Uniting his passions for both photography and horology, Verne Ho has become an outspoken authority on watch photography, notably instructing collectors on how to best document their collections by way of his community resource, Watch Studies. Championing the notion that all are capable of producing great photos, Ho's Instagram is a true must-follow for fans of luxury watchmaking and product photography alike.

In Bezel's exclusive interview, we sit down with the designer and photographer to explore his introduction to the world of watches, his love for all things Cartier, plus the most prized watches in his personal collection.

In Conversation with Verne Ho

Bezel: How did you get into watches? 

‍VH: I've actually been fortunate enough to have been surrounded by watches since my childhood. In hindsight, my older brother's G-Shocks were probably my first definition of cool. But it was only many years later, after achieving a life-changing career milestone in my late 20s, that I got my first luxury watch  – an IWC Ingenieur Chronograph W125. That's the watch that helped me truly appreciate watchmaking and design on a whole other level, and that would eventually propel me down the very steep rabbit hole of collecting.

‍

Bezel: Life-changing milestones most definitely warrant important momentos. What achievement were you celebrating? 

VH: In 2013, the design studio that my best friend and I had built and ran for 5 years was successfully acquired. It was truly a turning point for our careers, but oddly, it took us a few years to realize that we hadn’t done anything big to commemorate it. One thing led to another, and we serendipitously found ourselves in an IWC boutique in Vegas (as one does). He eventually walked out with a Portugieser, while I left with the Ingenieur Chronograph – two pieces that still remain firmly planted in each of our respective collections today.

Bezel: Do you tend to hold onto most pieces you pick up, or do you trade watches in and out of your collection? 

VH: In the beginning, every piece felt like a forever piece with too much sentimentality tied to them to let go. But more recently, as I’ve started finding more clarity around what type of collector I am, I’ve found comfort in re-homing the watches that just don’t fit my narrative as well anymore. There’s now a sense of relief in culling the collection and releasing the neglected pieces back into the wild.

Bezel: What’s your favorite watch in your collection and why?  

VH: The Cartier Santos is definitely my favorite watch in my collection. I love it so much that I have it in both large and medium (yes, I'm technically cheating by naming two watches), though the medium logs more wrist time these days. Each Santos marked the birth of one of my kids, and they'll eventually be passed on to them. Sentimental value aside though, the Santos is just an incredibly beautiful watch on and off the wrist and is a representation of how addictive the intersection of design and engineering can truly be.

Bezel: It’s tough to beat the latest Santos references. As a designer / photographer – is it the symmetry of the medium-sized model that speaks to you? 

‍VH: I think it’s the entire design language behind the Santos that draws me in. The thin slab-style case, the strong but graceful curves, the respectful callbacks to Cartier’s roots — all these little details add up to a piece that’s just different enough from the rest of the crowd to deserve a double take. 

Bezel: Can you sharewatches listed on Bezel right now?

VH:  Sure! Here are 3 I've got my eyes on currently:

Cartier Ronde Louis Cartier Ref. WGRN0006 

Tag Heuer Carrera “1964 Re-Edition” Ref. CS3111.BC0725 

Patek Philippe Aquanaut Ref. 5066A-001 

‍

Bezel: Why do you continue to enjoy collecting watches? 

VH: Watch collecting for me stems from 3 core reasons. Firstly, I think they’re amazing memory vaults, whether they’re being acquired to celebrate a milestone or are something that’ll accompany me through some pivotal experiences. Secondly, I believe watches are expressions of our personal ambitions — the person we aspire to show up as in different contexts of our lives. In that respect, I think my collection will continue to grow and shrink as my style, taste, and sense of self evolve. Lastly, and more recently, my collecting journey has gained thematic direction as I’ve started getting heavier into specific brands and their back catalogs. Thinking about my collection as a unit, rather than just as individual pieces, has definitely added a new and interesting dynamic to the way I collect.

More recently, my collecting journey has gained thematic direction as I’ve started going deeper into the back catalogues of specific brands. Simply put, watches are incredible memory vaults, expressions of our personal ambitions, and so much more. 

‍

‍

‍

Have someone in mind that you'd like to see featured?  Interested in submitting a story of your own?

Reach out to us at editorial@getbezel.com.

- Isaac Wingold

‍