Labeg's watch collection

Not everyone can afford a luxury timepiece. Gabriel Lau, better known as Labeg (an anagram of his name), couldn’t. So instead he started making playful, skew-whiff cardboard renditions that dutifully replicate each feature, from case to lugs, crown to bracelet. Though not the real thing, these creations have the same eye-catching designs, intricate craftsmanship and attention to detail that make up every fine watch. The Hong Kong-based artist takes us through his favourites

MB&F is one of those brands that catch my eye because of the complexity of their watches and the architecture of their designs. There’s so many layers and moving components – I can stare at them all day. Their designs really jump out at you and are very playful. To me, the salmon-dialed MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual is like looking into a small planet’s inner workings. I love how the gears, springs, jewels and levers of the power reserve, day, date and month functions are elegantly exposed and finished. I would love to have one of these complicated masterpieces in my collection one day. For now, my cardboard Legacy Machine can tell the right time and date once a year, maybe.

H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Flyback Chronograph

Moser is a brand that’s unique and design driven. Their designs are bold and hold a strong design DNA recognisable even without slapping their brand name on the dials. The Streamliner is one of the strongest designs in the Moser collection. The case design and lobster tail bracelet are truly original and extremely comfortable. My favourite Streamliner is the Flyback Chronograph with the blue dial. I’ve always been a sucker for chronographs, so the Flyback Chronograph is on my list of watches I would love to have in my collection one day. The fumé dial is really beautiful and all the second markers add to the aesthetics of the dial. The movement is also incredibly beautiful to look at. I have the Streamliner Flyback Chronograph, but in cardboard, so sometimes it flies off my wrist.

Patek has always been a grail brand for me. Their history and craftsmanship are next to none. So many of their designs are timeless and the quality is so refined. The 5970G Perpetual Calendar Chronograph is a heavy hitter. The movement is incredibly designed and finished. Creating a perpetual calendar and a chronograph movement is no simple feat. There are so many components that go into the movement, and every single component is polished and finished. The dial is filled with text and markings, but is laid out in a way that is very elegant. The white gold case with the light greyish dial with black hands and indexes is my favourite. For now, I use my cardboard 5970G to time my 50-metre sprints and I’m running world-record times.

F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance

F.P. Journe watches have always caught my eye because of their strong design aesthetics, complications and high-level finishing. As an independent watchmaker, I’ve always been drawn to everything from the off-centred time displays to the smooth flowing shape of their hands. Their design language really speaks to me. The Chronomètre à Résonance is my favourite because of the two symmetrical dials with
the two crowns at top and bottom. Not to mention the innovative movement that has two balances that harmoniously sync up. These CM are truly special watches, which are extremely hard to get through an AD. I love my cardboard Chronomètre à Résonance.
I made sure that I painted the two balance wheels to rotate at the same pace as each other, zero beats per minute.

Ulysse Nardin Freak X OPS

Ulysse Nardin is one of those brands with a deep history and great innovation. The Freak watches are unique and bold. There’s no dial, no hands and no crown – they use the movement to tell the time. The one I would love to have in my collection is the Freak X OPS. The case is made of a khaki green/black mixture of carbon and is paired with a Velcro strap that makes it feel very tactical. It wears a lot smaller than its spec’d dimensions. I sometimes wear my cardboard Freak X OPS on adventures, but then it kind of melts when it rains.

Richard Mille RM 67-02

When RMS came on the scene I didn’t really understand them. I started to get a lot of commissions to paint them and through the process of studying them, seeing the real watches in person and reimagining them through my art, I started to get it. They’re incredible watches. The RM 67-01 is my favourite. It’s much smaller and thinner than the average RM, so it’s much more wearable for me. It’s incredibly light and the construction of it is so solid. I love the skeleton dial and all the exposed components and the pops of colour that shine through. I currently have the RM 67-02 in cardboard; it’s about the same weight as the Carbon TPT version.

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