By early October 1987, the Hong Kong stock market had already seen significant gains. Observing the macroeconomic situation, I anticipated a market correction. Indeed, the market experienced a sharp decline about a week later, on 19th October, falling several hundred points. The drop was so severe that trading was halted for four days, resuming only on 26th October. On the reopening day, the market fell further by several hundred points to 1371.

Based on the 2467 points at which I sold my stocks, this represented a nearly 1000-point drop. In other words, I managed to avoid a market disaster, which I consider quite lucky! Thus, I believe that Patek Philippe brought me good fortune, and that marked the beginning of my journey in watch collecting.

(The Patek Philippe 3919 is only for exhibition and not for auction)

Timing the Purchase of Watches

Here is the much-coveted Rolex Daytona. This model is crafted in gold, featuring a beautifully designed and practical gold folding clasp. I bought this Daytona in March 2009 while in Malaysia. At the time, following the global financial crisis, the world economy was in recession, and Southeast Asian countries were not exempt. The Malaysian currency had depreciated significantly.

When the exchange rate falls, many products, including luxury watches and jewellery, do not see price increases, as retailers strive to maintain competitiveness. Therefore, I believe that a currency's devaluation presents an excellent opportunity to purchase watches.

Another interesting incident occurred when I bought the Daytona. I also purchased another, even more expensive Rolex, along with a rather pricey Breguet watch. Perhaps due to the prevailing economic situation, when I first visited the store, the staff seemed reluctant to show me the watches and did not provide attentive service. Perhaps they thought I was not a serious buyer, so I left without making a purchase.

The next day, I returned to the same store and encountered a different sales associate, whose attitude was remarkably different. Regardless of whether I intended to buy anything, he enthusiastically introduced me to several exquisite timepieces. To this day, I remember that his surname was Wong. I appreciated Mr. Wong's excellent service, which led me to purchase the watches I had initially considered.

From this experience, I learned an important business lesson: a good attitude in service is indeed crucial.

(The Daytona 11658, Lot 48 is available for auction)

The Rolex Dato-Compax

This is a Rolex Dato-Compax, which features a chronograph along with a triple calendar indicating the date, month, and day of the week. This model was produced between the 1940s and 1960s. During that time, Rolex enlisted the ski champion Jean-Claude Killy as its brand ambassador, which is why this model is often referred to as the Killy Rolex.

The Killy Rolex is one of the few complex watches produced by Rolex, boasting approximately 70 years of history, making it extremely valuable!

The story behind my acquisition of the Killy Rolex is quite unique. I purchased it in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in 1999. During the Vietnam War, many affluent individuals sold their valuable possessions before fleeing the country. Even in the 1980s and 1990s, it was still possible to find rare and precious jewellery and watches in Vietnam.

This watch's story reflects the societal conditions and impacts stemming from the war. The value of this particular Rolex model is difficult to estimate, so I do not intend to auction it off; instead, I wish to share its story with others.

(The Rolex 4767 is only for exhibition and not for auction)