12 QUESTIONS ONLY TO…
MSTANGA

MSTANGA

Passionate Watch Lover Soul

Marco a.k.a. Mstanga is an Italian watch lover and collector. He has dedicated a lot of his time publishing some reference reports that are very appreciated among the watch aficionados community. In particular, he has extensively studied the first Apollo-Soyuz Speedmaster and published a complete guide about it.

But he is not only a Speedmaster guy: for instance, the PATEK PHILIPPE Nautilus and the AUDEMARS PIGUET Royal Oak have no secret for him. He is known to be a passionate gentleman, always available to share information and knowledge.

1. Do you remember your first watch?

It was a ROLEX Explorer II (ref. 16550) rail white that I bought in 1986. Fortunately the white dial turned into a cream dial in a few years …

2. The 3 most iconic watch models?

It might be useful to define 3 categories … I would say the AUDEMARS PIGUET Royal Oak together with the PATEK PHILIPPE Nautilus for the first one. Then the OMEGA Speedmaster would come with the ROLEX Daytona. And for the third one, let’s say the JAEGER LECOULTRE Polaris, with the ROLEX Submariner and the OMEGA Seamaster. Well … how could we forget a CARTIER Tank, a PATEK PHILIPPE Calatrava, a JAEGER LECOULTRE Reverso, or a LONGINES 13ZN? Sorry, the list is much too long … and I could go on for a while …

3. A noteworthy anecdote with one of your watches?

There are so many of them … I cannot forget the time when my watchmaker broke the glass of my Nautilus just in front of me, while he tried to re-assemble it, or my feelings when I realized that my white dial Explorer was changing color … But the most emotional story for me was about this watch that my father gave me back after I offered it to him 20 years before. It was an Explorer I, and he told me: “Marco, I’m not able to wear it anymore, it’s the time it comes back to you”. That was just before he passed away, closing the circle of life. That illustrates well the meaning of some watches for all of us.

4. Are you more modern or vintage?

While answering to this interview I’m listening an old song from 1962: “The end of the world”, by Skeeter Davis. I’m 100% vintage. Definitely.

I do love all the brands that have made the history of watchmaking, but I can’t remain insensitive to some modern names of excellence like De Bethune, Romain Gauthier, F.P. Journe, Kari Voutilainen, Philip Dufour, Lange & Söhne, H. Moser, Laurent Ferrier, Greubel Forsey, etc …

5. I love Speedmasters because …

For the way it looks at me each time I have it on the wrist.

6. Your favorite Speedmaster?

Apollo-Soyuz, the first one from 1976, made in a limited series of 500 pieces for the Italian market only. For the story it represents, a few mysteries, and so many specific features that make it unique.

7. A single personal item you would take with you for a long stay on the Moon?

I wouldn’t be very happy to stay for a long time too far from my family. For that reason, I would take a kind of holograms projector to be connected with my home.

8. You just won the lottery. Do you first buy a sports car or call a financial advisor?

If I really have to answer to that question I would say a sports car. But that is not precisely what I would do. Actually I would spend the whole amount in searching for the magic place where they sell happiness and freedom.

Winning a lot of money is not such a simple thing to manage. I think I would reflect on thousands of questions, of doubts, of guilty feelings … This means I wouldn’t be able to benefit from it without trying to do something useful for those who need help. Helping each other and sharing are among the most important things in life for me.

9. Where would you spend the next 24 hours if you had a teleporter?

I would spend 24 hours travelling around the globe, trying to meet all the incredible collectors with whom I have spoken during these years, but that I didn’t meet in person. An amazing community of true enthusiasts …

10. How many times a day do you watch … your watch?

Very often, but never to know the time.

11. The last watch you bought?

An OMEGA Speedmaster 105.012-65 with box and original papers, that comes from the 1^st owner as indicated on the period guarantee.

12. What’s on your wrist today?

Speedmaster Apollo-Soyuz.

Thank you Marco.