My Bunch

If you’re lucky you have one, if you’re extremely lucky, you have a bunch. No, not sports cars or supermodels or “Foolex” Panda statues, but lifelong friends. Mine are scattered all over the world, with me being the most isolated from the gang here in Japan.

So it was the happiest of sad times, that we all converged in Hong Kong last October, for the funeral of one of our fathers. Father to my lifelong trio of friends, Godfather to me. It was an epic reunion, some flying for 29 hours to be there. For me it was doubly painful as I had to come to terms with two losses this trip as another of our parents had died during Corona, but I was unable to attend that funeral due to worldwide flight restrictions. Seeing the fallout from these two deaths on the people I love most in this world hurt to my bones.

For a week, we were all on a knife’s edge

between crying and laughter.

This group of friends made me.

We’re second generation friends and have been friends since I have had memory and even though our lives all diverged long ago, somehow no time passed between us at all. Emotionally that is…physically?? Well what’s a few kilograms of weight and some grey hair/hair loss between friends?

We all had our different stories to tell: married but currently separated from a billionaire; self-made millionaire; divorced but never happier; still looking for the right one; family man now…collectively we have enough life drama between us all to satisfy Netflix. But somehow the bonds forged so long ago as we grew up together, remain unchanged. It’s something beautiful.

But what watches were we wearing? Here are a few we wore:

The eldest brother inherited his father’s beautiful Bulgari. The strap has a messily torn extra hole, clearly “made” by forcing the buckle pin through the strap leather. My Godfather, what a legend. You are sorely missed.

Another of us who is a retired monk was sporting his grail:

With a lovely caseback

My chosen watch for the trip:

Me shamelessly wearing another friend’s Patek to sing Backstreet’s Back at karaoke…

This particular friend is the only one of us that is a true watch aficionado with pockets deep enough for high end horology pieces. He’s probably my only way of actually seeing and handling some of these high end luxury pieces in the real steel (and other rare metals). A completely different league and pie in the sky stuff for me. He has a collection large enough for me to ask, “Investment?”

“Nope, buy what you love.”

Damn right. So proud of him. To think I had looked after this guy during childhood as a restless younger brother to me and for him to rise and become so successful, he’s the best of us and deserves it all.

As I parted from that particular lifelong friend one overcast afternoon, the day before leaving Hong Kong, he said as we got up from some whisky day drinking,

“Spence, can you do me a favour?”

“Anything mate, name it,”

“Wear this for me from time to time.”

Hands over a pouch with a Grand Seiko SBGW259 in it…

Obviously I couldn’t possibly accept, right?

OR…

So I agreed to “borrow” it until we next meet! And by the way, the manner in which he gifted me this watch in such a nonchalant way was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. What a way to part ways again.

I boarded my plane the next morning, friendship bonds stronger than ever, knowing how fleeting and precious time with loved ones really is. I looked at this watch, with all its magnificent finishing and classic lines, against the backdrop of sky and sea of clouds, but I could only see a lifetime of memories with my bunch of friends.