This is lifted from today's ST article in Home, pg B21:
ALWAYS wanted to own a quality timepiece that makes a powerful statement about who you are, but just didn't have the time to get around to it?
Well, you are not alone, says watch and horology enthusiast Raphael Too.
But the task of selecting the perfect watch for your wrist and personality is not as hard as it seems, he said.
"If it's your first significant watch purchase, you might want to ask yourself if you are looking to buy a good, versatile watch that can go with your office and casual wear," said Mr Too.
According to him, important factors to consider include weight, resale value, movement finishing and design, robustness, brand strength and history and model recognition.
"These are highly subjective and personal decisions but at the end of it, what's important is that the piece you acquire should make you happy," said Mr Too.
"And always consider watches that you find aesthetically pleasing or that call out to you," added the 33-year-old.
Mr Too recommends watch forums and websites such as watchprosite.com, timezone.com and horomundi.com.
"There are also many brand-specific forums out there and dedicated watch blogs and websites that people can go to find out more about other collectors' or enthusiasts' opinions on brands and timepieces," said Mr Too, who is also the author of timetapestry.blogspot.com, a watch blog he created two years ago.
For the new enthusiast with deep pockets, he suggests brands with an established heritage such as Audemars Piguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre and IWC.
For the uninitiated looking for something relatively affordable but with a special quality, he recommends the time-honoured Rolex Submariner and pre-1970 Omega Speedmaster Moon Watch.
"The Submariner is an excellent sports watch that is highly versatile, while the Omega Speedmaster Moon Watch with a calibre-321 movement has a great history to it, passing stringent tests by the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration to become the first watch to be worn in space and to the moon," added Mr Too.
But if the five-figure price tags of these watches are out of reach, Ms Chang Ching Wyin, marketing manager at The Hour Glass, suggests watches by German watchmaker Sinn Spezialuhren.
"Sinn is a cult brand made by a small Frankfurt-based manufacture that produces only 12,000 pieces annually," said Ms Chang, herself a watch enthusiast.
Sinn watches are available from $1,600.
Happy reading.
ALWAYS wanted to own a quality timepiece that makes a powerful statement about who you are, but just didn't have the time to get around to it?
Well, you are not alone, says watch and horology enthusiast Raphael Too.
But the task of selecting the perfect watch for your wrist and personality is not as hard as it seems, he said.
"If it's your first significant watch purchase, you might want to ask yourself if you are looking to buy a good, versatile watch that can go with your office and casual wear," said Mr Too.
According to him, important factors to consider include weight, resale value, movement finishing and design, robustness, brand strength and history and model recognition.
"These are highly subjective and personal decisions but at the end of it, what's important is that the piece you acquire should make you happy," said Mr Too.
"And always consider watches that you find aesthetically pleasing or that call out to you," added the 33-year-old.
Mr Too recommends watch forums and websites such as watchprosite.com, timezone.com and horomundi.com.
"There are also many brand-specific forums out there and dedicated watch blogs and websites that people can go to find out more about other collectors' or enthusiasts' opinions on brands and timepieces," said Mr Too, who is also the author of timetapestry.blogspot.com, a watch blog he created two years ago.
For the new enthusiast with deep pockets, he suggests brands with an established heritage such as Audemars Piguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre and IWC.
For the uninitiated looking for something relatively affordable but with a special quality, he recommends the time-honoured Rolex Submariner and pre-1970 Omega Speedmaster Moon Watch.
"The Submariner is an excellent sports watch that is highly versatile, while the Omega Speedmaster Moon Watch with a calibre-321 movement has a great history to it, passing stringent tests by the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration to become the first watch to be worn in space and to the moon," added Mr Too.
But if the five-figure price tags of these watches are out of reach, Ms Chang Ching Wyin, marketing manager at The Hour Glass, suggests watches by German watchmaker Sinn Spezialuhren.
"Sinn is a cult brand made by a small Frankfurt-based manufacture that produces only 12,000 pieces annually," said Ms Chang, herself a watch enthusiast.
Sinn watches are available from $1,600.
Happy reading.
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