A day of vintage watches and conversations with Hodinkee Japan

The excitement of meeting my idols: The Hodinkee community

Most watch enthusiasts are no strangers to the name Hodinkee. Some of us may not even have fallen into watches if it weren’t for them.

Ben Clymer and his Talking Watches series inspired me to learn more about this wonderful hobby of horology. I was already a fan of John Mayer before discovering Hodinkee, so naturally I followed Mayer to his first Talking Watches episode with the brand. That’s where I was introduced to Ben Clymer, and my enthusiasm for the world of watches only grew from there.

So when I heard that Hodinkee Japan, represented by Yu Sekiguchi and Masaharu Wada, was hosting an event in Bangkok, I was naturally excited.

The event brought together the local watch community for conversations about watches, alongside a showcase of exceptional vintage pieces curated by worldwide menswear collaborator Motofumi “Poggy” Kogi and vintage watch and jewelry expert Daisuke Eguchi of Eguchi Watches.

Here are some of the highlights from the event.

The event poster featuring vintage watch talks with Hodinkee Japan, Poggy Style, and Eguchi Watches.

The savvy gentlemen’s quarters

If I had to describe my own fashion style, I’d probably call it “hybrid”, an aesthetic that blends the structured elegance of bespoke European heritage with the raw, youthful edge of modern streetwear.

The Decorum fits somewhere between those two worlds. A classic menswear house with a contemporary outlook, its Park House Bangkok location combines the warm, cozy atmosphere of a gentleman’s dressing room with industrial loft touches, rich wood accents, and mid-century modern furniture.

Its intimate layout creates a private sanctuary with a sophisticated yet relaxed feel, making it a perfect venue for the event.

The Decorum offers bespoke suits, knitwear, shoes, and more, all centered around quality garments and tailoring.

A bespoke menswear brand like The Decorum naturally complements vintage watches and the Hodinkee aesthetic. Both celebrate slow craftsmanship, historical narratives, and a quieter approach to luxury.

The atmosphere at The Decorum Park House Bangkok.

The Hodinkee Japan lineup: Yu Sekiguchi and Masaharu Wada

In 2019, Hodinkee launched its first international edition in partnership with Hearst Fujingaho, a long-established Japanese media company.

Based in Tokyo, Hodinkee Japan is led by Yu Sekiguchi, a veteran editor of Japanese watch magazines, and Masaharu Wada, a well-known watch blogger and collector who serves as web producer.

The team has produced localized Japanese-language content, including magazines and video series such as the popular Talking Watches.

Hodinkee Japan is part of a broader effort to foster a passion for horology and share the experience with a wider audience. Being able to experience that connection firsthand with the Thai watch community was something I was genuinely grateful for.

Panelists from Hodinkee Japan, Poggy Style, and Eguchi Watches during the Watch Talk segment.

The special guests: Poggy Style and Eguchi Watches

For those who don’t know Motofumi “Poggy” Kogi, he is a well-known Japanese fashion collaborator and tastemaker from Sapporo. Over the years, he has worked with brands such as Adidas, Levi’s, Converse, and Puma, as well as United Arrows & Sons.

He introduced the world to what has become known as “Poggy Style”, a way of dressing that fuses traditional Western tailoring with Japanese streetwear and vintage aesthetics.

At its heart, Poggy Style is about self-expression: showing that even inexpensive or lovingly worn pieces, such as a vintage watch, can become versatile expressions of individuality.

Daisuke Eguchi shares a similar philosophy, particularly when it comes to the stories behind the objects he collects.

“A memorable item that was passed down from one person to another may hold a story that has a great impact on a person’s life.”

It’s a philosophy he hopes to continue carrying forward.

Poggy Style (middle) and Daisuke Eguchi (right) answering questions from fellow enthusiasts during the Q&A session.

The talks

One of the reasons we fall in love with vintage watches is the stories.

We all have our own reasons for choosing the watches we choose. As time passes, those watches are passed from one owner to another, accumulating stories of their own along the way.

Each panelist shared the reasons behind their personal tastes. Their preferences were different, but they all shared one thing: an appreciation for vintage watches and the stories behind them.

Poggy compared the modern Porsche 911 with the Grand Seiko Spring Drive UFA, pointing out their similar philosophies. Both continue to advance technologically to keep up with the times, yet their products remain enjoyable not only to enthusiasts but to anyone who appreciates them.

Meanwhile, for Sekiguchi-san, the attraction goes beyond the beauty of a watch’s case, dial, or movement. It’s the connection between the watch itself, its history, and the people associated with it that makes certain watches special to him.

During the Q&A session, Eguchi-san also spoke about how exciting it is to see new independent watchmakers emerging and making names for themselves.

He believes it’s perfectly fine for today’s independent brands to take inspiration from historic models and established names, but it’s equally important to develop a distinct identity of their own.

Guests had the opportunity in seeing and trying on curated vintage watches by Poggy Style and Eguchi Watches.

The showcase

Eguchi Vintage Watch offers a wide selection of pieces from brands such as Jaeger-LeCoultre, Cartier, Audemars Piguet, and many more. Many of the pieces are curated not simply for their monetary value, but for the stories and sentiment attached to them.

Among the watches on display, a few particularly caught my attention: the Patek Philippe “Big Calatrava” ref. 141.012.5 with its ivory dial; the Audemars Piguet bark-finished tonneau-case Extra-Thin ref. 5279–24 with its matching bark-finished bracelet; and the Rolex Cellini King Midas ref. 4017–3.

There were some notable sports watches as well, including a vintage Rolex “Pepsi” GMT-Master ref. 1675 from 1969, as well as Cartier sports watches such as the Santos Galbée and Santos Carrée from the 1980s and ‘90s.

Vintage Cartier was particularly popular among the guests, with several of the panelists wearing their own pieces.

The event also gave attendees the opportunity to see the watches up close and, for those interested in purchasing, try them on the wrist.

And there is nothing quite like trying a watch on before buying it, especially when you’re presented with such a carefully curated selection.

A great collection of vintage watches being showcased including vintage Rolex, Cartier, Audemars Piguet, and more.

The highlights

“Geeking out” is probably the perfect way to describe my experience.

The highlight of the day was getting to have personal conversations with Wada-san and Sekiguchi-san from Hodinkee Japan.

My first encounter was actually having my photograph taken by Wada-san himself as he went around greeting guests and taking wrist shots. As well-dressed as ever, he seemed genuinely excited to talk about watches with Bangkok’s watch community.

Sekiguchi-san was equally warm in person. He shared how pleasantly surprised he was by the reception the event received. Having hosted a Hodinkee event in Southeast Asia for the first time, he didn’t expect such a large turnout and expressed his hope of bringing more events to Bangkok in the future.

After receiving a copy of the Hodinkee Japan magazine, we took one final photo with Wada-san. It was a wonderful way to end the day.

Wrapping up the night with a photo session with Hodinkee Japan’s own Masaharu Wada and Hodinkee Japan Magazine giveaway.

The closing remarks

As a Hodinkee fan, my first time attending one of their events was memorable, to say the least.

Getting the chance to meet and speak with the people behind Hodinkee Japan was something I’ll remember for a long time.

The venue was perfectly chosen to complement the Hodinkee aesthetic, while the watches on display were nothing short of mesmerizing.

Most of all, I’m grateful to have experienced an event like this. It’s always special to share this hobby with fellow enthusiasts, to exchange watch stories, discover new perspectives, and make new friends along the way.

With the vintage watch community continuing to grow across Southeast Asia, I hope Hodinkee will continue bringing more events like this to the region in the future.