every milestone and phase of my life, I resolved that I would get a watch as a reminder of it. After receiving watches during the most important milestones of my life, I decided to pay it forward by buying watches for the people I care about as gifts that could last forever if you know how to care for them.
2. Can you briefly introduce us to your favorite pieces from your collection?
Currently I have about 17 watches in my collection including Rolex, Tudor, IWC, G-Shock, Kurono Tokyo, etc. To be honest, some of them were forgotten until I started writing this article and I definitely hope that I am you don’t miss any. Each piece is carefully curated as they all mean something, a specific milestone or memory. To this day, I can proudly say that I am a collector who has never sold any pieces. Each piece is a favorite at that particular stage of life, so this is a very difficult question. In my current phase of life, in addition to the unforgettable milestone pieces, it is the complications or lack thereof that attract me.
At the top of my list right now is my favorite watch of all, my Rolex Submariner Ref. 124060, which was assigned to me by Kee Hing Hungs Max. In this article I will go into more detail about why the Rolex Submariner has now become my favorite piece.
The second watch on the list is my very precious yellow gold Rolex Cellini, which still has the original box, papers and bracelet. This watch belonged to my late father and is a watch that I treasure.
This particular clock is something through which I remember my late father, a memory and a physical item that I hold very dearly, since I lost my father when I was in kindergarten there weren’t many memories to hold on to I could hold on. When I wear his watch on my wrist on important occasions, I feel like he is still with me, and every time I take the watch out of the safe, I miss him very much. I rarely wear the watch after sending it to the Rolex Service Center for full service because I am afraid of losing it and fear that it will be damaged due to my negligence. The Rolex Cellini is my most important piece, despite all the pieces that exist now and will be added in the future. To complement this clock, there is a similar piece, but with smaller dimensions, that is owned by my mother. All of the above factors make this watch the most valuable watch in my collection.
The third watch that is on my favorite list is the sturdy G-Shock Mudman ref. G-9300GB-1. It’s a watch that I always carry with me on every trip I take, from staying at the glitzy Rosewood Hotel in Hong Kong to the beach clubs in Bali, it’s my trusty companion wherever I go. I love that it’s straightforward, unobtrusive and doesn’t attract any unwanted attention.
3. How do you go about purchasing a watch for your collection? Do you buy from your heart or do you curate?
“Use the silver to buy whatever you want: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drinks, or whatever you want. Then you and your household there shall eat and rejoice before the LORD your God.” – Deuteronomy 14:26 (NIV)
Just like the Bible verse above, I buy with my heart but with a sense of care. When I was younger, the percentage of people who bought a watch on a whim was higher, but as I got older and had more disposable income, I started to curate my collection more. I’m starting to wonder if the watch I buy would stand the test of time, be durable and provide me with a hassle-free experience, except that I would have to service it every five years. As a banker, I am often pressed for time, which is why I constantly have to fly abroad and make regular contributions to Deployant. Due to the above factors, it is important that everything in my life, including clocks, operates like a well-oiled machine so that I can make the most of time.
Therefore, at this stage of my life, I am not one for vintage watches, which are more likely to have hiccups, and have always opted for brand new watches that only come from an authorized dealer (AD) or a boutique. I think with the above points the risk of having to break the chain of my routines would be mitigated as much as possible.
4. We assume that the Rolex Submariner ref. 124060 is your newest “significant” piece in your collection. Can you walk us through the purchasing process and why you chose this piece?
The Rolex Submariner is a watch I have been longing for for the longest time. It’s a watch that has so much history behind it 124060 is a direct descendant of the original Submariner Ref. 6204 that Rolex released. It is a watch that, like the current 124060, does not have a date complication on the dial. In this current 124060.
As a compliment to the rich history of this legendary diver, the famous super spy James Bond wore one of the earlier models Ref. 6538, before Omega, in the film (“Dr. No”, “From Russia with Love”, “Gold Finger”, “Thunderball”) came into play with its product placement. As a big fan of the filmed literature of Bond and Ian Fleming, this was one of the things that fascinated me. After owning the watch, it struck me that it is a watch that can flatter any discerning gentleman, from dressing up in a well-tailored tailored suit like my favorite spy to days when you decide to wear Orlebar Brown trunks lazing on the beach. I believe the Submariner is MI-6’s choice of spy because of its versatility.
Back to reality: My lifestyle as a banker requires my full attention for more than 12 hours a day. I barely have time to set anything other than the time, so the Submariner No Date is a compliment to me because it only shows the time. The OCD in me won’t trigger and drive me crazy because the date on my watch isn’t right, and my clients who spy on my watch won’t think I’m not paying attention to details and being meticulous.
Finally, a little tip for my brothers out there. The Submariner features a Glide Lock feature that allows its owner to adjust the bracelet by up to 20mm, making it easy to share with your other half. This is a feature I use all the time when my girlfriend decides to wear the Submariner.
5. What is currently at the top of your watch wish list?
At the top of my list is the new Rolex Daytona Ref. 126500LN with a black dial. The Daytona is a piece I have been following for a long time. Admittedly, I’m a self-proclaimed Rolex fan, but it’s also a piece that really brought me to my knees. Firstly, the watch’s lineage is associated with motorsports/cars, which is my other favorite hobby besides watches. Second, the complication. The chronograph is currently my favorite complication, but most chronographs also have a date complication, which I don’t like as I hardly have time to deal with setting the date. Therefore, the Daytona would complement my lifestyle in terms of complications.
After all, it’s the science behind the Rolex brand: many people don’t understand how much Rolex has invested in research and development (R&D) and simply buy it as a status symbol. Unfortunately for me it is not just a status symbol, but a sign of excellence. I love that they thought about using Oystersteel (aka 904L steel), which is rich in chromium and molybdenum and is extremely impact and corrosion resistant. Rolex examines the steel at a microscopic level from the shaping to the priming process to control and refine its microstructure before machining, improving the alloy’s mechanical properties along the way. As for the dial, the indices and hands are made of white gold to make it less susceptible to corrosion and rust. All of the above factors allow a watch lover like me to keep the watch for my next generation while I wear it often as a corporate representative in the world of banking.
6. What sage advice can you give to aspiring watch collectors who may be reading this?
As a banker and watch collector, I would always encourage you to buy something that you care about, with the only condition that you buy it within your means. Learn to collect them all without selling them, and you’ll be able to see how far you’ve come when you take the collection out of your closet.
My second, albeit controversial, piece of advice is to stay away from disposable watches. Watches that don’t stand the test of time (*cough*, fruit watches *cough*) are a complete waste of money. Yes, it tracks your fitness level, steps, and stress levels, but it doesn’t stand the test of time and would be outdated in a year by the time the electronics maker releases a new model. Think about our future, think about what we can pass on to our loved ones. Leave a legacy that will stand the test of time.
