My watch collection centers around vintage and neo-vintage pieces from legacy brands, alongside microbrands with unique design language. These are not just watches to me - they’re tied to occasions and special holidays shared with my wife, which gives them resonance beyond horology. RSM Watch Straps bring another layer of personality to each piece, offering textures and tones that highlight their distinct characters. Each of these watches - whether a Blümlein-era IWC, a transitional Zenith Daytona, a poetic Alato Arvet, or a quietly brilliant Citizen Chronomaster - carries meaning beyond its reference number. This collection is not about hype; it’s about listening to what each watch has to say.
IWC Pilot’s Chronograph Ref. 3740 - The Quiet Flieger
The 3740 is one of those under-the-radar gems seasoned collectors quietly admire. Produced during the Günter Blümlein era in the late ’80s and early ’90s, it reflects his strategy to reposition IWC after the quartz crisis. Rather than fight quartz, IWC embraced the mecha-quartz hybrid (developed with JLC), delivering a chronograph that balanced quartz precision with mechanical feel. This set the stage for the ambitious mechanical pilot’s chronographs of the ’90s. I purchased mine from Amsterdam Vintage Watches while on holiday with my wife, and it’s paired with an Engraved Stripe strap, which sharpens its already purposeful character.
Rolex “Zenith” Daytona Ref. 16523 - Transitional Brilliance
The 16523 captures a turning point in Rolex history. Born in the late 1980s, it was the first two-tone Daytona and one of the earliest to feature the Zenith El Primero-based caliber 4030. With its mix of steel and yellow gold framing a gloss black dial, it straddles tool-watch grit and unapologetic ’80s excess. Today it stands as a neo-vintage icon. I found mine at Watchnian Nakano Broadway - box, papers, bracelet intact - to mark a new work appointment. Paired with a Grey Lizard strap, it finds a new balance: high-low impact that tempers its flash for my more casual wardrobe.
Alato Arvet - Nordic Poetry
The Alato Arvet is an ode to Nordic engineering - elegant, enigmatic, and unapologetically original. Its visual intrigue comes from sharp case lines and textured dial, yet it remains quietly versatile. With an anti-scratch brushed-and-polished case, domed sapphire, and Miyota 9039 movement whose lume-edged rotor adds a subtle visual waltz, it marries creativity with wearability. I was introduced to Pierre at Alato through a chance meeting with one of their photographers, @danghorology, while traveling in Western Australia - a story that cemented the purchase. On a Navy Veneto strap, it gains contrast and flexibility, dressing up or down with ease.
Citizen Chronomaster AQ4020-54Y - The Quiet Powerhouse
Quartz too often gets dismissed as second-class, and the AQ4020-54Y is my rebuttal. With ±5 seconds per year accuracy, perpetual calendar, and a washi paper dial that feels almost alive, it proves that precision need not come at the expense of soul. Housed in Zaratsu-polished titanium, it’s feather-light yet built to last. This piece is especially personal - a wedding gift from my wife - and paired with a Stone Grey Fine Canvas strap, it’s always ready for our next trip.
RSM - My Favourite Walrus
As a marketer and musician, I’ve always admired artisanal approaches that blend craft with creativity. When I first encountered RSM Watch Straps through social media, I was drawn to Yiyan’s obsession with texture, colour, and form. Over the years, RSM has evolved from military-inspired ruggedness into casual-class - straps that elevate the tonal, relaxed outfits I gravitate toward. With materials like silk, canvas, and finely finished leather, RSM redefines what a strap can do, both aesthetically and functionally. The attention to construction ensures robustness far beyond their refined look. RSM has been on a tear lately, and I’m excited to see how the brand pushes further, especially in leather and fabric.
About Fliptock
Jonathan Kang is a research journalist by training and a financial services marketer by profession.
A lifelong musician, he began as a classically trained pianist at five and is now the bassist for Singapore-based grunge-rock band There Be Wolves. He is also the co-owner of Nineteen Eighty Studios, a rehearsal, livehouse, and recording space in the heart of Joo Chiat’s historic district.
IG: @fliptock, @therebewolves, @nineteeneighty.studio
