A Girl's Best Friend

From hard-working classics to avant-garde designs, these four chic collectors tell us why their watches are more than just for keeping time.

- Charmaine Ho

CHIN BOTTINELLI - WITH HER AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE

“It’s actually a funny, romantic story that started a love affair,” says Chin when asked about her first watch. The “love affair”, of course, refers to the one she shares with her husband of 13 years, Oliviero Bottinelli. However, having discovered how passionate and well-versed she is in Audemars Piguet (AP) lore, the words could apply just as suitably to the watch brand as well. Not only does her 20-plus timepiece collection contain nothing but APs, she has also visited the Le Brassus Manufacture several times to see the inner workings of its watches. Did we mention that Oliviero sits on AP’s Board of Directors? Thus, it was opportune timing that saw him walk through the doors of Asiatique Collections—a home and furniture boutique of which Chin is the Founding Director—just as she was looking to invest in a watch. He introduced her to the brand, invited her to the store and extended an irresistible discount to her. The watch she chose? The Promesse, which she immediately fell in love with. They could not have started their love on a more felicitous note. “That started my whole introduction to the world of watches, which has continued to fascinate me.” What is it about horology that she finds so compelling? “Having seen how these watches are made, the time, precision and craftsmanship that goes into them… It’s a really beautiful and complicated object that we can keep on our wrist anytime, anywhere. Even if I were to leave home to go to work and I forget my watch, I actually drive home to pick it up; I feel incomplete without it. And, these watches help me dress up or dress down. I wear my jeans and t-shirt, strap on my gold bracelet watch, and it just changes everything.”