Self-described ‘WIS Globetrotter’, @Horonation likes to keep his identity secret — preferring the moniker ‘Mr X’. To say he’s serious about his watches would just about be the understatement of the year.
Hey mate, what is your ‘daily watch’ and why?
I rotate and wear all my watches. But I find it very comfortable wearing vintage Rolexes and white metal on a daily basis rather than wearing those dressy rose gold pieces. But no particular ‘daily beater’ for me. I wear my double tourbillon, Greubel Forsey, as much as I wear my other watches. Perhaps I usually select what I wear on my wrist to match my outfit of the day.
How did your love of watches start? When did it escalate to the point you realised it was a serious addiction?
I was first attracted to horology when my father-in-law bought me a piece. The visit to the watch retailer was an eye-opener as I didn’t know that the horology world was so vast. At that time I was only aware of two brands – Rolex and TAG Heuer as the most popular brands among Indonesians. Fuelled by my curiosity and eagerness to learn, I started reading about horology and joining local watch gatherings. Not only did I learn that the horology world was very intricate and exciting, but it also brings people together (just like us).
Tell me how your watch collecting got where it is today? Where did it all start, and what did learn along the way?
Today, a new watch purchase would serve as a useful motivation for me personally to reach higher goals in life — work harder, better and smarter, and be more efficient, and it will finally serve as a nice gift for myself to celebrate the success and appreciate all processes and struggles. In a nutshell, I buy timepieces to mark milestones in my life.
I noticed you have a lot of very complicated independent watches. Do you have a favourite indie watchmaker at the moment?
HYT for the innovation, and of course Greubel Forsey, the ultimate holy grail brand for many WISs out there.
What do you look for when buying a watch?
Design, movement technicality, and of course the finishing/decoration. Usually, I browse all the models through the brand catalogue, study each one of them, and I choose a particular model that I love most and settle with it.
You’ve got a love for action heroes, but what watch would be the ultimate accessory in your opinion?
I chose Iron Man as my other persona, and I think my Cabestan, Urwerk and Skull HYT suit me well in that regard.
What is your most prized piece, and why is it special to you?
Kari Voutilainen Détente Tourbillon, a unique piece. It’s Kari’s best craftsmanship so far, and I am buying his legacy.
You’ve got a massive collection of both vintage and modern watches, but which do you prefer?
Deep down, I am still a very modern tourbillon guy, but these vintage pieces are very deadly and contagious because they have substantial fanbase and infrastructure. I found the hunting for rare, high-quality condition vintage pieces is very enjoyable and more often educational, just like studying the history of the past life.
I know you’ve got a unique Greubel Forsey piece … what’s the story behind this one? What is it like owning such a fine and rare piece from one of the most innovative and talented watch brands in the world?
I fell in love with the brand back in 2010. It was like having an impossible dream at that time. The obsession haunted me and pushed me to be a better self every day and took me from the boundary of my comfort zone. I ventured into a lot of new businesses, made a lot of new friends and learned to expand my capacity from time to time. In this life, I have proved to myself and many that as long as we don’t give up, we can eventually get there.
Throughout the process, I reckon that “failure” is an essential part of the success itself. The successful person would fall seven times but get up eight. The experience is invaluable, and the reward is very satisfying.
From a distance, your collection could be described as ‘rare’. Is it fair to say that you value uniqueness and rarity amongst all other things?
Yes, I think every serious collector want to have something that others can’t have.
And finally, let’s talk about your Lamborghini Murciélago. How did it end up with Bon Jovi’s signature, and is it still there?
Bon Jovi came to Jakarta and he held a private concert in our “Stark Tower” back in 2015. Unfortunately, I just sold that car a few weeks ago.
