Discover the Watch Ho & Co x Selten Yum Cha, a limited-edition mechanical watch created for the community’s third anniversary. In this hands-on review, we examine the dial design, wearability, specifications, and value of this unique microbrand collaboration.

New & Reviewed: Watch Ho & Co(mmunity) X Selten Yum Cha (飲茶)

Retailing at USD 4,950/ HKD 38,828 (excluding taxes), the Watch Ho & Co(mmunity) × Selten Yum Cha is limited to 100 pieces.

Introducing Yum Cha (飲茶), Watch Ho & Co(mmunity)’s third anniversary club watch. Once again, the watch is created in collaboration with Selten Watch, the same manufacture that brought us Jui (聚).

Unlike its predecessor Jui, however, Yum Cha is a watch that sits particularly close to the heart of Watch Ho & Co(mmunity) founder Jackie Ho. The watch is a tribute and a thank you to his grandparents, and especially to his grandmother, his Por Por (婆婆), who raised him.

For Jackie, and indeed for many Hong Kongers, Yum Cha was never simply a meal. It is a ritual of gathering with family and friends over tea and Dim Sum. Even the words carry a deeper significance. Yum Cha (飲茶) literally means “to drink tea”, while Dim Sum (點心) can be translated as “to touch the heart”. It is this sense of family, memories and togetherness that forms the foundation of the watch.

The Case

Much like the delicate Dim Sum served during Yum Cha, the watch itself is rather petite (in modern standards). The stainless steel case measures 38mm in diameter and 9.95mm thick, including the sapphire crystal. It is crafted from 316L stainless steel and paired with relatively short lugs. On the wrist, the Yum Cha wears very comfortably. The compact proportions and short lugs make it versatile enough to sit nicely on a lady’s 5.5-inch wrist, while remaining equally at home on a gentleman’s 7-inch wrist.

Observe the watch more closely and the details of the case begin to stand out. The bezel is polished, contrasting nicely against the satin-finished mid-case. But perhaps the most interesting aspect of the case is not found on the front, but on the back.

The solid caseback features a stamped illustration by artist @onehourwatch. The scene places the wearer in Jackie’s childhood seat at the Yum Cha table, looking across at his grandparents during one of their morning gatherings.The artwork is a touching tribute, with the number three appearing throughout the illustration: three Siu Mai (燒賣), three teacups and three pairs of chopsticks, representing Jackie and his two grandparents. It is also a subtle reference to the third anniversary of Watch Ho & Co(mmunity).

There is, however, one element that can make each caseback personal to its owner: the table number stand. Collectors can specify a number of up to three digits to be engraved onto it, representing a milestone date, lucky number or anything of personal significance. And perhaps unsurprisingly, Jackie’s own watch carries the number 3.

The Dial

The pièce de résistance of the Yum Cha is undoubtedly its gorgeous hand-engraved fumé grand feu enamel dial. The design takes its inspiration from an object familiar to anyone who has spent a morning in a traditional Cantonese tea house: the humble bamboo steamer. More specifically, the pattern is derived from the woven bamboo lid under which Dim Sum is served. Beyond its visual appeal, bamboo carries considerable symbolism in Chinese culture, representing strength, resilience and quiet endurance it bends, but does not break. The weave carries another meaning. Individual strands are bound together, with each becoming stronger through the ones beside it. It is an appropriate metaphor for the family and friendships that inspired Yum Cha.

Achieving this effect, however, is no easy feat. Each dial requires approximately 16.5 hours of work, combining three separate processes: hand engraving, Grand Feu enamelling and hand polishing. The first stage alone takes approximately eight hours. Selten’s in-house engraver and enamelist, Master Qin, divides the silver dial into approximately 80 individual rectangles. Within each rectangle, he manually carves more than 40 parallel lines using a tungsten graver. The pressure and depth of each cut are deliberately varied to create shadows and visual depth. Each rectangle is also engraved in a different direction from the one beside it. The result is the distinctive woven appearance which mimics the lid of a bamboo steamer.

Next comes approximately seven hours of Grand Feu enamelling. Master Qin meticulously applies the transparent enamel by hand before firing the dial in a kiln at 800°C. It is then removed, cooled and inspected before another layer is applied. This painstaking cycle is repeated a minimum of eight times, eventually transforming the enamel into a rich, transparent dark brown layer. Once cooled, the dial undergoes another 1.5 hours of meticulous hand polishing. Maintaining steady and uniform pressure, Master Qin brings the enamel to its final lustre. The process transforms the deep fired brown into a luminous honey-gold towards the centre, gradually darkening into a rich, smoky amber around the perimeter.

And this is where those 16.5 hours of handwork really pay off. Under direct light, the bright-cut facets shimmer through the amber enamel. Move into softer lighting and the personality changes completely, revealing deeper fumé tones and a remarkable sense of depth. As every line, angle and groove is engraved by hand, no two dials will ever be exactly alike. It is also an unforgiving process. Following 20 prototypes, the combined rejection rate remains above 40%, meaning only the dials which meet the required standard eventually find their way into a finished Yum Cha.

Complementing the elaborate dial is a pair of tea-leaf-shaped hands, another direct nod to the literal meaning of Yum Cha. The diamond-cut hands feature a frosted finish, providing a clear contrast against the intricate amber dial and ensuring good visual ergonomics.

Having lived with the watch for two weeks, we found the dial to be a visual treat. There is a surprising amount of detail to discover, and the character of the dial changes noticeably depending on the lighting conditions. It is one of those watches which frequently rewards a second, and sometimes third, glance.

The Strap

The strap for Yum Cha comes from none other than HasNoBounds, continuing a relationship which has seen the leather artisan supply straps for the previous two Watch Ho & Co(mmunity) anniversary watches. This time, HasNoBounds has paired the Yum Cha with a hand-stitched tan Italian nubuck leather strap, secured by a brushed 316L stainless steel pin buckle.

The choice works particularly well with the watch. The warm tan hue complements the honey-gold and smoky amber tones of the dial without competing for attention, while the texture of the nubuck gives the Yum Cha a suitably relaxed character. It feels appropriate for a watch inspired not by formality, but by long mornings around the table with the people closest to us.

While the watch accompanied us through the sweltering summer heat of both Hong Kong and Singapore, the strap remained relatively comfortable, soft and supple on the wrist. Interestingly, over the two weeks we had the watch, the nubuck leather began to darken slightly with wear and gradually developed a character of its own.

We rather like this characteristic. In fact, it seems particularly appropriate for the Yum Cha. It reminds us of the bamboo steamers found in traditional Dim Sum restaurants, which gradually darken and develop their own patina after years of exposure to heat and steam. The strap should similarly become more personal to its owner as it ages.

The Movement

Powering the Yum Cha is the manually wound Sellita SW200-2 M Power+, an evolution of the familiar SW200 and a movement introduced in January 2026. The new SW200-2 M Power+ introduces several mechanical upgrades over its predecessor. These include a revised gear train with an optimised profile, particularly noticeable in the tooth geometry. Sellita has also redesigned the bridges and mainplate to improve rigidity and durability, complemented by an updated Incabloc shock-protection system to better withstand the knocks and bumps of everyday wear.

Perhaps the most significant improvement, however, is the power reserve. The SW200-2 M Power+ offers an impressive 65 hours of autonomy, approximately 58% more than the base SW200, while retaining the familiar 4Hz, or 28,800vph, operating frequency. The longer running time is achieved through a redesigned barrel and a new mainspring with an increased number of coils.

This is the first watch we have reviewed to feature the new movement, and the additional power reserve is certainly welcome. During the two weeks we spent with the Yum Cha, the movement performed reliably and without drama. The supplied specifications also state that the movement is adjusted in five positions to an accuracy of ±6 seconds per day. We think it was a good decision by Jackie and the Selten team to adopt the latest generation of the SW200 for the Yum Cha. The movement may not be the star of this particular watch, that accolade undoubtedly belongs to the dial. However, we must emphasize that the improved power reserve makes it a more practical proposition for everyday wear.

Competitive Landscape

At its price point, the Yum Cha occupies a rather interesting position in the market. As we have already discussed, the dial is extraordinarily labour-intensive to produce. Each surviving dial requires approximately 16.5 hours of handwork, comprising eight hours of engraving, seven hours of Grand Feu enamelling and another 1.5 hours of hand polishing. And even then, the rejection rate exceeds 40%.

This makes finding a direct competitor rather difficult. We have previously curated a selection of watches featuring Grand Feu enamel dials, and most sit considerably above the Yum Cha’s price point. One which comes relatively close is the Louis Erard Excellence Émail Grand Feu II 39mm. However, even this lacks the extensive hand engraving beneath the enamel which gives the Yum Cha its distinctive appearance.

Selten itself has previously produced watches featuring artisanal dial work, but nothing quite as intricate or as labour-intensive as what we see here. And this is perhaps where the value proposition of the Yum Cha becomes particularly compelling. It is not simply the presence of a Grand Feu enamel dial, but the combination of hand engraving and transparent Grand Feu enamel at this price point which sets it apart.

Concluding Thoughts

How shall we put this? At first glance, the Yum Cha might appear to be a relatively simple time-only watch. But spend some time with it and more importantly, understand the story behind it. There is considerably more here than initially meets the eye

In fact, Jackie has never really deviated from the philosophy behind Jui (聚). The Chinese character 聚 means to gather, and that same idea remains at the heart of the Yum Cha. This time, however, the story becomes considerably more personal. Yum Cha is not simply about gathering people together, but a tribute to Jackie’s grandparents and, in particular, his Por Por, who raised him. The press release describes the watch as being born from his childhood memories of mornings spent with his grandparents around the tables of Hong Kong tea houses.

Those memories have been translated beautifully into the watch itself. The bamboo-steamer-inspired dial is not merely decorative, but a physical representation of those mornings spent over tea and Dim Sum. And perhaps rather fittingly, Dim Sum (點心) itself means “to touch the heart”. We think the Yum Cha manages to do exactly that.

Beyond the emotional story, however, there is also a genuinely impressive watch. The hand-engraved Fumé Grand Feu enamel dial is beautiful, technically interesting and extremely labour-intensive to produce. Couple this with the wearable 38mm case, improved Sellita movement and thoughtful details throughout, and the Yum Cha becomes a rather compelling proposition. With only 100 pieces available, we suspect Jackie and Selten will not have much difficulty finding a home for each of them.