Collectors’ Corner: Sumei Shum’s independent watch collecting journey

Oct 30, 2025

Cover Former lawyer Sumei Shum has evolved from collecting playful Swatches to curating a deeply personal trove of independent timepieces from FP Journe, Voutilainen, Simon Brette and more

Former lawyer Sumei Shum has evolved from collecting playful Swatches to curating a deeply personal trove of independent timepieces from FP Journe, Voutilainen, Simon Brette and more

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In a world driven by hype and trends, watch collector Sumei Shum charts her own path—building a selection defined by artistry, individuality and a connection to the people behind the craft

For as long as she can remember, Sumei Shum has always been drawn to watches. As a university student, her early forays took the form of playful, colourful Swatches and Baby-Gs, which were accessible tokens of self‑expression. When she began her career as a lawyer, her choices grew more deliberate. A Cartier Tank Française, the first timepiece she bought for herself, marked that shift.

Soon, though, she wanted more. A Patek Philippe ladies’ watch with a moon phase complication became one of her first significant acquisitions and she quickly found herself weighing the canonical choices of serious collecting: the A Lange & Söhne Lange 1 or FP Journe’s Chronomètre à Résonance. “At that time, everyone said I should get the Lange 1, but I felt that the Résonance is so different,” she recalls. “I fell in love with it because the dial is salmon. I’d never seen anything other than black, white and blue. The salmon completely blew my mind and I immediately bought it.” That decision set the tone for her collecting journey: thoughtful, independent and unapologetically personal.

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Above Sumei Shum wears the H Moser & Cie x MB&F Endeavour Cylindrical Tourbillon in steel with a burgundy dial

Sumei Shum wears the H Moser & Cie x MB&F Endeavour Cylindrical Tourbillon in steel with a burgundy dial

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That conviction only deepened after she stepped away from law and into a new chapter as a yoga teacher, a move that gave her space to reassess her priorities. Today, largely retired from full‑time work and focused on her own investments, Shum brings that same independence to collecting. “It was around 2015 or 2016 that I started selling some of my more mainstream watches,” she shares. “I realised I wanted watches that felt more individual, with artistry and soul behind them.”

Her collection today is anchored in that philosophy. FP Journe, Voutilainen, Romain Gauthier, MB&F, Simon Brette, Ming—these are the independent brands that dominate her watch box and each piece carries not just craft, but also connection. “I’ve built friendships with many of these watchmakers,” she says. “When you know the people, their story and their vision, the watches mean so much more.”

That approach has led her to collect an eclectic range of watches, from the bold H Moser & Cie x MB&F Endeavour Cylindrical Tourbillon to the elegant De Bethune DB25 GMT Starry Varius. Most recently, she added Simon Brette’s Chronomètre Artisans in titanium to her enviable collection. What captivates her most about it is the engraved dial, which glitters like stardust. “I met the engraver, Yasmina (Anti), and she showed me how she does it,” Shum shares. “The tool she uses is shaped like Pringles potato chips, so when she engraves, it makes tiny grooves. Each one catches the light differently and together, they create this incredible sparkle. Every dial is unique.” Beyond its surface beauty, she praises the details: “The engraved dial, the ‘wolf’s teeth’ gears, the concave screw heads—every detail feels considered.”

Above Some notable pieces in watch collector Sumei Shum’s enviable collection include (pictured clockwise from top) the Simon Brette Chronomètre Artisans in titanium, the FP Journe Vagabondage III in rose gold and the Sarpaneva x Moomin in steel

Some notable pieces in watch collector Sumei Shum’s enviable collection include (pictured clockwise from top) the Simon Brette Chronomètre Artisans in titanium, the FP Journe Vagabondage III in rose gold and the Sarpaneva x Moomin in steel

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While hype cycles and brand recognition tend to dominate in the watch market, Shum is guided by aesthetics and authenticity. She is drawn to dials that surprise, movements that reward close study, and proportions that sit beautifully on the wrist. “You look at the dial all the time, so it has to be compelling enough. Most of my watches are like that. Every time I look at the watch, I notice something new,” she says.

“As a woman, wearability has always been a big part of my collecting lens,” she adds. “I don’t think that gets talked about enough in a community that’s still very male‑dominated.” That community, she shares, is not always welcoming too. Early on, she recalls being underestimated in boutiques. “There was an assumption that I wasn’t serious, or that I was buying for my husband or father,” she says. Over time, though, her perspective has become an asset. Her focus on design, colour and the way a watch actually wears has added a different voice to conversations often centred purely on mechanics and provenance. “For me, a women’s watch is simply any watch a woman likes,” she says firmly.

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Her collection also reveals her playful side. A Sarpaneva x Moomin featuring the Finnish cartoon character makes her smile whenever she looks at it, while MB&F’s Horological Machine No 10 “Bulldog” stands out as a bold, divisive piece that sparks conversation wherever she wears it. “It’s the kind of watch that gets a visceral reaction,” she says. “To me, that’s the best kind of watch.”

If there is a thread that ties her collection together, it is patience and purpose. Gone are the impulsive buys of her early years. “I collect more slowly now,” she reveals. “Every piece has to mean something, whether it’s the craftsmanship, the relationship with the maker, or simply the beauty of the watch itself.” At times, she admits, she hesitates too long and misses out. “But I’d rather live with that than buy into Fomo,” she says.

That philosophy has also allowed her to embrace change. Some pieces have left her collection to make way for others, and what remains is a refined, deeply personal set of watches that reflects her journey and her values.

For Shum, collecting has never been about amassing numbers or chasing trends. It is about resonance—finding pieces that move her, supporting the watchmakers she admires, and adding her voice to a community still finding its balance. “At the end of the day, a watch should speak to you,” she asserts. “It should remind you of beauty, of craft and of the people behind it.”

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Credits

Photography: Ching

Topics

Sumei Shum independent watch collectors women in watch collecting FP Journe Simon Brette Chronomètre Artisans MB&F Romain Gauthier Ming watches De Bethune watch collecting for women independent watchmaking

Annabel Tan

Editor, Watches and Jewellery, Tatler Singapore

Annabel Tan is the Editor of Watches and Jewellery at Tatler Singapore, where she covers all things luxury timepieces and fine jewellery across both print and digital platforms. She is also the Editor of Tatler GMT Singapore, a role that deepens her fascination with the ever-evolving world of watchmaking. Outside of work, she’s usually on the hunt for her next favourite watch that she can’t afford, planning her next beach getaway, or catching up on the latest Formula 1 race.