Catching 'Em Young: Next-Gen Enthusiasts To Watch Out For
Watch enthusiasts Amandine and Zehra Eylul Aglar talk about their fascination with timepieces, the future of horology and the best watches for children
Growing up, remember Tamagotchis – those handheld digital pets, or even fancy watches with projections and what not? Those were the coolest items to have as a kid up until the early 2000s. Gifted by parents, sometimes even as a reward for doing good, kids have long been surrounded by timepieces – from classic Flik Flaks, which come in an array of colors and patterns to Casio's Baby-Gs to watches with picture projection and digital pets feature.
Recently, as watch enthusiasts and brands from all over the world gathered in Geneva for Watches and Wonders 2022, the community came across eleven-year-old Amandine (@watch_it_with_amandine)'s watch expertise and enthusiasm and nine-year-old Zehra (@littlewatchmaker)’s love for watches through her Instagram feed. The two might seem like usual kids, but that’s not until you see them interact with watches on social media where they are certainly making a mark with their knowledge and passion for horology.
Phillips’ International Head Of Digital Strategy, Arthur Touchot, didn't expect to see a child to care about high-end watchmaking at the age of 10. “We met Amandine during Geneva Watch Days last September. She attended one of our panel discussions with her father, and raised her hand to ask the panelists a couple of questions at the end. As soon as she finished her first question, Aurel (Bacs) and I exchanged looks as if to say: who is this girl? We were blown away by the level of her questions, by her obvious passion, and by her confidence. I don’t think I would have had the courage to address a panel of experts at her age.” Amandine came into the limelight in a video published by Philiips – A Young Enthusiast Reviews Watches Auctioned by PHILLIPS.
Both the girls have inherited their passion and interest in watchmaking from their parents and this has encouraged them to learn more about timepieces. According to Touchot, the watch industry’s landscape has vastly changed from how he got into this space, “the biggest change since I came in is the number of resources, and great resources, that are available to people of all ages.” He adds, “I think one of the reasons I developed a passion for watches a little later than Amandine is simply that no one around me had an interest in watchmaking. If you weren’t born into a family of collectors, or if you didn’t live in a major city, watchmaking just wouldn’t be on your radar the way it is to kids these days. The industry is much more inclusive.”
Born in Senegal, Amandine currently lives in Geneva. She first got interested in watches at the age of five but by the time she turned eight, "it really became a passion". Her father was a big influence since he used to work with a watchmaking website and that’s how she got fascinated with watches. Besides watches, Amandine is primarily focused on school, and she likes writing and reading. She enjoys music as well, especially music theory, singing, and playing violin.
Residing in Istanbul, Zehra is nine-years-old but she caught the watch bug at the age of three. She grew up watching her father repair and assemble timepieces and also spent a lot of time with her grandfather, who is a watchmaker.
Q. Tell us about your first watch.
Amandine: My first watch was a Flik Flak that a friend of my dad's had designed. I remember it was white with a white strap and it had pink skulls on it. It was very cool. I must have been five-years-old then.
Zehra: I bought my first watch at the age of five, a Lorus By Seiko Disney Mickey Mouse Automatic Watch Y621-6050 A1.
Q. What is it that you absolutely love about watchmaking?
Amandine: I like that there is something for everyone. Basically, they are all just watches, but if you are looking for something unique, you will find it. When I see all these different watches, my eyes sparkle. How can one invent these things? It's amazing! If you are interested, then there are so many things to discover and so many passionate people to meet.
Zehra: I love watchmaking, as it’s my father’s and grandfather's profession. When my father went to Switzerland, I looked at the photos (from his trip) and saw many women working in the watch factory. It really impressed me.
Q. What have watches taught you?
Amandine: I don't know, maybe it has taught me to take my time seriously and put things down a bit. Earlier, I used to jump around a lot but now when I look at watches and time, I think more about how I'm going to do things.
Zehra: Watches have taught me to be careful, learn the rules and be patient.
Q. How many watches do you currently have?
Amandine: Actually, I don't have many watches. They would all fit only on the wrist of an adult. In fact, I still have my Flik Flak somewhere, four Swatches including the Swatch x Omega Mission to Uranus we bought recently and another watch I received as a souvenir after a run. I also sometimes borrow a small gold Hamilton mechanical watch from my mum to look smart.
Zehra: I have five watches, a Lorus, Omega, Swatch, Zenith and a Seiko.
Q. Which are your top three watch brands?
Amandine: I would like to put Bulgari in the first place, of course. Then I would say Ulysse Nardin, followed by Swatch. Bulgari, I've been in love with since the very beginning. Ulysse Nardin is one brand where the people in the boutique have always been super nice to me and I think what they do is amazing. And Swatch, I don’t necessarily like everything about them but it's really basic. Kids, teenagers, adults, basically everyone can find a watch there. You look for something, you'll find it.
Zehra: My top three watch brands would be Zenith, Omega and Rolex.
Q. If you could, which watch would you buy?
Amandine: It might surprise you, I wouldn't necessarily say the Bulgari Serpenti because even though it's a watch I love, I plan to buy it when I'm older. It's not really a watch for a child's wrist. If I had money for another watch, I think I would buy the pink Swatch x Omega Mission to Venus to share with my mother. It has bright colors.
Zehra: A Zenith Defy El Primero.
Q. What features do you look for in a watch?
Amandine: First of all, the color. I don't really like black and white watches. It's simple, a bit too all-purpose. I also like it when a watch reminds me of someone close to me. For example, the Opus One reminded me of my mum. It has to incite an emotion in me, a WOW! Especially not the kind of watch where you say "oh yes, thank you... that’s very pretty." Very flat, without anything else.
Zehra: Automatic or winding is enough for me. 5 points to those.
Q. If you could recommend three watches for kids to start with, which ones would they be?
Amandine: A Flik Flak or a Swatch is good to start with. It's perfect for girls as well as boys. It's full of colors, full of patterns, even Disney ones. I highly recommend it. When I was little, I loved Flik Flaks.
Zehra: A Flik Flak, a Swatch or a Casio.
Q. What are your thoughts on the future of watches?
Amandine: Quite honestly, I'm a bit afraid for the future of watches because young people are more interested in Apple Watches than in mechanical timepieces. But then again, there are also kids like me in the new generation who are passionate, and will remain so. If there have been watches for so long, with the same mechanical base, even if things have evolved, then there is no reason for it to stop. There will always be enthusiasts in the new generation.
Zehra: I can't say much about this, people will continue shopping when new products and models are released.
Q. What do you want to be when you grow up?
Amandine: I would like to be not really a role model for people, but to show them that you can do it if you never give up. For example, if I manage to become a watch designer at Bulgari, even though I might not make it, I will always tell myself that I will make it!
Zehra: I want to be a doctor and I also want to be a watchmaker.
Q. Tell me about the time you shot with Phillips Watches. How was it and what did you learn?
Amandine: It was really great. At the beginning, I was too stressed about the camera. I was a bit scared because I had been filmed once or twice before but never as the main character. This time, it was really based on me. But it went well. Everyone was really nice, they made me feel comfortable. I was welcomed like a princess. What's more, I discovered a world that didn't necessarily interest me at first, that of watch auctions. I thought it was something like "who wants this watch for 200 francs?" and someone raises their hand. But it's quite different, with people on the phone, investors from all over the world. I even saw some exceptional watches like the Opus One which touched my heart. I didn't expect all of this.
