What timepiece does Dennis Yeung consider the gentleman’s watch?

With a finite amount of time on our hands, choosing what we want to invest our precious moments in is as much an art form as timekeeping itself. For Dennis Yeung, managing director of Oriental Watch Company, turning the canvas of life into a masterpiece requires a delicate balance of work, family and personal passions.

Timing each of these aspects to harmonise is what gives colour to life. To Yeung, time is much more than sporting the latest shiny new watch on his wrist; while timepieces play a much bigger role in his life than just keeping him on time, he believes it’s what you do with this time that makes a man a gentleman.

At this year’s Oriental Watch Company Bow Tie Walk and Fine Gentlemen Evening, Yeung teamed up with the Hong Kong Jockey Club to create an immersive experience for the gentleman who appreciates the finer moments in life. “Some would consider horse racing a sport of time and speed the only winning factor. I fully understand the importance of time and the significance of being timely,” he says.

While Yeung needs few excuses – such as the importance of being on time – to indulge in a new timepiece, he believes watches are an essential part of a gentleman’s wardrobe. “A watch is [also] an accessory for showcasing a man’s taste,” he says.

Aside from looking the part, being a gentleman is, he says, all about the mindset and creating that equilibrium. “Regardless of background, age, hobby or profession, every man is born with the quality of being a gentleman. It lies in his devotion to work, self-respect, appreciation for others, commitment, grit and care for his family and friends.”

But as much as a gentleman needs to take care of those around him, Yeung says balancing time with others and time alone is also crucial. “Although time never rests, a body and mind do need to rest. We do need to rest our bodies and minds once in a while in order to capture the non-stop movement of time.”

And capturing a moment alone can mean doing a lot, or doing nothing at all. “I relax and do things that I enjoy, like reading, surfing the web or listening to music. I will do whatever I feel like doing at that particular time. Sometimes, even doing nothing is a good way to spend your spare time.”

Indulging in a bit of “me time” inevitably leads to reflection. As his success grows, so too does his appreciation for the irreversibility of time. “Time is something that one cannot grasp; you can only sense its existence. It will never stop nor goes backward, it can only go forward. That is the reason I try not to look back into the past but to focus on the future.”