Prithivi Bahadur Pande, Chairperson of Nepal Investment Bank

“Watches are to men what jewellery are to women”

Timeless perfection

For a workaholic like Prithivi Bahadur Pande, time is the most important dimension. “A watch signifies time and time is priceless,” he shares. A passionate watch collector, Pande became fascinated with watches at the age of 23, when his father gifted him an Omega Dynamic.

Chiefly, he favours expensive and rare watches. He has an enviable collection that includes Franck Muller, Rolex Daytona, Kobold, Corum, Universal, Patex Philippe, Chopard, Zenith, Chopard and many more. The Thanka watch and goddess Laxmi printed watches and a few rare watches belonging to the royal family makes his collection unique. Among his collection, the most costly and the one he holds most dear is the Audemars Piguet.

How many watches do you own?

Too many watches make up my collection. I usually buy one or two exclusive watches every year.

What do you hope to add to your collection?

There is always space for more old and rare watches.

What do you look for when purchasing a watch?

It should be rare, presentable and preferably with a leather strap.

Do you look at watches as passionate purchases or investments?

Watches are good investment because they are of timeless value.

Best place to buy watches in Nepal?

Sulux and Regency because they have a good display of branded watches.

Surya Man Shakya, Professor at Kathmandu University School of Management

“Gift a watch to someone you adore and you will be in their thoughts every second of every hour”

Old is gold

Surya Man Shakya’s passion for watches started at an early age of 12. While studying in the fourth

grade, he saved his lunch money to purchase his first watch — Sowar Prima for Rs 30. “My happiness knew no bounds and satisfaction consumed me like never before,” he shares.

Today, his collection includes Rolex, Omega, Titoni and various other watches, though his favourite is the Gandhian watch. To keep these watches ticking he handles them with utmost care. “You need to value the watches you own. You need to respect the time piece for whatit means to you,” he says, adding that every collector should pass on the valuables to the next generation for it needs to be preserved through

time and eras.

Things you consider while buying a watch

• It should be original

• I prefer only kinetic watches.

• I invest money on old watches.

• The design should be simple and not too loud.

The one piece missing from your collection

I would love to own an Antic Londiness because they are simple and not as loud as Rolex.

What is your favourite brand?

My favourite brand is Patex Philippe as it is rare and has its own distinct identity. It oozes sophistication.

Where do you get your watches from in Nepal?

There is no particular place I go to to make a purchase but I do find that British Gurkhas have rare collections and I often find pieces that I absoutely love and want with them.

Your newest watch?

RW Romer. It’s a gift from a friend.

How many watches do you buy in a year?

I pick it up randomly, around 15 to 20 old model watches.