Cover Luo Yong Wen
Luo Yong Wen
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Collecting watches lets entrepreneur Luo Yong Wen indulge his passion for rare craftsmanship
What began as an impulsive purchase turned out to be a masterstroke, securing Luo Yong Wen a rare Omega timepiece. Ironically, the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch Tintin was not well-received when it was first released; in fact, it gathered dust on store shelves.
A salesperson was trying his luck with Luo, and fortunately for him, Luo was immediately drawn to the white-and-red checkered pattern at the edges of the dial, inspired by the comic book’s rocket.
“I was like, ‘Wow!’! It didn’t look like any other Speedmasters I had seen before, which generally came with a black dial,” he says. “It resembled a ‘racing’ dial but also reminded me of a candy cane.”
Since then, the watch has become a coveted collector’s item, commanding significantly higher prices on the pre-owned market.
It was a different Omega, however, that sent Luo down the “rabbit hole” of watch collecting. After watching Spectre, he became curious about the watch worn by James Bond in the movie. This interest eventually led to his first “grown-up watch,” as he calls it—the Omega Seamaster 300 in stainless steel.
“Until then, I didn’t have the habit of wearing a mechanical watch,” he reveals.
See also: Lim Ee Chiat recounts his trip to France for Blanpain's Fifty Fathoms Act 3 launch
These days, he wears them all the time, often pairing them with his sharply tailored suits. He has amassed quite a collection to match, ranging from prestigious names like Patek Philippe to novelty pieces by Shanghai Tang, featuring the images of Chairman Mao and Deng Xiaoping.
Above Shanghai Tang watches featuring Deng Xiaoping and Chairman Mao on the dials
Shanghai Tang watches featuring Deng Xiaoping and Chairman Mao on the dials
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What is the attraction of watches?
They are like works of art. I love the way each part of the watch is crafted. There are different types of finishes, with their own sub-categories like polishing. There is mirror polishing, black polishing, guilloché, Geneva stripes, sunburst finishing—I enjoy reading about them all. And when you consider the functionalities and how everything blends harmoniously, they become more than a watch.
What do you enjoy most?
Adjusting my watches. I love hearing the click—it’s an ASMR kind of thing for me. I take pleasure in doing that every morning before I start my day. There is also the community; I’ve met many watch collectors who have become my closest friends.
How would you describe your collection?
Diverse. I don’t favour a specific type of watch, whether it’s a dress watch or a sports watch.
Above Patek Philippe Ref 5711 with olive green dial
Patek Philippe Ref 5711 with olive green dial
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But you have a soft spot for Patek Philippe. How did you discover the brand?
Through friends and family. They referred to it as the king of watches, long before I even knew what the Holy Trinity of watches was. It piqued my curiosity, so I began reading up about it. It wasn’t until two years later that I acquired my first Patek Philippe—a 5712 in steel.
What drew you to the brand?
The craftsmanship, for sure. Patek Philippe employs different artisans, each responsible for a specific part of the watch.
Your fascination with its craftsmanship is why you acquired this Rare Handcraft piece from its Lighthouses of France collection, right?
It features an enamel dial painstakingly crafted by hand. The enamelling process is extremely challenging, as not all enamel dials survive the baking stage. And I love the depiction of the resolute lighthouse standing strong against the thunderstorm and the crashing waves.
Read more: More on Patek Philippe's final tribute to Nautilus 5711 steel
Above Luo Yong Wen cites the Omega Seamaster as his first “grown-up watch”
Luo Yong Wen cites the Omega Seamaster as his first “grown-up watch”
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What is your most prized possession?
The Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 with an olive-green dial. It was one of the last 5711 to be produced. This watch represents the pinnacle of my journey with the brand, as it was reserved for true connoisseurs and collectors.
What can you tell us about the Tudor Black Bay 58 in your collection?
I like to think Rolex uses Tudor to experiment. This BB is unique as the whole case is silver, which is very unusual. It’s a monochromatic watch and you have details like the chamfered edges and the industrial matte finish. The caseback is also transparent, which Tudor hardly ever does.
What about this Ulysse Nardin Classico?
This was an exclusive for The Hour Glass boutique in Ginza, Tokyo. The watch has a nice mustard guilloché dial with Breguet hands and numerals, which is classic and timeless. It features the limitededition number ‘9’ (out of 25 pieces), and ‘9’ is my favourite number.
Above Ulysse Nardin Classico
Ulysse Nardin Classico
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Would you consider selling your watches?
No, because every piece holds special meaning for me. They are like mini milestone markers.
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Credits
Photography: Fady Younis
Topics
Brian Cheong leads the watch (Tatler GMT) and jewellery content at Tatler Malaysia, combining sharp editorial insight with years of luxury lifestyle experience. A seasoned journalist in luxury watches based in Kuala Lumpur, Brian had previously helmed World of Watches, Men's Folio and Prestige Malaysia.
