Since becoming interested in watches, he has collected over 100 watches in the past four years. What's surprising is not only the sheer number of watches, but also the breadth of his collection, which includes sporty models from well-known brands, rare high-end complications, and even niche independent brands. His collection, which includes watches he is currently ordering, continues to grow. To that end, he wants to create a dedicated watch room in his home. "It's a solitary hobby where I can immerse myself in the world I love," he says with a laugh, but isn't this the utopia of a watch enthusiast?
He is currently 40 years old. Due to his father's work, he spent his early years abroad before entering the workforce. He started his own business in his late 30s and is now self-employed in the entertainment industry. As a child, he was interested in G-SHOCK and other watches, but it wasn't until he started his own business that he became seriously interested in watches. He usually dresses in a sporty casual style, mainly T-shirts, and often pairs it with a bracelet watch.
Photographs by Takafumi Okuda
Shigeru Sugawara: Interview and writing
Text by Shigeru Sugawara
Edited by Chronos Japan (Yukiya Suzuki, Yuto Hosoda)
[Article published in the July 2024 issue of Kronos Japan]
"I have no idea how far it will spread. My dream is to make my own watches in the future."
XC, who lives in a high-rise tower complex in a major city and lives on one of the residential floors, appeared in the guest reception room carrying a large collection of watches. His unpretentious style, dressed in a T-shirt, might be closer to the image of a "young entrepreneur" that often appears in business magazines. XC is actually one of the successful entrepreneurs who has started a business in the entertainment industry. He started his business in his 30s, about four years ago, and since then he has become obsessed with collecting watches. Currently, his collection of over 100 watches is dominated by Breguet watches.
"The first watch I bought was a Marine titanium three-hand watch with a chronograph. In fact, my favorite was the Marine Royal worn by actor Hideaki Ito. I thought it was cool and admired it. However, when I went to a boutique, I was told that it was no longer available. That's when I saw the new generation Marine."
Once he acquired the Breguet, he became interested in the background of the watch and the brand's history. He fell in love with the brand even more when he learned that no other brand has achieved as much in such a wide range of fields as Breguet, including the sea and the sky. He eventually became friends with the brand's staff, and managed to acquire the first Marine Aura Mundi 5557, released in 2022, to arrive in Japan, as well as the first Classic Grand Complication Minute Repeater 7637BR to be shipped worldwide in 2023.
"When I got the Type 20 military model last year, I went on a customer tour and traveled to Switzerland and France. I was impressed by the Swiss headquarters and the aviation museum."
Starting with Breguet, XC's watch collecting has only accelerated, but he says, "I have big wrists, so I mostly collect bracelet watches." His favorite Audemars Piguet watch is the black ceramic Royal Oak Chronograph. "This is probably the one I wear the most. It goes without saying that the ceramic processing technology is amazing, but the scratch-resistant nature of it makes it ideal for everyday use. My wife has also become a watch lover thanks to my influence, and she has a black ceramic Royal Oak. Speaking of ceramics, she often wears the Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon."
The all-black ceramic design is exceptionally cool. Pairing such a model with casual fashion for everyday wear shows that even among watch enthusiasts, he is quite an advanced watch enthusiast. Incidentally, XC also owns a high-end complication from Audemars Piguet, the Royal Oak Concept Minute Repeater Supersonnerie. Placing it next to the Breguet minute repeater mentioned earlier, XC cheerfully said, "Please, please, listen to the sounds and compare them." This was the first time for me to see these two high-end brand superwatches together. It was a valuable experience that could only be had through an interview like this.
XC doesn't just have his eye on masterpieces from well-known major brands. He also had an eye for small, independent brands from an early stage in his watch collecting career, so he must have had a discerning eye to begin with.
"I came across Greubel Forsey watches at an event. Their technology and design are unique, and I think they're a brand that deserves more recognition. I then met Romain Gauthier himself. He's someone who values his relationships with Japanese people. The watches they make are packed with technology in objects that you wear on your wrist, and I particularly like the way the gimmick is made visible, like the chain-pull constant-force mechanism in the Logical One."
XC describes the enjoyment of the experience as "the feeling of enjoying a miniature amusement park." In addition to the "Ballancier" he currently owns, he also ordered the latest Greubel Forsey "Double Balancier Convex" with a carbon case. As for Romain Gauthier, he acquired the final edition of the "Logical One," which was discontinued due to an order from a fan, and the "C By Romain Gauthier," which indicates the brand's new direction. "The appeal of watches is that, despite being so well-made, you can wear them however you like in any situation. Well, it may be a solitary hobby," he says.
XC, who has no idea how far his hobby will expand due to impulse buying, also says he would like to create a room dedicated to watches to house his ever-increasing collection, "organizing them by brand, trend, and related goods." Perhaps it would be something like the collection room of an art collector. He also reveals his ambition to take his hobby to the next level and make his own watches in the future.
"I graduated from an art school and have the knowledge to create three-dimensional designs. But first I need to find out what I like and what makes me happy. I also need to understand how watches work. I think I'll try taking apart a pocket watch."
XC, whose zodiac sign is the boar, is a reckless type of person. He is currently passionate about collecting watches, but if he decides to do something, he might devote himself to creating an original watch.
"I'm so busy with work I don't have the time for that, but maybe one day I'll have the time," he laughs, but it's good to have dreams. I hope he'll realize his dream as a watch lover with his own hands.
