Telling Time: Hung
At TKKR we value the voice of our community. We want to show how we are all connected through our watch stories. This is Telling Time with Hung.
Q: Who are you? Where are you from? Where do you live? What do you do for a living?
Hey there, I’m Hung, and I’m 25 years old. I’m living in Vietnam, and I’m learning watchmaking as an apprentice at a workshop.
Q: How did you first get into watches? What interests you about watches?
It was roughly about 3–4 years ago when my friend introduced the world of mechanical watches to me. It was around late 2016, when I started asking around about watches, and my friend at that time recommended the Nomos Tangente 36. It was also my first mechanical watch ever. The one thing I love about watches is their tiny, yet extremely reliable and precise details.
Q: Do you collect? If you could make a collection what are 3 must-haves at any price point?
Right now I’m not collecting any watches, but perhaps I will try once I’m financially well enough. If I can make a collection, my three choices would be a Patek 5711, an ALS Lange 1 with Moon Phase, and a JLC Reverso.
Q: If you had to sell all of your watches and just keep one, which one is it and why?
Well, currently I only own one watch only, so I guess selling all of them would be out of option.
Q: What is a watch you would love to see in real life? (real or imaginary).
If I have a chance to see one in real life, it must be the Space Traveler, hand-crafted and made by the legend George Daniels himself. I think it represents the pinnacle of watchmaking, of what human can do and how far they can push their limits.
Q: When you are looking at watches, what is one thing that stands out about a watch?
Personally, it is the dial and the hands of that watch that get my attention when I look at them. I love the simplicity and aesthetics of a dial, it does not have to look too complicated or have too many functions which I rarely use.
Q: Watch Stories — How did you get it? Why is it special? What memories are tied to it?
I came across this vintage Omega timepiece when my mentor put it up for sale, as our workshop also sells and buys watches too. At that time I was wearing my Nomos for 5 years, and I decided it is time to make a change. I love the dial color of this Omega so much that I could not take my eyes off it. It has this beige color, and despite being a rather old watch (this one does not have the Co-axial movement in it), the condition is too mint and I can’t help but desire one.
Q: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? What is one piece of advice you would give someone?
I would say the same thing to anyone if they ever ask me for a piece of advice: Just buy and wear what you love. It’s like having a lover of some sort, some might dislike it, but as long as you love your timepiece then nothing matters. It is the very same advice that I received from my mentor: If you want it, just go for it. And until now I’m still living by those words.
