Isaac Sultan Cohen is not your run-of-the-mill business executive. He is a man who is heavily invested in the shipping industry, but what occupies him when he is not busy with his business, is his passion for collecting, with a combination of contemporary art and exquisite watches comprising his collection. For Isaac Sultan Cohen, collecting is one of the main things that have defined his way of life, pursuing this as a passion driven by love, and not the chase after profit. “My carefully curated collections are made up of works that speak to me, and most importantly, have a story to tell,” he says. ” I am not one to make a choice based on price tags or future value. My primary focus has, and will continue to be, on craftsmanship, beauty, and personal connection.”
When collecting art, Isaac Sultan Cohen has traditionally gravitated toward iconic contemporary artists, such as Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, timeless staples of the art world. “Warhol’s pop art and Basquiat’s raw energy—how could you not be enamored by these?” he asks. “Their art is not only iconic, it also captures a particular moment in time, a feeling of the specific artist that I am drawn to. Those who collect, understand that a piece of art can freeze an emotion in time.”
With an art collection that is indeed impressive, which was initially inherited from an uncle who passed away, it’s Isaac Sultan Cohen’s passion for watch collecting that differentiates his collection from others. “I believe watches to also be art, albeit art of a different form,” he reflects. “What makes them special as a class of collectibles is the fact that they can be worn, and carried with you. They can interact with you in a way that you cannot with a sculpture or a painting. You can create memories in a very different way, playing a part in the watch’s story. It is both functional and beautiful”. The fact that watches are not only to be admired from afar, but have a dual function as both a piece of art and a practical object that can be enjoyed, is what draws not only Isaac Sultan Cohen, but many others to the world of watch collecting.
Collectors’ love for timepieces is deeply tied to the idea of legacy, with a watch being an heirloom that can be passed down through generations. The centrality of this concept to watch collecting led it to be introduced through iconic watchmaker, Patek Phillipe’s, famous 1996 campaign, where the slogan, “You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation”, was introduced.
In this regard, Isaac Sultan Cohen says, “When you buy a watch, you are not just buying it for yourself; you are buying it for your children, you are buying it for your grandchildren. It will tell a story over time, long after we are gone” he explains. “The emotional value is something that you can’t put a price on, connecting your family’s past, present, and future.”
Throughout his years of collecting, Isaac Sultan Cohen has amassed an impressive collection of timepieces from some of the world’s most well-known watchmakers. However, the independent artisans in the watch industry are what truly captured his attention. “Independent watchmakers have a level of creativity and courage which traditional watchmakers cannot afford to have. They can go against the grain and I appreciate that”, he says. “If I am going to invest in a legacy timepiece, it is not going to be one that follows mass-market trends; I want to invest in something truly unique. Sometimes this may even be a one-off piece, and certainly, it will be one that was made with an attention to detail that you just don’t see in the larger brands in the industry.” For Isaac Sultan Cohen, collecting the works of independent watchmakers also gives him a chance to support independent craftsmanship. “There are in actuality, only a handful of independent watchmakers these days that truly have a deep passion for their work and put their heart and soul into their creations,” he says. “I am honored to have the privilege to support that.”
This passion for supporting independent artisans is part and parcel of Isaac Sultan Cohen’s broader philosophy of collecting, not viewing watches—or art—as investments. “The potential financial gain from collecting, for me, has never been what has driven me. The question of whether a watch will go up in value has never been the reason I bought a watch. That’s not the point. The point is whether I love it if the piece speaks to me, and if I believe that it reflects my own distinct legacy. I, of course, also need to enjoy wearing it! If it doesn’t increase in value, or even if it goes down, I am OK with that”.
This need for a personal connection is one of the things that makes Isaac Sultan Cohen such a unique collector. He does not have a love for art and watches which is transactional. He is driven by a passion that should rather be seen as more emotional than anything else. His decision-making is tied to memories, the need for experiences, and his burning desire to own something unique and meaningful. “I firmly believe that collecting must be about surrounding yourself with things that not only make you feel good but also remind you of who you are and what it is in this world that you value,” he reflects. Isaac Sultan Cohen has a unique ability to collect with intention, something which other collectors with a similar love for creativity, craftsmanship, and the desire for an enduring legacy that comes with owning something truly special, can learn from.
