Editor’s note:

Several years ago as my interest in Swiss/European timepieces was starting to wane, I stumbled onto the Seiko/Citizen Watch Forum which was “owned and operated by Wayne Lee” as the banner then proclaimed. As I read through the numerous educational and entertaining posts, my interest in Seikos and Citizens grew and soon thereafter, I became a self-proclaimed evangelist for these marques. I began participating in the forum more frequently and it was not long before I was contacted by Dr. Wayne Lee himself to assist in moderating the forum. I have had the privilege to speak with Wayne on numerous occasions on the telephone but have never had the pleasure of meeting him in person. Still, I felt it would be interesting, and even necessary for us to gain a little insight into Wayne Lee, the man. Hence, this interview.

Was there a particular turning point in your TimeZone participation at which you decided it’d be best to start your own forum?

That was a long time ago. In 1998, I had been asking TimeZone (at that time owned by Richard Paige) for a Japanese watch forum (Seiko, Citizen, Orient, etc), but the idea obviously was not well received. I continuously asked him, but after trying for a couple of years, I finally decided to take it into my own hands and start the Seiko/Citizen Watch Forum.

Did you ever think the SCWF would get to where it is now?

Never. I have seen many forums on the Internet and I really thought the SCWF would end up like one of them, gradually diminished and replaced by newer forums, but it is very nice to see that it has grown up to the level where it is now. On some days, the hits (i.e., number of forum visitors) are really unbelievable.

Back when you still participated at TZ you did start posting Seiko articles. How were they received?

Well, I must say during those days, the Seiko articles were probably just another watch article and usually not taken very seriously. However, fast forward to today, I must say Seiko watches, especially Grand Seikos, now have a certain status in the fine watch industry, but there is certainly a lot of room for improvement.

Any future plans for the SCWF or the your online watch store, Wayne’s Watch World?

For Wayne’s Watch World, I am in the process of revamping the system and the Web site and hopefully it will be friendlier in future. Nothing so far for the SCWF.

Do you have a favorite post?

I think that must have been the article Collecting Seikos. That article was really written from the bottom of my heart.

What have you been collecting lately? What about non-watch interests? What are your other hobbies/interests?

Mostly simple and moderately priced Seiko watches. My last high end Seiko was a limited edition Grand Seiko manual winding (no. 10/300). My other hobby is collecting small antique Buddha images.

Has Seiko or Citizen ever contacted you?

No, but I know that they are aware of the SCWF. Several years ago, I visited the Seiko Museum and the Museum Director told me that he knows about the SCWF.

Seiko Institute of Horology in Tokyo

What is your current Favorite Watch?

My favorite watch remains the Grand Seiko (SBGR001) automatic. That has been my favorite watch since I got it in 2000.

Wayne Lee’s cherished Grand Seiko SBGR001

Is there a watch that you miss? A watch that you wish you had not sold/traded?

Yes, I’ve missed the Seiko Laurel Diashock manual wind caliber 4S24-0040 (pictured below) that I sold several years ago. I have not been able to find another one, ever, up to now.

Wayne’s former Laurel Diashock manual wind

Many would love to see you post more. Any chance of this in the future?

I hope I would be able to. My current full-time job at the university has been keeping me very much at work, and that has left me very little time for watch collecting. However, I am sure I will be writing some more articles in future.

Do you enjoy the sales part?

Well, yes! But I have to admit that almost all e-mail communications are done by my wife, whom you can say is the real “Wayne Lee.” She has been very instrumental in keeping Wayne’s Watch World going, and of course, she was also bitten by the Seiko bug.

What was your first exposure to Seiko?

Probably when I was still in elementary school (7 or 8 years old) in the 1970s, growing up in southern Peninsular Malaysia. I used to see Seiko watch commercials on Singapore TV channels. My first Seiko was a Seiko 5 that was purchased during my university sophomore year. I worked with a very famous professor during the long university vacation and saved some money for the watch. That was my first Seiko!

Do you frequent any of the other forums and do you have a favorite watch and/or non-watch forum?

I sometimes visit The Big Watch Forum and The Poor Man’s Watch Forum. I also visit small Buddha images forums from time to time.

Do your fellow co-workers know of this hobby of yours? If so, what was their initial reaction? What about your family? How do they feel about your hobby?

Yes, most of my fellow colleagues are aware of my hobby. They were rather surprised when they first found out, and now they turn to me whenever they want to get a new watch. My family is receptive and supportive of my hobby.

Have you come across many watch collectors in Malaysia, and what brands do they typically collect? Do they think you’re insane for not focusing on a Swiss brand?

There are many watch collectors in Malaysia, but most of them concentrate on Swiss watches. Yes, many of them were indeed very surprised when they first found out that I collect Seiko watches. I guess different people collect watches for different reasons. Many of those who think I am not a “wise collector” are those who collect watches for investments.

Is there anything else you would like us to know about Wayne Lee, the man?

Well, I am an entomologist by training, and a university professor. When I am not teaching, I spend long hours doing research, writing papers, and consultation.

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 18th, 2007 at 9:31 am and is filed under Interviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.