Q. Please introduce yourself
My name is Heo Jun and I am a marketer specializing in branding. I have built my career in the fashion industry and since 2018 I have been in charge of branding at GFFG. Currently I am overseeing marketing in the F&B sector as well.
Q. What watch do you own?
001 K serial Rolex Explorer 1
Ref. 114270 36mm Luminova dial
Cal. 3130
Explorer I 114270
36mm, Black, Oyster
Q. When did you purchase the watch?
Around February 2022 I purchased it privately through an acquaintance.
Q. How did you choose the Rolex Explorer 1?
The first watch I wanted was the Submariner Starbucks (Ref. 126610LV). However since it is so popular and loved by many I wanted a model that was more unique and had a story behind it.
ⓒ analog:shift
Since my favorite food is pizza I considered the witty Air-King Domino as my next target but the more I looked at it the lighter it seemed and I felt it was lacking as a daily watch. As I continued my search the Explorer model with its attractive 3/6/9 indexes on the Air-King caught my eye.
From then on I started looking up Explorer references and became completely captivated by their charm. Explorer 1 is also famous as the watch of Japanese celebrity Takuya Kimura Ref. 14270 and my admiration for his style as a child also played a part.
ⓒ cool-style
In fact the model Takuya Kimura wore was Ref. 14270 but the Ref. 114270 I purchased has almost no visual difference and is updated with Cal. 3130 which offers superior performance and that was a big attraction for me. Another reason I chose the Explorer is its versatility in style.
I tend to style myself in a variety of genres from classic to street so the large numeral indexes on the dial give a casual yet classic feel. In addition the 36mm size offers neatness and modernity so it pairs perfectly with shirts or suits. For this reason compared to the somewhat casual and sporty Submariner the Explorer matches well with various outfits and this was also a major reason for my choice.
Q. Do you wear it often?
Except when I am relaxing at home I wear it almost all the time during work.
Heo Jun Instagram @gjwns244
It is great as a fashion point in summer and although it is often hidden under coats or knit sleeves in winter I feel something is missing without its weight so I tend to wear it often for psychological comfort.
Q. Was there a reason you decided to buy a watch?
I have always had a longing and goal for Rolex. I once read in a magazine that a man who does not own a Rolex before the age of 40 has not succeeded in life. (I later found out it was actually 50 not 40.)
Looking back now I wonder how such nonsense could exist but when I was much younger in my early twenties it became a bucket list item to own a Rolex before turning 40 by working hard. I am thirty-nine this year and last year I went through a lot personally. There were many changes such as moving and changing jobs so I wanted to reward myself. What once felt like a vague goal and mission in my life became achievable if I pushed myself a little and as a result I was able to own a Rolex before turning 40.
So am I successful? I do not think I am successful yet. (Of course I did succeed in owning a Rolex.)
The cost of buying a Rolex is by no means easy. For me this watch is not a symbol of success but a medal and trophy for myself earned through hard work and effort and it is also a motivation to live even harder.
Q. Are there any other watches you are interested in?
Of course the Submariner Starbucks I mentioned earlier. I am a huge fan of the 007 series and I once saw Pierce Brosnan wearing the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean in a men's magazine and the Omega Seamaster became my dream watch. So when I got my first job I saved 200, 000 to 300, 000 won every month from my small salary to buy a watch and after a few years I finally got a Seamaster with an orange bezel. I wore it well for a while but one day I lost it after drinking and I was so upset that I swore I would never buy a watch again.
ⓒ GQ
The reason I brought up the Seamaster is because it is the 007 watch. I liked that model because it was James Bond's watch and I became even more fascinated by diver watches. Later as I watched all the 007 series I saw that in the first film
Submariner Date 116610LV
40mm, Green, Oyster
Sophie
Editor
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