Clarence Cheung's watch collection

For Clarence Cheung – co-founder of watch- collecting community Watch Ho & Co. – what started with the impulse buy of a Hublot Big Bang Blue Ceramic has since grown into a refined collection of the best of black ceramic, skeletonised and just plain fun pieces 

Hublot Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami All Black

I remember being totally captivated by this watch when Hublot invited me to view their novelties announced at LVMH Watch Week 2020. It was probably the only watch with such a dominating design element being fixed outside of the watch – the signature Murakami smiling flower perched on top of the sapphire crystal. Behind the smiling motif, its spinning petals encased inside the watch along with the black-diamond setting make it a great spectacle, especially under natural light. 

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked

This is a grail watch of mine as well as a token representing my relationship with Audemars Piguet that I was fortunate enough to build through my work. The finishing on the skeletonised movement is top-notch with the focal point on the rose-gold bridge holding the stacked balance wheel making it a true joy to look at. AP is also one of the best when it comes to ceramic finishing and is able to make a full black watch shine and shimmer between the
contrast of brushed and polished finishes. 

Franck Muller #FR2NCK MULLER Vanguard

A collaboration between Franck Muller and Japanese fashion brand FR2 released for the year of the rabbit, this Vanguard is far different from its counterparts. Most notably, the logo of the fashion brand located at 7 o’clock makes the watch very fun to me. The rabbits are the only part of the dial that has lume applied, making the copulating rabbits stand out even more in the dark. 

Ulysse Nardin Freak X OPS

I got to learn a lot about Ulysse Nardin through events organised by The Hour Glass. I love how the Freak line carries a DNA that resonates with my collecting philosophy. The Freak X is a welcoming entry-level model for anyone who wants to experiment with the brand and enjoy the movement on its dial-less design. Its interesting tourbillon concept is not caged and rotating in a fixed point, but rather moving in a one-hour cycle along with the minute hand. I
was keen on the Freak X for a while but what sealed the deal for me was seeing the OPS version in person with its green carbon case on Omar’s wrist (@thewrongwrist) during a watch retreat trip in Bali. 

Rolex Day-Date 40 228396TBR

The rolex day-date 40 in platinum comes with a satisfying weight on the wrist and carries a bit of flash with its ice blue dial, baguette hour markers and baguette bezel. Anyone can appreciate how Rolex diamonds are top-notch and that their baguette cuts are excellent, so personally, once you go TBR you can’t go back to RBR... 

Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Starwheel 15212NB 

I've been a fan of the wandering hours complication since early in my watch-collecting journey. In order to fill that void, I bought an original Starwheel from the 1990s, 25720BA. But with a case diameter of 36mm and its extra-thin profile, I found it restrictive in that it only matched formalwear. AP then introduced the Starwheel in a Code case, effectively a revival of the complication with a modern execution. For me it was a no-brainer as I was a fan of the Code already. The present-day Starwheel in white gold sandwiches a black ceramic midcase with a semi-openworked dial, showcasing the architecture that supports and rotates the black hour discs backdropped by aventurine with sparkles of gold, completing a cool galactic vibe. 

Also see: Alexandre Bigler's watch collection