Jia Xian Su (SJX) runs the eponymous website WatchesbySJX, which is viewed by countless collectors and industry insiders on a daily basis. Blogging on his love watches for over 10 years, SJX has become one of the leading voices in the world of high horology. Having varied horological interests, SJX brings us a fresh voice that is not rooted specifically in vintage Rolex. He is our guest on this week's Horological Minute.

What was your first watch?

A TAG Heuer 2000 series in 1997.

What was the last watch you bought?

An IWC Porsche Design Ocean 2000 Bund ref. 3509 3H.

Do you prefer vintage or modern?

Modern mostly, although I do appreciate some aspects of vintage watches.

Can you remember your last great meal? Where was it and what did you eat?

This one was memorable because it was surprisingly good - Upper Modern Bistro in Hong Kong. French bistro food with a modern, fusion-y twist. Small place, modest looking and inexpensive. I was expecting only an adequate meal but it was really good. The food is good and satisfying, the pasta with a poached egg was delicious.

Do you remember what watch you were wearing?

Urwerk 103 ER.

What do you love about vintage Rolex?

The simplicity, purposefulness and utility. They were cleared designed as functional objects, and functional they were. And compared to most other watches of the past, the Oyster case is admirably robust and rigid, so the watches are still very usable today. Of all the vintage watches I own, my Submariner 5513 is the one that is closest to a modern watch in terms of day to day wearability.

Strap or bracelet?

For vintage Rolex, straps for sure. The vintage bracelets are rinky-dink stamped metal. They feel cheap and aren’t durable.

GMT/EXPLORER/SUB/DAYTONA or........?

Submariner, or specifically the Sea-Dweller. I’ve always liked Rolex dive watches, especially after I watched the early James Bond flicks when I was a child. My first Rolex was a 14060M.

What do you want to see come out from Rolex at the next Basel Fair?

Something that’s a lot less shiny and more utilitarian. While the polished, almost jewel-like watches have their place - the platinum Daytona is a good example and I love it - even the Rolex sports watches are now overly shiny. Though they are marvellously engineered, they feel more like jewelry than timekeepers. And then there’s the complete fantasy of a reissue of the star dial triple calendar.

What's on your wrist today?

A Cartier Tank Asymétrique. (A limited edition of 100 pieces made in 2000.)