Full Set #31 – With Wassim from 13th Hour Watches
The Dealer Who Only Buys What He’d Keep Himself
Inside This Week’s Full Set:
We sit down with Wassim Ashraf, the mind behind 13th Hour Watches, to talk Seamaster nostalgia, Egyptian roots, and the pursuit of the truly uncommon. From Piaget stone dials to double-signed Pateks, Wassim curates not by hype or spreadsheets, but by instinct — buying only what speaks to him.
The Beginning
Every obsession starts somewhere. For Wassim, it began quietly — at home.
“It all really started with my father,” he says. “He often rocks a beautiful vintage Omega with a step case that I had never really noticed before. But little by little I started to notice this stunning Seamaster and, although it’s a very simple piece, I fell headfirst in love with it — and consequently into the vintage-watch ocean.”
That single Omega cracked something open: watches were no longer just objects, but vessels of emotion, family, and continuity.
The 13th Hour
The name itself stops you. 13th Hour — the hour beyond time. “It was meant to signify the extraordinary,” Wassim explains. “The unique. The hour outside our timeframe. I wanted something fun, something that reflects the kind of timepieces I aspire to curate.”
In an industry saturated with minimalist monograms and predictable branding, 13th Hour stands out: part dream state, part manifesto.
From His Collection — to Yours
Wassim’s guiding rule is deceptively simple: he never buys a watch he wouldn’t keep himself.
“Design, rarity, and uniqueness are absolutely essential,” he says. “The last thing I want is to sell a piece I wouldn’t enjoy buying. So every watch I source is one I’d love to keep — and that’s why my motto is from my collection to yours.”
His inventory drifts elegantly across decades and styles, but there’s a consistent thread — a quiet rebellion against the ordinary. “I’m moved by uniqueness,” he says. “It’s less about price, more about the unordinary. I get excited by a Piaget with a stone dial I’ve never seen before, or a Patek Philippe with a strange double signature. Those are the pieces I strive to curate.”
Roots and Relationships
Born in Egypt, now based in Canada, Wassim carries a sense of connection that runs deeper than commerce. “In Egypt, family and community are at the heart of everything,” he says. “That mindset naturally carried over into how I approach the watch world. It’s not about transactions — it’s about cultivating lasting relationships, maintaining a sense of belonging in a global community.”
That ethos gives 13th Hour its warmth. Behind every sale is conversation, trust, and shared excitement — a reminder that the vintage world, for all its rarity and value, is still built on people.
The New Collectors
In a culture dominated by hype cycles, Wassim sees a shift taking place. “Design has become the defining value,” he says. “Collectors today look for originality and creativity, not just brand names. That’s why houses like Piaget, Boucheron, and Universal Genève are finally being recognized for their daring mid-century designs.
The next generation, it seems, is less about flex and more about feeling.
Beyond Time
Asked what’s next, Wassim smiles: “Through 13th Hour, I’ll continue to offer the craziest and most unique watches I can find. As my passion grows, so will the collection. My goal is simple — for everyone who receives a watch from me to feel as ecstatic owning it as I did discovering it.”
The 13th Hour may not exist on a clock — but for those who live for the extraordinary, it’s the only time that matters.
Where to find @13th_hour_watches_?
For those wanting to keep up with Wassims latest gems and stories, check out:
Instagram: @13th_hour_watches_