CARSON CHAN

Known globally to watch enthusiasts as Watch Professor, this champion of knowledge-based horological appreciation dispenses insights on his lifelong passion.

- Alvin Wong

GREGARIOUS, IMPECCABLY SUITED and always ready to offer an opinion about watches and watch collecting, Carson Chan, also known as Watch Professor on social media, is a walking horological encyclopaedia with fans the world over. With a career spanning over two decades in the watch trade, Chan’s eyebrow-raising epithet is hard-earned. He has led the watch departments at the auction houses of Bonhams and Christie’s; helped establish then-unknown independent brand Richard Mille’s presence in Asia; and helmed the Asian chapter of Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, a Swiss-based, industry-centric, not-for-profit organisation that promotes and certifies watchmaking culture and knowledge.

With his broad-based experience and multifaceted perspectives, Chan is now sought after by leading luxury watch brands seeking to hone their internal best practices with his insights. His true passion, however, lies in horological education. Chan recently set up WatchProfessorAcademy, an online watch resource designed to supercharge one’s knowledge and appreciation of watches. The site is loaded with information about various brands, designers, reviews and technical insights. There are daily quizzes for members to test their knowledge and, in time to come, courses for higher-level enthusiasts. “True watch appreciation stems from a deep understanding of the subject matter. The best investment anyone can have in any watch is to first invest in its knowledge,” he explains.

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