Many collectors, not just those who own watches, like to show off their collections to others. However, until now, ST has been enjoying his collection alone. One of Japan's leading Royal Oak collectors, who has never even been mentioned in rumors, sits on the top floor of a tower apartment overlooking the night view, gazing at his rare models with a glass of wine and reveling in their beauty.
Born in 1987, after graduating from university he worked for a major securities firm before going independent and starting his own business in 2015. He is a talented businessman who has led his own business to success. "I had intended to bid on the Royal Oak that was scheduled to be put up for auction on Only Watch, but unfortunately the auction was postponed," he said. He ordered a replacement watch and is eagerly awaiting its completion.
Photographs by Yu Mitamura
Norio Takagi: Interview and writing
Text by Norio Takagi
Edited by Chronos Japan (Yukiya Suzuki, Yuto Hosoda)
[Article published in the July 2024 issue of Kronos Japan]
"Watch collecting is my life, so I'll never let go of a single one."
"Four million dollars!" shouted ST, raising his voice as he held up a paddle with the number 23 written on it. The date was May 23, 2023, and the location was the top floor of Central Park Tower, towering over the heart of Dubai. This was happening at the auction of a unique piece of the second Audemars Piguet x Marvel collaboration, the "Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon "Spider-Man," held at this very location on that day. Invited to the event were Audemars Piguet's most important clients. S was one of three invited from Japan.
"My hands were shaking when I made the bid."
Unfortunately, he was not successful, but his successful bidding was highly praised and he was able to acquire a limited edition model with different exterior specifications. Mr. S also owns the first collaboration model with Marvel, "Black Panther," and was able to capture the rare shot above of the two together.
Including these two watches, Mr. S prepared more than 20 different models from the Royal Oak family for this interview. Among them were several rare limited edition models. The dimpled dial of the Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon shown in the photo above is not limited in quantity, but production numbers are extremely limited, so there will likely never be another opportunity to see two watches, one in white gold and one in pink gold, side by side. The Royal Oak Minute Repeater Supersonnerie that he just purchased is limited to 25 pieces, and Mr. S is the only one in Japan to have been able to get one. We learned that he has a collection of more than 50 watches from the Royal Oak family alone.
"There are several secret models that we can't show in the magazine. I also own several CODE 11.59 by Audemars Piguet watches."
I see, so as a top customer he will be invited to the auction in Dubai.
(Left) The Royal Oak Minute Repeater Supersonnerie, first released in 2018. Rare variations have been released since then, but this was a limited edition model of 25 pieces that was released first in Singapore. "I fell in love with the burgundy dial at first sight and ordered it straight away," says Mr.
Mr. S's watch history began with a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner he bought with his part-time job earnings during his university days. After he started working, he began collecting Rolex watches at a rate of about one per year.
"Back then, and even now, buying watches was my motivation for working."
In 15, he became independent and started his own business. As his business grew, his passion for collecting watches also grew stronger. At that time, a senior colleague who was also a watch enthusiast introduced him to "YOSHIDA." It was here that he first encountered Audemars Piguet...or rather, Patek Philippe.
"My senior advised me that I should collect watches that could be called artisanal. So I started buying Patek Philippe watches, such as the Nautilus and Aquanaut."
The collection must be impressive, especially considering that it even includes a minute repeater.
One day in 2020, Mr. S, who had become a regular customer of YOSHIDA, was recommended a watch. It was a platinum model of the Royal Oak "Jumbo" Extra-Thin with diamond indexes, made by Audemars Piguet for YOSHIDA. This became his "first AP."
"I was immediately captivated by the design of the octagonal bezel, with its sharp edges, which was different from the Nautilus, also designed by Gerald Genta," says Mr. S. Since then, he has been collecting Royal Oaks at an astonishingly fast pace. As mentioned above, he currently owns over 50 Royal Oaks. You can imagine how quickly he has been buying them.
Although he is an investor himself, Mr. S does not see watches as an investment target. As proof of this, he says, "I have never let go of a watch, including the first Submariner I bought. I even told my wife, 'Even if something were to happen to me, never sell your watches.'"
His collection includes more than 120 watches, including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and models from other brands. He is perhaps the largest owner of rare Royal Oak models in Japan. Despite being such an avid collector, Mr. S's existence hadn't even been talked about in the watch world until now. This is because, as someone who claims to have no desire for self-expression, he has never bragged about his watches to anyone, nor has he ever shared them on social media.
"There's nothing I enjoy more than watching the movement of a clock while drinking wine every night. Collecting clocks has become my purpose in life."
Mr. S watched as his collection, which was being shown to the public for the first time in Japan, was photographed by a professional photographer.
"These kids must be so happy to have their photos taken so coolly."
He smiles as he says this, like a father watching his child have his photo taken at a photo studio. Mr. S has also ordered a cabinet specifically for watches to house his beloved collection, and is eagerly awaiting its completion.
"It's the size of an entire wall, and the surface is polished black."
The luxurious and huge custom-made cabinet has a storage capacity of approximately 1000 bottles!
"There is no end to a watch collection, but filling up the completed cabinet is my first goal." This young collector, who has made collecting watches his life, has high aspirations, but the road ahead is long and never-ending.
