《Ethan Ruan x Ballon Bleu de Cartier》

28-year-old Taiwanese model turned actor Ethan Ruan is no longer a boy despits having his sweet baby face to many. When he won the Best Actor award at the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival last year for his role as a tough teenager in the movie Monga, Ethan was like the forgotten child who turns around and surprises everyone - with the exception of those in the film industry. As a friend of Cartier, he talks about the important things in life and, of course, the Ballon Bleu de Cartier collection.

Ballon Bleu de Cartier is the kind of timepiece that sits equally well on the wrist of a rebellious bad boy and a successful banker in a pinstriped suit. Its unique qualities appeal to boy and man, from age 18 to 38. Ethan fell in love with Ballon Bleu de Cartier because he admires the qualities this elegant and sophisticated timepiece exudes. “Ballon Bleu de Cartier collection renders a special power to whoever wears it,” he says. “It gives you a sense of being sophisticated. It’s like a change occurs in your body when you put it on; your heart is moved, and you may even find that you are no longer the same person as you were - a feeling that you never experience with other watches.”

   

  

Call it “boys will be boys”, but Ethan still loves car racing and sports. A self-confessed sports addict, he often shares tips on keeping in shape. Handsome and stylish, his unbridled openness is complemented by his boyish charm and a romantic eye. Ethan has, in fact, many heartfelt thoughts he would like to share, though his emotional side can only be unravelled if you really get to know him. The first time Ethan realised that he was not a boy but a man was when he fell in love. “When you fall for someone, you want to protect that special person,” he says. “You love her so much and you are afraid she will get hurt. Slowly, you will start thinking whether or not you are good enough for that significant someone. Such thoughts will then lead you to realise that you are no longer a simple-minded kid who has nothing to worry about. For me, such thoughts hit when I was 16 or 17. However, it took quite some time for me to become who I am today.” Ethan is deeply passionate about swimming: “I will never forget how I feel in water, as it is one of the best experiences in life.” Childhood nostalgia sets in as he speaks: “My habits haven’t changed much over the years. My father has put a watch on my wrist since I was young. It was a daily habit that grew on me, and one that continues to this day. My watch has become part of my body and part of me.” Ethan inherited a passion for watches from his father and has become increasingly captivated by finely crafted timepieces, especially the Ballon Bleu de Cartier collection.