Traditional watch brands, such as Rolex, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet, have taken pride of place in collectors' showcases for generations. But will the most prized timepieces of the future include new names such as Shanghai Watch Co?
Carson Chan Kai-shun, managing director of Bonhams Asia and its watch specialist, says 'it's only [a matter of] time before China will have its own international brand on the same level as Western luxury brands'. He notes that the mainland brand to watch out for is Shanghai Watch, started in 1955 and said to be a favourite of former premier Zhou Enlai.
Collecting watches is much like amassing art - do your research and buy what you like, the experts advise. While classic brands, such as Rolex, will continue to attract strong demand, there is a decided move towards newer timepieces with the same quality and originality as traditional pieces.
Chan advises only buying watches you enjoy and appreciate. 'While this is the priority, there are several steps you can take to make it into a meaningful collection and something of potential value,' he says.
If you are buying purely to make money, the first thing to consider is whether you are traditionalist or a risk taker, as with any investment. A risk taker may consider one of the upcoming brands, while a traditionalist will tend to go for a Rolex or Patek.
'You can take the classic direction and buy household-name brands with a very long history and heritage - brands that will still be around when you need to get your timepiece serviced,' Chan says. 'The other option is to look at the recent flow of independent brands, which are not entry level but start at HK$500,000 to HK$5 million.'