I’m an associate in the M&A team of the Global Mergers & Acquisitions practice at White & Case and a member of the Advisory Board at Watchfid. Away from the office, I’m a vintage trail rider and a watch-collecting enthusiast. Hope you enjoy reading my answers to the “12 Questions Only”!
Emilio Dosso
I know my family gave me my first watch(es). First, Zio Lucio (I believe my brother Oreste and I actually received the same Timex), and then my mother (I recall one afternoon she treated me to a watch on a leather strap and picked out a pretty little white watch for herself that she still has to this day).
Truth be told, I think my first proper, “serious” automatic watch was a LIP Marinier – which I paired with a mesh bracelet – given to me as a Christmas gift in 2020. I remember that while researching this famous LIP, I discovered it was actually a reissue of the LIP Sous-Marinier originally produced in the 1970s, which I found even more beautiful than the reissue itself… That, I recall, is precisely where my passion for vintage watches was born.
Ultimately, I think my first true piece (i.e., the one I chose and treated myself to in the spring of 2021) was a 1973 yellow gold-plated Omega Seamaster Cosmic. I still have it, of course, but I don’t wear it nearly enough… much like all the others.
100% vintage watches: Submariner, Speedmaster, and… Casio G-Shock (got a beautiful vintage red one in Japan in 2023).
I’ve made it a habit to buy myself a watch to mark each milestone in my life. For instance: completing my Master’s degree (Omega Seamaster Cosmic), my first M&A internship (Omega Dynamic), a trip to Japan (Grand Seiko 4522-8000), passing the bar exam (Omega Speedmaster Professional), and so on.
Very recently, to celebrate my swearing-in ceremony (spring 2026), I treated myself to a stunning Rolex Daytona Zenith El Primero from February 2000 (A Series).
It is an extraordinary piece; remarkable for its history, its aesthetics, and for the moment I got to share with my girlfriend on that occasion. The chronograph sub-dials have developed a wonderful patina that I could stare at for hours. I hope I never have to part with it.
Absolutely. I have a particular love for vintage clothing, especially Valentino suits from the 1980s, which I adore as much for their cut as for the era they represent. I’m also drawn to vintage S.T. Dupont, as well as design furniture, with the extraordinary Charles Eames and his Lobby Chair being a prime example, among others.
I also have a deep fondness for the vintage rally bikes of the Paris-Dakar and the legendary gated manual gearbox found in Ferraris (I dream of a 348 or a 355, but patience is a virtue).
I love jazz… Bill Evans, Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett, Cannonball Adderley, and so many others.
I studied piano at the conservatoire for years, and towards the end I’d had my fill of classical music, I sat the entrance exams for the jazz department. I’ve never loved playing the piano as much as I did during my years in the jazz program.
I no longer find the time to play, unfortunately, but I love going to listen to jazz in Paris’ clubs or on my player.
My laptop (lol)… and, at the moment, my Rolex Daytona.
There would be many stories I could tell. But I think one of the things I love most about watchmaking is the unexpected encounters it can lead to. Here’s one example.
I was looking for a particular Rolex reference and, like many people, I turned to Chrono24 to start exploring the market.
I came across a private seller, a Frenchman living in NYC, who suggested we continue the conversation on WhatsApp. So we did. He sent me a few pictures of the watch, we started chatting, and I explained why I wanted to buy this particular piece. As we talked, I realized that he was actually a principal at one of the largest investment funds in the world.
In the simplest way, and around a shared passion, I had the pleasure of meeting this incredible person through watches.
That encounter made me realize that one of the most valuable things in business is, above all, the pursuit of genuine relationships; built on sincere connections and shared passions, whatever those passions may be, from the simplest to the most refined.
I never ended up buying the watch from him. But we happened to cross paths again in London and Paris, and from time to time, we would share our latest discoveries with one another.
Perhaps that’s also what I love about watches: sometimes, a watch is simply the starting point for something much more meaningful.
I’m lucky enough to wear my dream watch every day; long may that continue… though I do think it’s hard to ever tire of a Daytona!
That said, if I were to treat myself to a new watch today, I’d love to track down a beautiful Seiko 6309-7040 (Suwa), with a gorgeous eggshell patina and an original Tropic Sport bracelet (Swiss made), maybe in dark green or black. Thoughts?
I’m a big fan of chronographs, so this morning I strapped on a 1991 Swatch Signal Flag… which I also don’t wear nearly enough!
A tough one: it’s such a personal thing. For me, nothing has come close to getting wonderfully lost in Japan: wandering the streets of Kyoto at night in the rain, exploring the Shinjuku district in Tokyo, or hiking through the Japanese mountains.
At one of the harbour bars in Folegandros in the Greek Cyclades, with a cigar and an ice-cold beer!
Without a shadow of a doubt. What better companion than my 1986 Yamaha Ténéré (and a Leatherman), to go and explore the surroundings?
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