Cover Joseph Castelar wears his wedding watch, a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona
Joseph Castelar wears his wedding watch, a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona
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More than the name of the Maison, complication or style, each watch in Joseph Castelar’s collection tells a story and recalls a memory
“My dad loved watches. Though I forget when it was exactly,” Joseph Castelar furrows his brow, leans back and tries to recall the precise memory. “I forget which graduation it was, but by the time I was in high school, I was already wearing a Rolex Yacht-Master. My father was far-sighted, you see, and he had difficulty reading the dial, so he gave it to me.” Castelar had already learned to appreciate the world of horology thanks to this early exposure, but receiving that specific timepiece would kickstart a two-decade-long passion for watch collecting.
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Above Castelar’s daily driver, a Patek Philippe Aquanaut
Castelar’s daily driver, a Patek Philippe Aquanaut
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Castelar is seated across from me, with a Patek Philippe Aquanaut in a black rubber strap—his daily driver—on his wrist. The story of how it came to be there is a rather humorous tale. On his birthday, one of his friends had tipped him off to the watch’s availability, which he was very much eager to acquire. “We were there, sitting in the service centre, waiting for its authentication,” he laughs. “We were late to my own party!”
His office is exactly how one might picture a trader’s workspace: Stacks of papers and receipts scattered about, shelves filled with reference materials and stationery on nearly every surface. A closer look, however, reveals his enthusiasm for watches. Behind him are posters of Audemars Piguet and Rolex, with related literature and watch boxes located here, there and elsewhere. “I’m really fascinated with the inner watch mechanics,” he explains. “But also of the intrinsic value they hold.”
Above Castelar’s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Michael Schumacher Limited Edition
Above Castelar aims to consolidate his collection into pieces he can truly appreciate and hand down to his children
Castelar’s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Michael Schumacher Limited Edition
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His daily routine is straightforward, direct and to the point, and is one shared by many working professionals and executives. A trip to the gym, a day at the office and then as much time as possible spent with loved ones. Aside from being a trader, Castelar also leases properties, with one—an auto garage—right outside his doorstep.
Growing up, Castelar developed a deep interest in motorsports, and he took up karting for a good portion of his youth. It is a hobby that he became quite competitive in, though he jokes that he is “too old” to continue it any longer. Still, this passion would inevitably influence and shape his other, time-related interest. “My Schumacher watch,” he recounts, referring to his limited-edition Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph, “was a watch I really, really wanted before.” He cited the German driver’s immense popularity, which led to its coveted status among enthusiasts today. “Recently, one became available, and I just had to get it.”
Above Castelar’s Rolex GMT-Master II and Rolex Yacht-Master
Castelar’s Rolex GMT-Master II and Rolex Yacht-Master
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His tastes have also changed somewhat over the past few decades. Today, he enjoys quieter, more minimalist designs, pieces that can effortlessly complete an outfit. But he reveals he once held great affection toward fully-gold timepieces. “Now, I prefer something more low-key,” Castelar says, folding his arms. This more restrained attitude also applies toward his collecting habits as awhole. “I don’t want too many—you can only really wear one at a time. I want to consolidate it into watches that have meaning.”
“Take this, for example,” Castelar motions for me to look at his Rolex Daytona 11650. “This has the same story as the Yacht-Master—my dad had trouble reading it!”
These interactions reveal something endearing about why Castelar collects in the first place. While he may show some favourites (insofar as his impressive Rolex selection goes), the main defining reason any watch ends up inside his box is that they each mean something. Not strictly defined by his loyalty to any single Maison, but how each individual piece reflects a story and chapter of his life, such as a vintage Rolex GMT “Coke” made in the Eighties, which he received from his grandfather before he passed away.
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Above His Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph Ref 5980/1R-001 commemorates the birth of his first child
Above Patek Philippe Aquanaut Ref 5167A-001 in the background
His Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph Ref 5980/1R-001 commemorates the birth of his first child
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The most recent addition to Castelar’s collection happens to match the Aquanaut on his wrist. He points to a glint of gold to the corner of the case—a Patek Philippe 5980 1R-001 Nautilus. “I bought this when my youngest child was born. I would have wanted one with his birth year, but there weren’t any available,” he laughs. “Maybe if we have another, I could buy another to commemorate it.”
“Then this watch, the Platona, I received from my wife when we got married,” he says as he shows me a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona. Castelar plans to hand down any—if not all—of these watches to his children, a reflection and continuation of how he started his collecting journey.
There is perhaps a single watch left on the horizon for Castelar, the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711-1A, simply because it was one of his dream watches when he was young. This lack of further plans shouldn’t be misconstrued as a lack of passion for collecting. On the contrary, it is because he has shifted his focus to trimming down and consolidating what he already has. This is to ensure that he is left with a more curated and considered selection of watches that he can proudly pass down to his children.
Above Each watch in Castelar’s collection marks a milestone
Each watch in Castelar’s collection marks a milestone
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Above Castelar deeply appreciates the inner mechanics and workings of a watch, as well as their intrinsic and sentimental value
Above Castelar wears his Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph Ref 5980/1R-001
Castelar deeply appreciates the inner mechanics and workings of a watch, as well as their intrinsic and sentimental value
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Castelar has spoken about every conceivable reason or milestone for acquiring a watch, barring any future achievements he may have or interests he may develop. Every milestone has been marked by a specific watch, mixed along the way with hand-me-downs and special acquisitions. The beauty of his collection comes from the innate sentimentality and significance they hold within his life.
Whenever he turns his arm, he is not just appreciating the fine artistry, the engineering or the heritage on his wrist. He will think of the laughter of his child, the smile of his wife and a birthday greeting. Perhaps most of all, he will always remember the very first Rolex on his wrist—faded by time and visible signs of patina, but the moment remains crystal clear in his mind.
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Credits
Photography: Wesley Villarica
Photography Assistant: Sandy Gabon and Jaseon Sevilla
Grooming: Johnson Estrella
Hair: Rudolf Davalos
Production: Bianca Simeon, Tobias Jared Tomas, Johannah Reglos and Ysobel Zamora
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About
Tobias wants to write things that make people think, laugh, and reflect. He’s especially proud when he can sneak in a cheeky pop-culture reference or a pun in his titles and articles.
He possesses a deep love of history, resulting from years of books, games, and museum visits. It was this fascination with the human endeavour that fostered his love of writing, spanning genres, tones, and moods. He one day hopes to write a novel—he just hasn't decided on a genre yet. A certified homebody, you'll often find him on the computer he built himself, binge-watching Seinfeld or House, playing his favourite gacha game, or reading a book.
Work
Tobias is a features writer that specialises in branded content. Reach out to him at tobias.tomas@tatlerasia.com.
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