WHO TO FOLLOW: Greg Yuna AKA Mr Flawless, jeweller to the stars
Once known as ‘Mr Flawless’, Greg Yuna is an entrepreneur and custom jeweller to celebrities like Drake, Floyd Mayweather Jr and Meek Mill. We talk custom watches with Greg, to gain some insight into one of the more controversial parts of the watch industry. How did you get your start customising watches? I started with working for my uncle about eight years ago. From there, I started creating and icing out these watches. Here in NYC, it’s very popular, because of the culture. What’s going on right now is a race to see who can take the biggest, baddest watch and ruin it. Who has the balls to ruin them first, and that’s where I come in. What I try and do is get the most popular, hottest watches, as soon as they come out – and ice them out, to have them on the market before anyone else. I recently opened my store in July; before that I was known as ‘Mr Flawless’. Back then, I was working with my uncle, and eventually we parted ways. Do you have a favourite brand or particular watch to customise? I love working on Audemars Piguet and Rolex, those are my two…
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For those of you situated outside of Australia, it might come as a surprise to learn that over the Christmas break just about everything shuts down for a few weeks (which means lots of BBQs, beaches and beers). This does include Time + Tide HQ (well, sort of, but not really), but that didn’t stop me from getting out and about in the summer heat, to do what I do best … My first spot for this Dispatch was on the wrist of Time + Tide contributor Cam, who was down in Melbourne for our Christmas party. So when I saw it, I promptly stole it. I’ve always loved the Omega Flightmaster; in fact, I think it’s the first ever watch photo that I posted on Instagram. There’s just so much to love about these old Flightmasters, which were made for only a handful of years during the late 1960s and early ’70s. I’ve said it before — the Flightmaster is long overdue for a reissue! Spotted on the wrist of a gent opposite me at a cafe, there was no missing the killer sector dial on this JLC Master Control. Its owner was quite the watch collector, and just that week…
We recently caught up with longtime watch instagrammer @PBANDWATCHES about his passion for the finer things in life, and were joined by his lovely wife, ‘Mrs PB’, to hear her perspective on the crazy hobby that is watch collecting. Hi, Mr PB, what’s your daily watch and why? I don’t really have one particular daily watch, but I probably grab my Pam 510 or Sub more than any others. It could be because both are no-date watches and very quick to set, but I find myself wearing them often. How do you unwind? Make myself an Old Fashioned, grab a nice cigar and sit by the fire in the backyard. The fact that it’s currently -22 degrees outside right now and I can’t unwind is about to make me go crazy. What about you, Mrs PB? My go-to is the Rolex Datejust II. I like a watch that looks like jewellery, so it generally wins out for work. What else is in @PBandWatches’ collection? Have you got a favourite? My collection casts a vast net because I collect off emotions. Patek 5164A, AP Royal Oak, Breitling Navi, Rolex Datejust II, MeisterSinger Salthora (jump hour) just to name a few. My…
Film and television producer Jonathan Schwartz lives in Vancouver (obviously) with his wife and two kids. He’s also got a passion for cars, guitars and of course — watches. Hey Jonathan, what’s your daily watch and why? My daily watch is my Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711R Tiffany Dial. There is no other watch in my collection that makes me feel the way that this one does. It’s thin, and it has a great weight to it; it just looks amazing in any and all circumstances. It’s very much a piece that I’ve always wanted, and I feel very fortunate to have it. It’ll be a cold day in hell before I part with it! Do you have a favourite timepiece? It’s hard to choose a favourite, but I’d have to say either my Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711R or the Aquanaut 5164A, both Tiffany dials. They are similar, but at the same time, so different. Ironically, I was in NYC a few weeks ago and didn’t bring the Aquanaut. It would have been perfect for the travel time, but I chose the 5711R and my Patek Philippe Grand Complication Perpetual Calendar Moonphase 3970R. There are only so many watches I can genuinely rotate…
If you believe your calendars, then somehow we’re already in DECEMBER! And although we should be getting ready to wind down for the year, we seem to be getting busier. In case you missed it, Time + Tide Shop is now a thing — oh, and SIHH 2018 is just one month away. Yes, one month. But anyway, here’s to the December that was … I kicked off this month with a dinner with Zenith, hosted by Melbourne retailer Monards, down at the iconic AC/DC Lane. The evening was intimate, with a dozen or so guests, who all shared a common love for the brand. A clear standout for me (and personal favourite) was the black El Primero 36,000 VPH. On a rubber strap, this 42mm watch was just awesome. And, of course, what’s not to love about a clear caseback when it shows off the iconic El Primero movement? Part way through the month, I got the call from a friend who extended an invitation for coffee to meet local father and son watch collectors, John and Matt. John was wearing a Rolex Submariner (Ref 16610LN) after arriving back from a trip to the farm, where he’d put it to…
Today we chat to California-based finance guy Robert, a down-to-earth Instagram veteran with a thing for watches … Hey Robert, tell us about yourself. Day to day I’m just your average guy who loves watches. On weekends I enjoy getaways to Napa, Carmel, Southern California and the Pacific Northwest. My wife and I are always out and about with our dog, Kevin. Most days you’ll find us at a local happy hour or watching sports on weekends. First and foremost, I love my family. Believe it or not, I also love my career. Finally, of course, I love watches. This hobby has transcended merely wearing something on your wrist that looks nice, and now is more about sharing a passion with a group of like-minded people whom I now call my friends. So, what’s your daily watch and why? My GMT-Master II BLNR. It’s just a perfect watch. The proportions, colours, ruggedness … everything about it makes it the best daily watch I own. I also own an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 26400IO and an Omega Speedmaster CK2998. I’d have to say my favourites are the Audemars and the BLNR, though my latest, a Patek 5712, hasn’t been off…
Matt Farah is the host and producer of The Smoking Tire YouTube series, The Smoking Tire podcast, and a host on /DRIVE on NBC Sports. Matt will also be opening the West Side Collector Car Storage Centre in the fall of 2018. He loves cars, boats, watches, cooking, cycling, skiing, travelling and photography. Hey Matt, what’s your ‘daily watch’ and why? The watch I wear most often is my Rolex GMT-Master II ‘Batman’. I like it because it’s very comfortable, has a great presence, works with casual and dressier outfits, and is exceptionally well made and durable. I can wear it to a dinner, a business meeting, on camera, or while washing my car or taking out the trash. It’s good for everything, which is part of the reason I think it’s such a popular watch right now. How do you like to unwind? I go to the gym every day, I ride my bicycle 15-25 miles, or I take a drive in the canyons. What do all these activities have in common? No internet or cell phones. Tell me about The Smoking Tire. The Smoking Tire is where I review four cars and do one podcast weekly. I review cars old…
Silas Walton (@A_Collected_Man) is the founder of A Collected Man, an online platform based in London, selling rare watches around the world. Silas loves beautiful watches, well-made clothes, and the inside of a Cessna 152 at 10,000 feet. Hi Silas, what’s your daily watch and why? During the working week I wear a vintage Patek Philippe 3940G. I have relatively slim wrists, love Perpetual Calendars and am fascinated by anything powered by a Micro-Rotor movement, so it’s a natural fit. So, what else is in your collection? Have you got a favourite? I’ve sold a lot of my earlier pieces, but I love wearing the new Omega Speedmaster ’57 in my downtime, and I’ve recently taken delivery of a Laurent Ferrier Micro-Rotor. It’s definitely competing with the 3940G for wrist-time. What do you look for, in terms of criteria, when buying a watch? I’m very grounded when it comes to buying watches. I’ve learnt that I’ve often regretted previous, impulsive decisions, so, first, I make sure I really, genuinely want the watch. I ask myself if it truly fits my taste. My watch is the only important accessory that I wear on a daily basis. It has to fit me…
Today we chat to banker and self-described vintage watch hoarder Jack Wong, who’s not so anonymous online as @jackwongyf. From where we’re sitting, the Jack Wong lyf looks pretty good. Hi Jack, what’s your daily watch and why? To be honest, I don’t have a daily watch, I usually pick something to go with the day’s mood. So then, what is in your collection and have you got a favourite? I do not focus on one brand, or one particular era, as I believe every brand and period has their best. Having said that, I am particularly fond of Longines, Omega, Seiko, Rolex and pieces from the ’30s, ’40s and ’60s. As for my favourite, that’s a tough question. Aesthetically, I love all my sector dial watches. Mechanically, I am still in awe of my FPJ tourbillon. In regards to finishing and innovation, I’d go for my Grand Seiko Spring Drive. Rarity wise, my Longines (Mushroom Pusher) 13zn. You can probably tell by now, I don’t really have a favourite. Tell us about your most recent purchase, why is it special? I have to say it would be my Omega 26.5 CK859 two-tone Sector dial. It is special because, to…
For those who haven’t checked their (perpetual) calendars lately — wake up! It’s November, yes — there’s only a few weeks left of the year, and I honestly have no clue where the time went, but it’s gone. Christmas is just weeks away, and before we know it, we’ll be welcoming 2018. Anyway, here’s what happened this month … First up, I caught up with Nicholas Hooper for a coffee at my local. Nicholas was down from Sydney, and packing some pretty serious heat — a HYT H2 Tradition, which retails for a cool $260,000 AUD. Certainly not a piece you see every day, it wasn’t entirely surprising to see on Nicholas’s wrist as he’s the Australian distributor of HYT. Personally, I quite liked the white gold case and enamel dial (albeit minimal). It was a real treat to photograph, and had quite the wrist presence. Those who keep an eye on my Instagram account would’ve noticed I spent the long weekend with a pair of Bulgari Octos. I won’t go into too much detail here, as there’s a full review to come (next week), though I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Ultranero. For me, these two…