From Grief To Grails: Watch Collector Christina Lim Goes Public With Her Obsessions

It’s no secret—Singapore is home to a plethora of watch collectors. One thing many of them have in common is keeping their hobby in the dark, but Christina Lim has found light in showcasing her vintage timepieces on social media.

Related article: Peek Into Entrepreneur Sherry Ang’s Blinged-Out Watch Collection

“My private world does not appreciate my hobby, but I started documenting my horological journey on my public watch Instagram account—@herhorology—in July as a way of coping with the grief of losing my beloved 21-year-old nephew last December,” shares Lim.

She adds: “In the process, the fog lifted as I recalled the thrill of snagging grail watches and the pleasure of engaging with newfound friends from the watch community.”

Lim’s penchant for vintage started with antique furniture, some of which currently fills her home, and jewellery, but it evolved when her parents gifted her a Favre Leuba cocktail watch set with interchangeable gem frames.

“I wore it for my wedding banquet and loved how it added extra charm to my overall ensemble. That got me interested in other timepieces which might complement my day-to-day wardrobe,” says Lim.

Related article: Heirloom Gallery Founder Shawn Tan On Loving And Letting Go Of Vintage Watches

Like this bijoux show-out, Lim’s collection features a range of ladies’ timepieces, from Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Calibre 101 to a smorgasbord of Piaget stone dial watches that are enviable, to say the least, and speak of her eye for design.

While these dazzling pieces serve as elegant accents and conversation starters to Lim’s casual day-to-day looks, the other part of her collection comprises sleeper beauties, such as the Cartier Tank Crash, often overlooked but rare nonetheless.

“As I mature, the thrill of the hunt has played a big part in my collection. I love to venture to different parts of the world—physically and digitally—in search of fabulous pieces from interesting people and places,” says Lim.

Related article: TikTok’s “Stay-At-Home-Daughter” Chloe Liem On Her Shared Love For Jewellery With Her Mum

Her platinum Cartier Baignoire from the 1970s is an exemplary example that took Lim and her husband on their 28th wedding anniversary adventure through Paris.

“We gave up cathedrals and cruises to chase Cartier. We spent three days navigating specific requirements and conditions to acquire this rare Baignoire of top-echelon provenance, featuring a double tubular bezel, old-style rosette guilloche and the extremely limited run of red Roman numerals,” says Lim.

The dichotomy of Lim’s collection is far from accidental—it fulfils every facet of her collector’s appetite, which ultimately leads her to treasured pieces like the double-signed Rolex and Tiffany & Co. Explorer.

“The Rolex 1016’s rarity and historical significance as the archetypal Explorer model, together with its connection to the luxury jewellery retailer, eloquently capture my personality,” says the seasoned collector.

She continues: “The adventurous alpha female who also appreciates the finer things in life.”

Lim’s watches also serve a dual purpose when she takes them to the ’gram. Thought-provoking anecdotes spark conversations between her and her followers while setting the tone that there’s no right or wrong way to start collecting.

“Be part of a growing movement to debunk the idea that collecting is only for high-level or rich people,” says Christina, on her advice for budding collectors. She explains: “Everyone is different and should have an opportunity to set his or her own unique collecting trajectory.”

Photography: Phyllicia Wang
Art Direction: Alice Chua
Styling: Brandon Chia
Hair and makeup: Hong Ling Lim using Cle de Peau Beauté and Kevin Murphy