My name is Amandine, I am now 13 years old and keen on watchmaking. Since the age of 7, when asked what job I want to do, I answer “watchmaker-designer at Bulgari”… In the meantime, I interview people in the industry… and last year, on my first visit to Watches & Wonders on April 1st, I had the opportunity to interview Oris co-CEO Rolf Studer, for whom this special day was not synonymous with April fool’s jokes but rather with frogs.
By Amandine, the youngest Swiss Watch Passport columnist
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Rolf Studer, who are you at the office?
I’m the co-CEO of Oris. I live near Lucerne and work in Hölstein at Oris obviously. We are a small group of very enthusiastic people. I like to have fun with my team. We all love watches and like to produce and sell them. I really enjoy working for Oris actually.
And in the real life?
I have two kids, 13 and 14. I like to spend time with them. Being in the mountains. Skiing a lot. Doing sport. I like to be outdoors, no matter where, and spend time with my family. And also reading.
How did you fall into watchmaking?
I always liked nice things. My grandfather was a boat builder. He made wooden boats. That’s maybe why I appreciate so much handmade things, well-made things. That’s how I got into it… And then I was lucky enough to find that job at Oris where I’ve been now for 16 years.
What do you remember about your first watch?
Actually, it was a broken watch. I took it apart because I thought I could fix it, which I couldn’t. And I still remember it, just in front of me, in parts. This made me really understand how many parts are going into a single watch and also that it would take a lot more than my skills to fix it. It really fascinated me from then on.
And which watch has the most sentimental value for you today?
There is a watch that I received from my father. He was wearing it when I was a child. I was sneaking into my parents’ bed and I can remember him wearing that Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox alarm watch. From my Oris times, my favourite watch is the first Carl Brashear. It’s been with me all over the World and it even turned all green because I wore it in the ocean a lot. It just holds a lot of memories of having good time with my family.
Do you make watches for young people?
We don’t make watches for children, but we do for young people. Watches are for any age anyway, so it doesn’t really matter how old you are. Main thing is that they give you joy and cheer you.
What would you say to young person under 15 to make him or her more interested in mechanical watchmaking rather than an Apple watch?
Actually the way it happened with me. When I took that watch apart and realized how complicated it is inside a watch.
If you have the chance to discover the mechanism, or even touch it and feel how complex it is, then you will understand the true value of such a thing on your wrist.
However, you’d better ask your dad before, which of his watches you might take apart.
And what are the assets of Oris to seduce young people?
Today is the perfect day to ask this question as we just launched the Kermit watch. We have something really special with Kermit. Something cool that a lot of children also like. The children we had today at our booth, they really like Kermit. The Kermit watch, the Kermit key chain and of course the Kermit t-shirt.
I have a special question just for you. I heard you met Kermit?
Actually I met Kermit in New York and I even talked to him. We made a video about that (click on the image bellow to see the video). You’re talking to a puppet, but after a few seconds you forget it and think you’re just talking to a normal person. And that frog, that Kermit, starts to live and it was truly fascinating.
People talk a lot about sustainability. What does that mean to you?
It’s one of our core values at Oris and we do a lot towards sustainability. We have been the first carbon neutral brand in the Swiss watch industry. And because we are carbon neutral, we know exactly where our emissions are and what we can still reduce. It helps us to make a real difference.
Are you more of a TikTok, Instagram or LinkedIn person?
Mostly Instagram. Even if I try to limit my time on digital channels as much as possible… so I also have time to read and to be with other people.
What advice would you give me to live my passion and work into watchmaking?
Go to school, finish your scholarship and just follow your desire. Whatever makes you happy, you will be good at. And if you realize that it goes in this or that direction, it doesn’t really matter because at the end you will be at the point, that you wish you are.
Do you have any message to pass on? Anything to add?
At Oris, we really want to make people smile. I think that’s a good thing to do. Not only when you makes mechanical watches, it’s a good thing to do in general. It’s a simple but good life advice. Because when you make people smile, you will make yourself smile too. And that’s already a good start for a happy life.
Shall we take a selfie for my album?
Sure
The interviewer interviewed…
(R.S.) How do you figure out questions that are that smart?
(Amandine) We thought about it with my dad, to be a bit different and imagine what could interest younger people. I wanted also to better understand who are the leaders of the watch industry but in a more personal way… and how they consider young people. And I didn’t want to make it to serious, I wanted to keep it fun. Did you like them?
(R.S.) You can be proud. These are really questions that are on professional journalist level. It’s amazing. I’m really impressed and it makes me happy to answer your questions. I must say also that you are a very charming young lady, even more charming in real than on Instagram.
