top of page
Search

The Art of Time: A Curated Selection of Vintage Watches

Writer's picture: JungYeol KimJungYeol Kim
Dec 3, 20242 min read


At SOOBAAK VINTAGE, the watches we curate are not just any second-hand pieces. They are carefully selected with a taste that's distinctly uncle-ish and grandfather-ish—think of a watch that pairs perfectly with an old, luxurious dress shirt. These are the kinds of timepieces we’re drawn to!


Watches have become like fountain pens today. No one writes with a pen on paper anymore, and it feels like no one checks the time by raising their wrist, either. But that’s not true. There are still those who buy beautiful fountain pens to write on paper, and there are still those who raise their wrist to check the time. And I’m one of them.


A wristwatch gives you the time in the most intuitive way. The process is much quicker than checking your phone. With a smartphone, you have to take it out of your pocket and tap the screen. With a wristwatch, you skip that step. You don’t realize how much of a difference this makes until you’re working!


When someone chooses an Audemars Piguet from the 1980s, I don’t think there's any point in convincing them about efficiency or practicality. Sometimes, you just have to go with your gut and make that purchase instinctively.


PS: A lot of people think that Audemars Piguet survived the quartz crisis solely because of the high-end Royal Oak sports watch strategy, but that’s not the whole story. They also had the Meridian (quartz) strategy. The design of the Meridian was actually inspired by the astrolabe, an astronomical instrument used by travelers.


Here are some of the watches we’re currently offering:

🍉 1980s Audemars Piguet Meridian (18K Quartz) – 35mm

🍉 Almost like new

🍉 Price: ₩5,000,000

Made in Switzerland


🍉 1980s Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse "Hammer" (Manual Wind)

🍉 Watch only

🍉 Recommended wrist size: 16-17 cm

🍉 Price: ₩14,000,000 (cash only)

🍉 1980s Audemars Piguet Ellipse 4942 (Manual Wind)

🍉 Custom strap, original buckle and body, original dial

🍉 Comes with certificate

🍉 Price: ₩5,500,000 (cash only)

 
 
 

How It All Started: From a Graduate School Project to Reality

Writer's picture: JungYeol KimJungYeol Kim
Nov 20, 20242 min read




Was it back in 2013? I remember a simple assignment for a graduate class: to design a store and community activities. I’ve mentioned this story a few times before.

The assignment included:Three stores, three activities, and one church.

  1. Be Free, Go Slow – A thrift shop, a used bookstore, and a repair shop.

  2. Small Talk, Long Walk – F&B combined with music.

  3. Honey, Moon, and Stars – A small hotel paired with an art gallery.

Activities included:

  • Ordinary People – A local market.

  • Paper People – A community newspaper.

  • Wild People – Light overseas volunteer work.

And then, there was the church.

Surprisingly, many of these ideas have become a reality over the years. What started as a purely conceptual project turned into something tangible, almost eerily so.

  • Be Free, Go Slow became Soobaak Vintage.

  • Ordinary People became Goomirae (Old Future Flea Market)

  • Paper People became Green and Black (we published three issues before it paused).

  • And the church? That evolved into Soobaak Church.


 

Today's Story: Wild People

In my twenties and thirties, I participated in numerous overseas volunteer (or mission) activities. Back then, it was intense—serious, purpose-driven, and often a niche effort.

What I envision now is different: a lighthearted, fun, and meaningful volunteer experience for the majority, not just the serious few. I’ve always admired initiatives like TOMS’ shoe drops. They were impactful but approachable, combining purpose with simplicity and fun.

The idea?Gather a group of friends, travel somewhere—Thailand, Cambodia, you name it. Do some meaningful volunteer work, create engaging content, and attract others to join, not with somber intensity but with a spirit of joy. And of course, we’d eat delicious food, get massages, and maybe even shop for treasures along the way.


 

A Visit to Cambodia

Recently, I visited Cambodia. About 15 kilometers from Phnom Penh lies a place called Dangkor, a landfill village where people live and work among the trash. They collect recyclables to earn around $5 a day.

Climbing the garbage mountain, inhaling its stench, and witnessing barefoot children eating and playing amidst it all—it was overwhelming.

Meanwhile, back in Phnom Penh, I stayed at a relatively luxurious hotel for about $80 a night. One evening, I browsed listings for an 18K gold Piaget watch priced well over 10 million KRW. That stark contrast hit me hard. Yet, I reconciled with it: they are who they are, and I am who I am. I can only focus on what I can do.


 

Not About "Good Influence"

I’ve had casual conversations with friends about simple actions, like cleaning up trash in our neighborhood. But here’s one thing: I avoid the term “good influence” like the plague. That’s not what we’re after. It’s not about seeking recognition or being a beacon of virtue. It’s just about doing what we can—because we can.

Imagine this: having fun, engaging with people, and doing a bit of good along the way. Nothing grand, nothing intense. Just a lighthearted group of people doing their part.

Maybe my role is to connect these worlds—mobilizing the “lighthearted many” to support the “serious few.” If that’s something I can do, then I’ll give it a shot.


 
 
 

A Timepiece for the 'Reformed Bad Grandpa': The 80s Audemars Piguet Ellipse 4249

Writer's picture: JungYeol KimJungYeol Kim
Nov 12, 20241 min read



At Soobaak Vintage, we're currently deep into vintage timepieces—the type of watches that evoke a certain vibe: the kind of piece an older gentleman with a mysterious past (and a luxurious present) might wear. We’re working on curating the perfect collection of those types, and we’re excited to see just how many treasures Soobaak can gather.

We’re well aware that the vintage watch industry is a highly specialized field, and we’re careful to bring in only those pieces that feel genuinely “Soobaak.” Here are a few that fit our vibe:


  • Vintage Cartier Tank

  • Rolex Explorer I

  • Seiko divers from the late ’70s and early ’80s

  • Early 2000s Hermès watches

  • And lately, solid 18k gold or two-tone watches


Recently, another piece caught our attention: the 1980s Audemars Piguet Ellipse 4249. Originally sold in Japan on June 15, 1984, this watch has spent 40 years developing that perfect patina—and now, it’s here with us at Soobaak.


If you’ve always thought of rectangular watches as either a Tank or a Reverso, think again! The AP Ellipse 4249 is a solid contender. Price-wise, it falls right between those two icons, making it a piece that anyone with an appreciation for a ‘reformed bad grandpa’ aesthetic can enjoy.


🍉 80s AP Audemars Piguet Ellipse 4249 (Manual)

🍉 Strap replaced with original alligator leather / Original body, buckle, and face

🍉 Comes with original documentation

🍉 Priced at 5,500,000 KRW

  • We’ll handle any A/S needs, though service charges may apply.


 
 
 
bottom of page