RAJ ASARPOTA
Chief financial officer for a medical device company by day and passionate watch collector the rest of the time, Asarpota, otherwise known as @chicago_watch_lover on Instagram, started his watch collection over three decades ago, and to date, it comprises pieces from marquee brands. “Watches tell time and stories; they create
conversation and are beautiful objects, which is the reason I started my collecting journey some three decades ago,” he shares.
If you were an indie watchmaker, who would you be?
Max Büsser of MB&F. His ability to collaborate and create horology art for the wrist is absolutely amazing!
Name a watch by an indie watchmaker you have a lovehate relationship with.
The HM3 by MB&F…. I love it on my friend’s wrist yet I don't think I could pull it off.
Independent watchmakers are…
Rock stars in their own right.
The holy grail of indie watches, according to you, is…
A Kari Voutilainen with tourbillon. There’s nothing prettier than a Kari dial.
Name the most underrated indie watchmaker in your book.
Grönefeld.
The most overrated watchmaker is:
Richard Mille.
Are we are seeing a renaissance of independent watchmaking?
I believe watch collectors are fatigued by the hype of the modern pieces with a lopsided demand and supply equation. Therefore, true watch collectors who are discerning in their approach are gravitating to independent watchmakers that are producing unique movements, dials and innovation that make for more interesting timepiece collecting.
Finally, the advent
