21 Nov Interview with Roger Kuo of The Finest Watches

We are pleased to present this exclusive interview with Roger Kuo of The Finest Watches, one of the world’s leading luxury timepiece retailers. Roger’s knowledge of the luxury watch industry is second-to-none, so we’re certain that readers of Luxury Branded will find the insights of this respected industry insider to be extremely valuable.

1) Please introduce yourself to our readers. What do you do for a living, and what is it about watches that you love so much?

 
My name is Roger Kuo, owner and sales director of The Finest Watches.  We supply clients all over the world with the finest luxury timepieces at great prices and unequalled customer service.  I love watches because it is something that can be both beautiful and functional.  In addition, it can be a personal statement for either a man or woman.  Women have jewelry and watches, but men only have watches.  So, in this regard, watches are one of the few items that men can wear to express their identity and uniqueness.

2) What was your first luxury watch, and what did it mean to you?

 
My first notable luxury watch was an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.  Although I no longer have that particular watch, the Royal Oak is still one of my favorite watches.  It is durable, yet aesthetically very pleasing to the naked eye.  I think the octagonal shape particularly appeals to me, because it is so unique.  In addition, the finish on the watch is incredible.  Audemars Piguet even takes the time to hand finish the bezel screws in a different polish (shiny) than the bezel itself (matte). 

 

3) Do you have a favorite watch? If so, tell us.

 
That’s a tough question to answer for someone like myself.  I see so many fabulous watches, it’s hard to pick just one favorite watch.  But, I will say some of my favorite brands are Audemars Piguet, Breguet, Franck Muller, and Patek Philippe.

 

4) If you had to own just three watches ever, which 3 would you choose?

 
Again, that is a tough question.  I guess if you pinned me down to just three watches, I would have to say the Patek Sky Moon Tourbillon, the Vacheron Patrimony Perpetual Calendar Skeleton, and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.

5) Which luxury watch manufacturer has impressed you most over the past few years?

 
I have been particularly impressed by Piaget.  This is a brand that has really turned things around in the past few years.  Prior to Richemont buying them, they were not doing well at all.  Most models were over-priced and just languishing on store shelves until they often had to be liquidated at huge discounts to move.  However, once Piaget was folded into the Richemont brand, the distribution and marketing improved so dramatically that many models now have long waiting lists.  I see the same thing starting to happen with Roger Dubuis.  Roger Dubuis has always made great watches.  In fact, I think they are very underrated in terms of their movements and quality.  Now, they have the powerful distribution and marketing arm of Richemont to back them up.  And, I think it is a wonderful thing.  Another brand that I see a huge market for is Jaermann & Stübi.  Jaermann & Stübi produces the world’s only high-end golf complication watch.  It has unique functions which allow a golfer to keep track of the number of strokes played for the hole, number of holes played, and total strokes played for the round.  Being a golfer myself, I often find myself recounting in my head how many strokes I played for that hole after it has been completed.  Now, you don’t need to worry about that.  Just push a button each time you play a stroke, and it’s all right there for you to see right on your watch.  Now, you can focus on playing golf, and not worry about keeping score.  And, of course, it also tells time.  In fact, the movement is certified by the COSC (Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute).

6) For the gentleman looking to buy a gift for his lucky lady, what ladies’ timepiece would you recommend this season?

 
We seem to be getting lots of requests for ladies Cartier and Omega watches this holiday season.  The new Omega Ladymatic is Omega’s answer for an elegant ladies watch with an automatic movement.  It comes in steel, rose gold, or yellow gold with a black or mother of pearl dial, with or without diamonds.  And, of course, the ladies Cartier models such as Ballon Bleu, Pasha, Roadster, Santos, and Tanks (Americaine, Francaise, and now Anglaise) are always popular.  In particular, we have seen strong demand for the new Tank Anglaise model, which comes in three sizes and a variety of gold colors (white, yellow, or rose).

You can Contact Him Or Visit via:
The Tiffany & Co. Building
360 Post St, Suite 301
San Francisco, CA 94108
 
The Web: www.TheFinestWatches.com
On Twitter: @TheFinestWatch
On Facebook: /TheFinestWatches
Phone: (800) 998-3082 
Local: (415) 864-3615
Fax: (415) 360-5501