Tick Tock Belles' Stephanie Soh Talks Watches, Heirlooms And The Future Of The Female Watch Club

Watches are more than just mere tools to tell time, and this watch collector of more than 20 years knows it best.

hbsg-tick-tock-belles-steph-feature — Stephanie Soh

By Brandon Chia - published 27 Nov 2023

Watch collecting has a reputation of being a boy’s club. But collector Stephanie Soh has certainly shifted the balance in Singapore by co-founding Tick Tock Belles, a female-focused watch club.

The club boasts 30 regular members who gather regularly to discuss all things watches and expand their horological knowledge with experts from the likes of Cartier, Franck Muller, Chanel and more.

Harper's BAZAAR Singapore sat down with the chic co-founder of the club a few weeks ago at Singapore Watch Fair 2023 for a heart-to-heart conversation about her passion for watches, pieces of her collection that she will be passing down to her children, and the future of Tick Tock Belles.

Congratulations on the success of Tick Tock Belles and its first anniversary. What has this journey been like?

We are about 30-strong now and we don’t exclude the husbands [of our members] because while some brands request to have events with just our female members, others want a mix and the ratio would be fifty-fifty.

But in comparison, the number of male collectors as a whole is still higher than females because our budget is split into buying shoes, clothes and bags too. For example, for every watch I own, my husband owns three or four. However, I must say that female collectors are now getting very knowledgeable and we know what we are looking for.

Tick Tock Belles isn’t a group of “tai tais”. Most of us are working women holding very high positions and some of us may even earn more than our husbands. When we have events, our members ask really intelligent questions about movements and the history of the brand, instead of: "What is the retention value of this watch or that watch?"

We have beginners and established collectors, vintage lovers and those who prefer blingy watches; some are attracted to independent or micro brands. But most importantly, when we come together, there is no discrimination or ego. Our members love this energy because we don’t compare watches or experiences like some predominantly male clubs do.

There is no doubt that you're a serious watch collector because of that special watch on your wrist. Tell me more about it.

This is a vintage diamond Cartier Crash with a black crocodile strap from the 1990s. I also like that it has the odd buckle instead of the usual rounded one. It is actually from Cartier Paris because the Crash is only available in three places: London, Paris and New York.

I got this from a retailer – Heirloom Gallery. Shawn Tan, the owner, specialises in vintage Cartier too. Actually, the first time I saw this watch was years ago in a boutique. I didn't like it at the time because I thought the shape was a bit funny.

But then, I saw the London Crash and I really liked it. Shawn had that exact piece but I missed it by an hour. So, I jokingly badgered Shawn: “You must find me another Crash!” He went around, asking his network, and eventually found this one I’m wearing.

Are quirky watches what you seek these days?

Firstly, the aesthetics of the watch must be attractive to me. If it's ugly, you can tell me: “You can make so much money from this” but I still won’t want it because allocations are so precious. You cannot just buy something that you don't like and then think of flipping it for money.

So, I do like quirky shapes, which you can also tell by my Chanel Robot Minaudiere that I am carrying today. Nowadays, I like to buy minaudieres instead of the classic 2.55 or other quilted bags because the colours are the only thing that changes season after season. Minaudieres also attract people to talk to you about them, just like watches with distinct shapes.

But I also like simple two-hand watches and I like clean faces without many complications. I do have a few Patek Philippe Moonphase Perpetual Annual Calendars but they are a small number compared to the majority of my collection.

What else do you consider before buying a watch?

The next thing I look at is the brand behind the watch, and a good support system is important to me because what if the watch breaks down? I have heard of some brands where they make screws that are like an S-shape, which requires a patented screwdriver to unscrew [the links]. So, if the size of your wrists changes, you can’t just change the strap yourself.

Inconveniences like these may deter me from getting a watch even though it may be marketed as something really exclusive.

How did your passion for watch collecting come about?

Related article: 10 Quiet Luxury Watches Worth Investing In

I did neglect this hobby for a while because I also enjoy fashion and I spent a lot of my money on bags and ready-to-wear until the pandemic and lockdown happened a few years ago. There was nowhere to go, so I looked into watches again because, unlike clothes, you can stay home and just play with your watch.

But I have actually loved watches since I was five when my dad gifted me my first watch, which was a manual winding Mickey Mouse watch. I don't know why he got that for me because you will usually buy a quartz watch for a child but luckily he did because it still works today.

I also kept my Swatch watches that I bought during my university days as that was all I could afford as a student. But I started collecting seriously in my 20s – I remember spending my first bonus on a Rolex.

Will you be passing your collection down to your children?

I do seek my children’s opinions sometimes before buying a watch because – touch wood – if I don’t meet any financial crisis, my watches will be like heirlooms. So, I will pick something that I think they will appreciate over time because I don’t expect them to keep anything they don't like and enjoy.

Recently, out of the blue, my daughter asked if I could will my vintage Cartier Tank to her. I was surprised because it’s just a Tank but she’s a big BTS fan and she wants it because V wore it in a campaign. I said: “Okay, you can have it. In fact, just wear it now. By the time I die, it might not be relevant.”

Last question: With a new year approaching, what is in the works for Tick Tock Belles?

We are planning on expanding internationally. We are looking into Hong Kong – Deborah was actually in Hong Kong this week to meet up with some collectors because there is a big group there who have been collaborating with us online.

Malaysia is one area that we want to focus on and encourage the female collectors to come out because we know they're out there. Some of the authorised dealers are asking us to lure the Malaysian women out but they are really very shy.

Independent brands are also picking up and we are actually speaking with a few brands to see if we can come up with a Tick Tock Belles collaboration.