Power List: The Ones to Watch

Start your year off right with the leaders, the wonders, the visionaries and all the people in watchmaking who have made it such an incredible, fascinating industry. These are Power Lists.

Revolution is pleased to put together a list of the promising young people whom we think will be the future leaders and trendsetters of the Swiss watch industry. The majority of these individuals are still in their 20s and one is not yet in her teens, but they have already begun to make a significant impact on the watch world. They range in occupation, from watchmakers and communication experts to something I can’t define, to be honest. Nonetheless, each of them brings a unique light, intelligence, energy and positivity to this industry we hold so dear.

Amandine, Watch Enthusiast and Future CEO

Daughter of the former head of sales for Revolution Switzerland, Amandine, at all of 11 years old, is already being earmarked as a future powerhouse in the Swiss watch industry. This pint-sized dynamo has already been featured in The New York imes, Wristcheck and Time+Tide, and has served as a columnist with the website Swiss Watch Passport (by JSH), where she interviewed horology’s luminaries, Jean-Christophe Babin of Bvlgari and Pierre Jacques of De Bethune. Amandine has gained a massive following because of her fresh and wonderfully candid perspective on watches. She rose to fame thanks to Aurel Bacs and Arthur Touchot of Phillips auction house, who filmed her comments on the timepieces for the Geneva watch sale earlier this year.

It was a singular moment. Aurel Bacs came to an abrupt halt during the first moments of the video while describing an auction lot, stared directly into the camera and introduced Amandine as his guest commentator. And with that, a star was born. Because she irrefutably stole the show and our hearts.

Théo Auffret, Watchmaker

I had the honor of being the first international journalist to visit Théo Auffret, former winner of the F.P. Journe Young Talent Competition, in his atelier on the outskirts of Paris. The trip was well worthwhile. His Tourbillon à Paris, one of my favorite watches, expresses a transcendently beautiful design language informed by his love for Journe as well as his mentor Jean-Baptiste Viot (creator of the lovely J-B Viot Paris watch). From the beginning, Auffret’s work has expressed a unique and full mature voice that I love. He has since launched an integrated bracelet sporting version of his timepiece, which demonstrates his adaptability in design and his very sharp commercial wisdom. He is working on a project with Guillaume Laidet to create a spectacular and accessibly priced watch that I find highly intriguing.

Dillon Bhatt, Entrepreneur and Influencer

Entrepreneur, influencer, man about town, boulevardier, opinion leader… I am not entirely certain exactly what the very handsome and ever-present Dillon Bhatt (nephew to the legend that is Anish Bhatt) does; all I know is I like him a lot. At every watch fair I attend, he is tirelessly there, creating content with fantastic enthusiasm and spreading the gospel of all things horological to the next generation. As an old dude, I have to say to him, “Respect, young man — I love the hustle.” Being around him, you cannot help but feel uplifted by his positivity and friendliness, both qualities that make him a wonderful addition to our community.

Andrea Casalegno, Journalist

The former editor-in-chief of Italian Watch Spotter, the diminutive and relentlessly charming Andrea Casalegno’s greatest asset is his seemingly boundless energy and infectious enthusiasm. Andrea, replete in his double-breasted jackets and flashing his appealing grin, always brings a great energy to any room or watch junket. We watch with interest as he develops his voice as a journalist. In the meantime, he’s a wonderful addition to our culture.

Samuel Hoffmann, Brand Manager, Hautlence

Son of the legendary Patrik Hoffmann, former CEO of Ulysse Nardin and current executive vice president of WatchBox Switzerland, Samuel Hoffmann has a daunting challenge ahead of him. He is the man in charge of the relaunch of Hautlence, a brand created by Guillaume Tetu and Renaud de Retz that’s focused on digital and retrograde dial-side animation in TV screen shaped cases. The first watch Hoffmann has launched is the Linear Series 1 model, where he has intelligently reduced the dimensions and improved the ergonomics of the brand, while unveiling a vertical retrograde hour counter with an automatic flying tourbillon. My bet is that, in a few years, he will have established himself as a canny, resourceful and very smart new leader in the watch industry.

Mark Kauzlarich, Journalist

Mark Kauzlarich - Editor, Hodinkee

A photographer, writer, fan of tailoring and, of course, horological finery, Mark is the latest addition to the young guns currently comprising the Hodinkee editorial roster. And he is immediately noticeable as the tallest watch journalist in the room, unless the equally colossal 6’ 6” Robin Swithinbank is around. Mark’s intimidating stature belies an affable manner, a warm and genuine passion for his métier and a constant search for the right shot or perfect story. Importantly, Mark brings a fresh perspective and energy as a former National Geographic Explorer and journalist to the occasionally staid world of watch journalism, and we are all waiting to see how he makes his mark on the field. In the meantime, it’s a pleasure to welcome him with open arms; we just need a step ladder to hug him.

Gaël Petermann and Florian Bédat, Watchmakers

Petermann and Bédat make really cool T-shirts. They sent me one, and I love it, as it’s probably the greatest example of insider watch nerd swag. But when not designing T-shirts, it just so happens that they knock out some impressive timepieces. Gaël Petermann and Florian Bédat met in Geneva Watchmaking School and both worked at A. Lange & Söhne. Now they make damnably sublime wristwatches, specifically the reference 1967 with its ravishing finish and very cool deadbeat seconds mechanism. The question is, of course, what’s next for this impressive duo? We are all waiting eagerly to witness the next chapter in their story. All I know for sure is that they are off to a great start!

Tiffany To, Head of Sale, Phillips Watches

Born and raised in Hong Kong and now one of the Canton of Genève’s most elegant denizens, Tiffany To has long been one of our favorite breakout stars in the auction world. Despite her youth, with her poise, intelligence, charisma, facility with multiple languages, MENSA level intellect and extraordinary passion for horology, she channels star quality each time she takes command of the auction room. One need only watch her expound, elucidate and edify us on the positive qualities of a Rolex 6234 to become a fan. With each year, Tiffany grows in knowledge and continues to impress us mightily. The fact that she is also unfailingly humble, polite and kind is just the added bonus to her already wonderful personality.