A journey from fear to fulfillment through the art of watch collecting
That was me, before all this.
Now, I am happier, more purposeful, more resilient, and grounded where I needed to be. All thanks to a hobby that started almost a year ago—one that changed me and my life in a miraculous way. This is my journey into watch collecting.
Fear Led Me Here
Landing a job at the biggest beer company in the world might sound like a dream come true for many young, ambitious grads. But for middle-aged me, it felt more like a pressure balloon.
There’s a curse to being “the Protagonist.” You’re always thinking about the people you love. During a long-term vision exercise, I imagined walking my daughter down the aisle one day. In that vision, I handed her a Rolex and told her, “Please continue to wear this for the rest of your life.” She’s five years old now.
Of course, I woke up from that dream—well, exercise—but the idea of owning a decent watch never left me. It kept appearing on my YouTube recommendations, in my Facebook feed, until eventually… it was sitting right in front of me and my wife, on a velvet tray, next to a big fat bill.
The Discovery
A few days before we made the purchase, we visited the mall we usually go to on weekends. You know the kind of place—stores you always walk past but never step into. That day, we did.
Remember the first time you went to a bar when you were barely legal, and that tingling fear someone might stop you and ask for your ID? That same feeling returned as we dashed into a red-doored boutique in our local mall. But to my surprise, it all happened quickly—and much more smoothly than I expected.
When you think about something every day and dream about it every night, articulating it out loud to a salesperson actually becomes quite natural. My first question was, “Where can I see the 1926?” (the model name). From that moment on, things flowed as smooth as silk.
The only difference between dreaming of watches and being in a boutique is that now, you’re faced with the reality of the moment—the judging eyes (or so you think), the heart-pounding anxiety, the careful observation of finishing and details. Every question feels like a test. Every answer feels like a reveal. Negotiating, asking about promotions, even finding the courage to touch the watch—everything was new and intense.
But the boutique we walked into was professional and warm. They could’ve judged us—but didn’t. That first experience was pivotal. Their humble attitude calmed our nerves and sparked an even deeper interest.
On our second visit, we sealed the deal. It was the biggest purchase our family had made since our wedding. And it was worth every baht.
And I Stayed
“How was your trip?”
“Ok.”
“Good.”
Yeah, we have those boring married couple conversations too. But ever since my wrist found occupancy with these conversation-starting watches, something changed. We began talking again—not to strangers, but to each other.
You wouldn’t believe it, but King Power had 30% off deals on major names like Blancpain and Omega. Imagine a 200K baht drop—just like that!
Just a few months ago, we couldn’t even pronounce those names. Now, we’re hooked. On the surface, it may seem like we’re just two snobby try-hards. But beneath it all, something good is brewing.
Our companionship is growing. Our shared interest brings positivity, brings us closer, and reminds us of a simple truth we often forget:
We’re here to enjoy life together.
We were brought together—by fate, by God—to learn, to grow, to share life’s lessons. But it’s easy to forget how hard the other person is fighting their own battles every day. Or how tough our kid is trying to keep up with school. Mindfulness, it seems, is a rare and expensive commodity these days.
What’s better than having a constant reminder on the wrist? A symbol that brings us back to the present, to the truth that no one lives forever. That one day, we’ll die too.
So why not enjoy a little bit?
Listen more.
Love more.
Memento Mori.