What’s their most cherished watches? Brian Poe Llamanzares, Noel dela Merced and Francis Reyes tell their stories

Francis Reyes

Vintage 1989 Rolex GMT Master II

“This vintage timepiece was given to me as a gift by my father-in-law,” says banker and art collector Francis Reyes. The watch, a 1989 Rolex GMT Master II, was with his father-in-law, Bernie Concepcion, for a long time. His father-in-law even used it during the wedding of Reyes and his jeweller wife Erica Concepcion,  as well as in other special family milestones. One Christmas, however, Reyes received the watch as a present. “I felt very happy and deeply honoured to have been given a timepiece with so much sentimental value. One day, I will pass it on to my son, Enrique. The watch will continue its journey to the next generation,” he says. For him, this particular piece is a reminder of family, tradition, love and wonderful memories. However, sentimentality and memories aside, he is also drawn to the watch because of its classic look and wearability. Furthermore, he explains, “The 1989 Rolex GMT Master II is truly iconic and the most recognisable GMT watch. Its 24-hour rotating bezel, second time zone hand and the screw down crown, makes the watch extremely useful and practical for daily use.” Its specific reference is 16718, denoting it as a part of Rolex’s ubiquitous five-digit reference,  representing the transition between a vintage and a modern Rolex timepiece. It is very special. The watch also suits his lifestyle because of its simple straightforward design, which makes it  “easy to use with anything”. Reyes and his wife are ardent art collectors, and Concepcion-Reyes is known for Riqueza, her exquisite jewellery creations, so they both have the eye for aesthetics.  They, therefore, highly value this watch and appreciate its style. When asked how often he wears the exceptional timepiece, Reyes  says, “I use it almost every day.”  

Noel dela Merced

Rolex Daytona Zenith Ref 16520; A Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Ref 101.032; Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar 5140G in white gold with white dial

When asked what his most cherished watch is, businessman Noel de la Merced was stumped for an answer. “That’s like asking me who among my children is my favourite. It’s almost impossible to answer,” he says. There are many reasons for this, and some of them are personal. There are watches he loves because of their design, and those because of their movements and technical details. He likes some because they are fun, or simply practical. For dela Merced, the word “cherish” connotes sentimentality. Therefore, a “cherished watch” is tied to memorable moments “when time really mattered”. He cites three watches from significant stages in his life. “I identify these pieces as very precious because they bore witness to a certain moment or a milestone in my life,” dela Merced tells Tatler. 

During his teen years, he collected Swatch, which propelled his passion for watches. As he got older and turned 18, he got his first “adult” watch, a Rolex Daytona Zenith Ref 16520, an automatic stainless-steel white-dial chronograph that’s sleek and sporty, and notable for its association with the automotive world. It’s the first to run on a self-winding movement powered by the Zenith El-Primero caliber 400. Dela Merced  can go on and on talking endlessly about the mechanical aspects of this timepiece; but beyond  the complexities and technicalities of the watch, to him it was a symbol of his coming-of-age, entering adulthood with its complete package, such as being more responsible and more independent. In fact,  he gave the same watch to his son for his 18th birthday. 

Another piece for dela Merced is the A Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Ref 101.032 in rose gold with a mechanical manual winding movement calibre L901.0. The timepiece is quite remarkable because of its design and arrangement of the display on the dial. He cites the attention to detail and the immaculate craftsmanship. And again, a fond memory: “I got this watch as a gift for my wife for our tenth wedding anniversary. She didn’t get me anything. But she’s a clever one. She turned around, re-wrapped it, and gave it back as her gift to me. Until today, she brags about what great taste she has in gift-giving. I thought that was cute and funny and gives a glimpse into the dynamics of our marriage.”

Dela Merced rounds up his list with the Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar 5140G in white gold with white dial, which he got after his 40th birthday. For him, it is a stunning and elegant piece, a classic. The 37mm diameter 18c white gold case is beautiful against the crocodile strap. Not to be overlooked is the superior engineering of the horological house. It’s a Patek Philippe after all. Why and when he acquired this watch was at a challenging time in his life. “My wife was abroad for work when I noticed a few bumps around my neck. So I had it checked and the doctors went in to discover several other growths in that area. They quickly asked for a biopsy that freaked me out. I was honestly very scared. I’m a hypochondriac. And with my wife away, I was going nuts alone. All the darkest thoughts entered my mind. So while awaiting the results, I thought, ‘to hell with it!’. I ordered a Porsche, this Patek Philippe watch and some ridiculous things. After a few days, I got the results and everything turned out fine. It was just a scare. So I cancelled the Porsche and everything else…but kept the watch,” he shares. 

So we ask Dela Merced again which one is his most cherished watch? This time, he had an answer, “The next one”.  

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