Reading Time: 4 mins.
It’s not about status.
On wearing watches for yourself, taking the MRT in a Royal Oak, and passing on values rather than heirlooms. Wang Yang has owned Rolex, Zenith, Blancpain and Glashütte Original — but it is Audemars Piguet that now fills his wrist: an openworked Royal Oak in pink gold, a Jumbo Extra-Thin, a pink-gold chronograph on rubber, and a steel flying tourbillon with a smoked burgundy dial. He doesn’t own a car. The watches ride the MRT and the bus with him, and occasionally the handlebars of his bike. For a collector with pieces most people only see behind glass, his philosophy is disarmingly simple: a watch is the finishing touch, worn to please himself and no one else.
I'm really into watches. I've owned Rolex, Zenith, Blancpain, and Glashütte Original before, but I'd never tried AP. At the time, I was actually planning to buy a Hublot, but a friend of mine recommended AP instead.
Only money, and honestly, I don't even see it as a sacrifice. In my view, the money wasn't spent or wasted — it simply took on a different form and stayed with me.
At the very beginning, as I said, I don't even see it as a sacrifice. Buying watches has never affected my quality of life. If anything, it's actually enhanced it.
I don't own a car so I always take MRT.
For me, it's simply about personal enjoyment. I wear watches to please myself, not to impress anyone else. For me, leaving the house without a watch feels like leaving without getting properly dressed. It doesn't matter how much the watch is worth. I own Swatches and G-Shocks too, and when I'm traveling — whether it's a business trip to Africa or a holiday in Europe — I wear cheaper watches. But I always wear one. A watch is an essential finishing touch. It's not about status; it's just something that feels incomplete without.
I don't really see a connection. I've never been someone who chases the values or narratives a brand is trying to project. When it comes to watches, I'm pretty straightforward — if I think it looks great, that's reason enough for me to buy and wear it.
To me, a watch is simply the most straightforward accessory a man can wear. An expensive watch is no different from an expensive piece of jewellery, a well-tailored outfit, or a nice car. That's all it is.
I don't think it's accurate to say that traditional Chinese culture only values understatement and restraint. Different people have different personalities and different ways of living. For me, wearing a Royal Oak doesn't feel like it conflicts with my cultural background at all. It's simply a watch that I like. I don't see it as making a cultural statement.
No, never. I don't buy watches impulsively. Every watch in my collection has a story behind it and a reason for being there. Even if some people see certain pieces as nothing more than allocation purchases, they still have meaning to me.
To me, watches are simply a personal passion. I don't know whether my child will share that passion, and I don't think they should be expected to. If they end up loving watches, I'd rather they work hard, earn their own money, and buy the ones they truly want. That's part of the journey. As for my own collection, I don't really believe watches should automatically become family heirlooms. They're wonderful objects, but to me they're still just objects. I'd rather pass on my values than my watches.
Interview By: Mr Luxury. Largely in Wang Yang’s own words.
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