The dear departed leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-Il who died late last year, loved looking at things, and that extended to a collection of over 20,000 Hollywood movies. Particular favourites included the Rambo franchise, Godzilla and anything with Elizabeth Taylor in it.
In addition to watching movies, the Dear Leader’s other major pastime was simply looking at things. Looking at what things? Well, just about anything. He would ceaselessly tour factories surrounded by an entourage of nervous, obsequious onlookers. Normally clad in a cheap parka and his Elvis Presley style sunglasses, he would gaze listlessly at anything before him; tins of tuna, strips of leather, packets of pasta, cartons of juice – the list went on. His passion for looking at things was so great that there is a website simply called Kim Jong-Il looking at things. And it is dedicated to exactly that. The pictures you see here have been used courtesy of the site.
Looking at instant soups
Looking at tinned food
When it came to watches, you can be sure the collection of the Dear Leader was nothing short of awe inspiring. Little is known of what watches he actually owned, but when you consider he had $4 billion in deposit in Luxembourg alone, you can be certain that he was a good client of many a top Swiss watch brand. He would regularly send Rolex watches to the late Rev Sun Myung Moon, founder of the cult known as the Moonies.
And for a man who loved looking at things, he must have loved some of the open case-back watches of some of the top Swiss watch brands. This then is our selection of watches which we believe the Dear Leader would have loved looking at:
Rolex Day Date President’s watch
The classic leader’s watch since the time it was first presented to President Ike Eisenhower in the 50s. The aptly-known Président is the flagship of all gold Rolex watches. The Day–Date has been the most prestigious member of the Rolex family since 1956, only produced in precious metals, they are to many, the ultimate Rolex watch.
Romanson Watches
Not exactly top end, but we do know that Romanson watches were presented to Kim Jong-Il on several occasions as gifts from visiting South Korean dignitaries. These South Korean watches are sold all over the world in a wide range of quartz and automatic models. No doubt the dear leader would have looked upon an offering from the company on several occasions, surrounded as usual by an entourage of eager onlookers. After the dignitaries had gone these watches were probably shoved in a drawer and never gazed upon again.
Panerai Luminor
Being a Sylvester Stallone fan, Kim Jung-Il would no dount have despatched some flunkies to Rome to pick up half a dozen Panerai’s. Sylvester Stallone spotted and bought a Panerai Luminor in a jewellers in Rome in 1995 to wear during shooting of the film Daylight. He’s been faithful to the brand ever since, and Panerai’s were much in evidence during Expendables II – an old fashioned shoot ‘em up the dear leader would have loved. The watches were used by Italian Naval frogmen in World War II.
Patek Philippe Ref 5180/1
Of course someone would have whispered in the Dear Leader’s ear that the watch to be seen with these days is a Patek Philippe, so one can imagine Patek Philippe would have been contacted to fly boxfuls of their finest watches to North Korea for Kim Jung-Il to look upon them. The ref 580/1 would have definitely caught his eye. While most of his fellow countryman would struggle to buy a bowl of noodles, the magnificent Ref. 5180/1, a skeletonised wristwatch featuring the ultra-thin self-winding calibre 240 movement, complete with a 22K gold mini-rotor integrated into the plate would have afforded the dear Leader endless hours of fascination as he glimpsed into the microcosm of hours, minutes, and seconds.
Roger Dubuis Excalibur
One can imagine that Kim Jung-il’s many, many factory visits were timed down to the last minute so he could cram in as much looking upon things as possible. He would therefore have been attracted to the opulence and authority of the Roger Dubuis Excalibur collection . Technical excellence and powerful design are the signature characteristics of the Excalibur range. Embodying an expression of style and watchmaking mastery, the deliberately extravagant line is the only manufacture to be 100% Poincon de Geneve certified. So the watches would no doubt hve passed Kim Jung Il’s inspection.
Kim Jong-Il pictures courtesy of http://kimjongillookingatthings.tumblr.com/
