Cover Among Kim Atienza’s rare finds is his Rolex GMT-Master “Pepsi” Gilt Ref. 1675 (Photo: Wesley Villarica)
Among Kim Atienza’s rare finds is his Rolex GMT-Master “Pepsi” Gilt Ref. 1675 (Photo: Wesley Villarica)
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In the midst of fine-tuning his collection, Kim Atienza speaks of his love affair with rare, vintage watches from Rolex and more and the pleasurable trip to the past that he seeks out in each one
“They have to sing to me,” shares Kim Atienza, “and for them to sing to me, they have to sing a very old song.” The prominent host and presenter, whose sobriquet “Kuya Kim” is a household name on Philippine television, isn’t shy about his affinity for all things vintage. Be it motorcycles, fashion, furniture or watches—anything “old” has a soul and heritage, he muses. This is what drives him to collect vestiges of time.
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Outfitted in his vintage Momotaro Wabash shirt, rugged Wesco boots and trademark hat, Atienza graciously joined us for an early morning photoshoot to delve into this passion of his—how everything he owns and wears must reflect his tastes and go well together. “I feel that a modern watch on a vintage motorcycle does not fit well,” he comments, smiling. His appreciation for a storied and well-crafted timepiece, in particular, started in the Seventies when he received his first-ever steel watch.
Interestingly, it was a Christmas gift from his yaya (nanny) Gloria, who had saved a few months’ worth of her salary to purchase a secondhand Seiko watch from a pawnshop. “I was so fascinated with that piece, and I valued that watch until it eventually broke,” he recalls. A few years later, his father’s post- college gift—an Omega Seamaster, his first luxury timepiece—would cement that captivation and spark his eagerness to collect once he began earning for himself.
Above Kim Atienza and his favourite watch at the moment: a vintage Rolex Explorer II 1655, also known as the Steve McQueen Rolex (Photo: Wesley Villarica)
Kim Atienza and his favourite watch at the moment: a vintage Rolex Explorer II 1655, also known as the Steve McQueen Rolex (Photo: Wesley Villarica)
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Decades since those watershed moments, Atienza says he is now in the process of fine-tuning his watch collection. And although there are no avowed favourites, his affection for vintage Rolexes is undeniable. “It takes a sophisticated eye that’s well-studied to know exactly what you’re wearing,” he remarks of the classic, low-profile timepieces he naturally gravitates towards. “Only those who are into it know the value of little details and nuances that make a watch rarer, more collectable and more valuable.”
These days, he enjoys being in the company of like-minded individuals within the booming local horology scene. Alongside some of his close friends, he is an administrator of online watch communities like Facebook’s Rolex Club of the Philippines, which has over seven thousand members who exchange insights, advice or mere musings.
Above From left: Kim Atienza’s watch collection includes a Rolex Explorer Ref. 6610; Rolex Red Submariner Ref. 1680; Rolex Explorer II Ref. 1655 “Steve McQueen”; Rolex Double Red Sea-Dweller Submariner Ref. 1665 98 (Photo: Wesley Villarica)
From left: Kim Atienza’s watch collection includes a Rolex Explorer Ref. 6610; Rolex Red Submariner Ref. 1680; Rolex Explorer II Ref. 1655 “Steve McQueen”; Rolex Double Red Sea-Dweller Submariner Ref. 1665 98 (Photo: Wesley Villarica)
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The seasoned collector also has his fair share of noteworthy anecdotes about acquiring those in his possession today—as well as the ones he missed out on. Atienza recounts, “I had a vintage watch supplier back in 2003 and he told me, ‘Kim, you need to get this watch.’ It was a Rolex Paul Newman. I didn’t know the value of a Paul Newman then because I was into Rolex Bubblebacks and those were way cheaper. So, I missed out on that.”
Read more: What makes a Rolex timepiece... a ‘Rolex’?
While a Rolex Paul Newman remains at the top of his wishlist, that’s just one story among many successful hunts. The one he’s often reaching for and wearing most these days is a vintage Rolex Explorer II 1655, frequently dubbed the Steve McQueen Rolex after the legendary movie star and racing enthusiast. With it prominently displayed on his wrist, he chats, “I traded in a very desirable Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore for this one, and it was a gamble for the value then—not knowing that it was a sleeper, that the yellow hand would eventually become five to six times more expensive than the price then.”
Above Clockwise: Kim Atienza's Rolex Double Red Sea-Dweller Submariner Ref. 1665; Rolex Explorer Ref. 1016; Rolex Red Submariner Ref. 1680; Rolex GMT-Master “Pepsi” Gilt Ref. 1675 (Photo: Wesley Villarica)
Clockwise: Kim Atienza's Rolex Double Red Sea-Dweller Submariner Ref. 1665; Rolex Explorer Ref. 1016; Rolex Red Submariner Ref. 1680; Rolex GMT-Master “Pepsi” Gilt Ref. 1675 (Photo: Wesley Villarica)
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Atienza, like many collectors, also regards his acquired timepieces as investments; though he emphasises that this should not be the prime consideration. “If you collect a watch purely for its value, you will not enjoy your collection,” he adds. “I collect watches because they sing to me. They have heritage and history; when I read about them on the internet or in books, I am fulfilled by what is written about the watch, and then I’m fulfilled because I’m wearing something beautiful. So, it’s a piece of sculpture that you wear, that sings to you because of its past. It’s a spiritual experience when you think about it.”
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Credits
Photography: Wesley Villarica
Production: Dorynna Untivero, James Mayo, Johannah Reglos
Grooming: Johnson Estrella
Trained as a student journalist, Mac’s knack for writing was a serendipitous discovery. Years later and she can’t imagine doing anything else. When she isn’t typing away on a story, she revels in being lost in a new city, revisiting a cosy film or sitcom, and idling away with her dogs.
