Gen Zs and their watches

• Main Author: Wah, Qi Le
• Other Authors: Gerard Goggin
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2022
• Subjects: Social sciences::Journalism::News reporting and writing
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/155855
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In 2018, the British Broadcasting Corporation reported that analogue clocks were being replaced in United Kingdom classrooms in favour of digital displays. The main reason - students apparently “couldn’t tell time”.Given the proliferation of digital devices in our daily life, that’s perhaps unsurprising. According to a 2011 YouGov survey, almost 60% of youths use a phone as their primary timepiece. That figure has undoubtedly increased in the last deacde.This provenance makes young watch collectors interesting – they go against the grain. Despite growing up in the digital age (all profiles were born in the mid 90s and later), they remain passionate and deeply enthusiastic about a hobby that’s more commonly associated with middle-aged men. Gen Zs and their Watches looks at five different profiles, each representing a different facet of watch collecting. The series starts with Jarrel, who encapsulates the community aspect of the hobby. It then moves to Benjamin and his love for vintage timepieces, before highlighting Nathan’s personal connection with his watches. Next is Alvin, who demonstrates the power of social media and exclusivity. Finally, the series closes with Daniel and his profit-making endeavours from trading watches.These are their watch stories.