Edmund Chen on the watch he passed down to son Chen Xi: 'I don't know if he removes it while showering or sleeping'
The local actor reflected on the sentimental journey of a watch over 20 years old, which he passed down to his son for a meaningful purpose.
Watches are a timeless gift, and for local actor Edmund Chen, one watch has turned into a family heirloom.
The watch in question? A black dial stainless steel Longines watch that son Chen Xi sported on his wrist in an Instagram post almost a week ago.
In the post, Chen Xi shared that Chen gave him the watch before he left for the UK for further studies. He had seen his father wearing it “on specific occasions since I was 14”, but he didn’t know the significance of the item.
He wrote, “My father stressed the importance of cherishing the present and seizing the moment, especially since I'll be far from home; and my time here in the UK might just become a distant memory. So, I wear this watch daily to echo this wisdom. I feel blessed to have encountered wonderful and wise people on this journey so far who continue to remind me of that.”
Edmund Chen reflects on the over 20-year-old watch gifted to his son
Speaking to 8days recently, Chen, 62, recalled that he got the watch more than 20 years ago when he and his wife, veteran actress Xiang Yun, endorsed the brand. They were flown overseas, and the couple took the kids along.
He said, “At that time, Chen Xi helped to take care of his little sister (actress Chen Yixin) because she was a rascal at that age. Even when we were having a meeting in a huge ballroom, she was crawling under the table and Chen Xi followed her down just to comfort her."
Out of all his watches, Chen shared that he wore this one the most, so there are “lots of markings and scratches on it”.
“The watch is a part of my journey, so there are many stories engraved onto the face of the watch. I wanted to give him a token that's deeper than life, something that has a story. So apart from this watch, I also gave him a pen that was gifted to me by Xiang Yun, which I only use on special occasions,” he added.
Chen was touched that his son treasured the watch so much, and wasn’t expecting it.
He told 8days, “This fella is very sentimental. Since the day I gave it to him, he never took it off. I don't even know if he removes it while showering or sleeping.
“I hope [the legacy of this watch] can last forever and he will pass it on to his next generation.”
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