As a broadcast journalist, James Chau readily admits that his “uniform” of a suit and tie offers little scope for personality. “But I can play around with watches and cufflinks,” says Mr Chau, a special contributor to China Central Television (CCTV), the state-owned broadcaster whose channels are beamed to more than 1.36bn viewers in over 100 countries. “That’s where I try to add some colour — not only for the audience but also for myself.”

Mr Chau, who was born in the UK, was a CCTV anchorman for a decade, interviewing personalities ranging from Aung San Suu Kyi and Robert Mugabe to Diane von Furstenberg and Elton John. He is a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAids) and the World Health Organisation; the latter role he shares with China’s first lady, Peng Liyuan. Both roles influence his watch and jewellery choices, whether collecting pieces on his travels or wearing them for specific occasions. “Each is associated with a time, place or moment in my life,” Mr Chau says.

Tiffany CT60 (2015)