Wei Koh is the founder of Revolution Magazine. First launched in 2005, it became one of the most influential printed magazines in the world.

1. Describe briefly your childhood.

An Asian kid who grew up in New York City with the ambition to work on a cattle ranch in Montana. My father represented Singapore to the United Nations and so I was born and raised in Manhattan in the 70’s and 80’s, an amazing time to be young in New York. For whatever reason I always had a yearning to live in the American West and so after I finished my military service I moved to Montana and worked as a hand on the largest commercial cattle ranch in the state. 

2. As a child did you have any driving ambition?

I actually wanted to be a professional wrestler. There was a program at the time called Georgia Championship Wrestling and that was where I was exposed to all the greats at the time The Freebirds with Michael Hayes, Tommy “Wildfire” Rich and the “American Dream” Dusty Rhoads as well as the Asian wresters Rick Steamboat and Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka. Though my favorite was this absolute nutter named “Mad Dog” Buzz Sawyer. 

3. What is your first significant memory as a child?

They are all food related. One of the most salient was my first cheeseburger which I had at a relatively young age. At a place called Brew and Burger in New York City. I also had fondue for the first time when I was quite young. My parents had bought me a set of Asterisk comics and my favorite was the one where he and Obelisk go to Switzerland and eat this sticky unctuous cheese concoction. I really wanted to try it. My father was posted to Geneva and I finally got to eat a real Swiss fondue with Vacherin Fribourgeoise and Gruyere. So I suppose I was destined to spend time in Switzerland. 

4. Have you ever had another profession?

I was the assistant to the film director Kathryn Bigelow, the one and only woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director. 

5. What made you decide to go in the direction you are currently in?

I found Los Angeles to be insufferable, full of the most superficial people. I suppose you are a New York person or an LA person. I was decidedly not the later. 

6. What’s the worst job you’ve had to do?

One summer I had a job in a frozen fish factory. I had taken an aptitude test a temporary work placement agency and that where I was placed. It taught me that many people have to work very hard in jobs they don’t particularly like to make a living. This is something I’ve never forgotten. 

7. What’s been the hardest moment in your life so far, and how did you overcome it? 

I don’t believe there is one specific moment that is hard. Life is a mixture of good moments and challenging moments. The key is to not lose your sense of self and to stick to your ethics throughout the more challenging ones. Also to not be afraid to fail as failure is the best teacher. 

8. Who has had the strongest influence on you?

My parents, my family’s driver in NYC Harry Smith who taught me about cheeseburgers and style, Muhammad Ali, and Anthony Bourdain. 

9. What are you most proud of? 

Not being an asshole. I mean that. 

10. What advice would you give to a 20 something someone thinking of taking a similar path as you? 

It won’t be easy. But if you are passionate and genuine in your interest then it will be fun. There is no greater privilege than to get to do what you love for a living. And never think you know anything the moment you think you know about watches I can guarantee you are just scratching the surface. 

11. Name three things on your bucket list.

Ride one of my vintage bikes across Europe. Own a Border Collie. Have children. Well, children that I know of. 

12. Where do you think the watch industry is going to be in 10 years time?

I think it will most assuredly still be here and that watches will have more relevance than ever. In a world over inundated with electronic ephemera mechanical watches are a reprieve and an oasis. 

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