Austin Lin: “A Watch to Me is Deeply Emotional”

Held at the National Museum of Singapore from 10 to 13 September, Audemars Piguet’s immersive Perspectives on Time exhibition traces the watchmaker’s storied history since its founding in 1875, exploring the Manufacture’s approach to complications, openworking, hand-finishing and chiming watches. Through its displays, visitors are invited to look beyond the finished timepiece and understand the ideas, techniques and stories that shape it.

For actor Austin Lin, that sense of storytelling is central to what makes a watch meaningful. As he explores the exhibition, he discusses his relationship with timepieces, why he is drawn to the stories behind their design and how the patience and dedication involved in watchmaking mirror his own approach to filmmaking.

Hi Austin, welcome to Singapore. What are you most looking forward to seeing from the Audemars Piguet’s Perspectives on Time exhibition?

I’m looking forward to seeing the Royal Oak collections alongside the stories and history of pocket watches.

Tell me about your outfit today and the watch you’re wearing?

I’m in a brown leather jacket and a pair of clean-cut trousers. I think I’m going for a kind of urban gentleman look. As for the highlight today, I love my watch. It’s the AP Classic Royal Oak Collection, it’s part of the Royal Oak Offshore series and you can see the octagonal shape and the subtle details on the strap.

Audemars Piguet’s exhibition is called Perspectives on Time. If you could spend more time doing one thing, what would it be?

I’d spend more time with my dog. Or spend more time watching more movies, so maybe that’s two things [laughs].

Do you have a personal relationship with watches? What makes a timepiece special to you?

A watch to me is deeply emotional. When watching movies, time is important so for me, the relationship with watches is incredibly emotional.

To me, the significance of a watch lies in how it constantly reminds me of the concept of time — which I consider a crucial element in the art of filmmaking. I also hope to convey various emotions through different films. So, while the watch is a significant part of that for me, it is also a detail I pay close attention to when it comes to my personal style; it can even serve as a highlight of my entire look. 

The Royal Oak is one of Audemars Piguet’s most recognisable creations. Do you have a favourite Audemars Piguet model or reference aside from the watch you are wearing now?

I really enjoy pocket watches, because I think they are full of stories. If I had a pocket watch today, I could wear it around my neck or have it in my pocket, anywhere. There is such a difference from wearing a watch on the wrist. We can see pocket watches in a lot of old movies. It is really a romantic sign for me.

The exhibition explores everything from intricate complications to hand-finishing. What aspect of watchmaking craftsmanship are you most fascinated by?

I think it’s the background stories. It is not only the shape, not only the colour, but also why do (the manufacturers) design it this way? Why did they choose this colour? What is the story? What is the spirit they’d like to tell? I think this is one of the most important things for me because if you understand the background stories, you will understand more about the design as well.

As an actor, timing and patience is very important. Do you think these qualities also translate from your work as an actor with watchmaking as well?

There are a lot of commonalities between being an actor and within watchmaking. For me, being an actor requires me to dive deep into the depth of the journey and lives of different characters. This is a performing art. Watchmaking is also a kind of art that you dig into, about the timing, about the nature of it, so there are a lot of similarities hat really touched me.

For iconic timepieces like those from Audemars Piguet, the dedication to mastering their design and craftsmanship spans a long period — a truly focused, deep commitment to the art of watchmaking. To me, this embodies the story behind such iconic products; for an actor, it is much like the craft of performance — an art form in itself. You have to spend a long time understanding life itself before you can truly grasp and interpret each story in a meaningful way.

Your career has evolved a lot across film movies, television. What are you hoping to challenge yourself with next?

I am going to be an executive producer in my next film, so that is totally a big challenge. Of course, it is my first time, and the project started about three years ago. It is a long-term game to put your effort in, and letting everyone know this film is worth shooting and this story is worth telling. I have to trust this story and all the characters in the story. Through this process, I can understand how much I want to make this movie, and this feeling is totally different from being an actor. 

I haven’t joined a movie as an actor for about three years, but now, I’m a producer so I have to do a lot of work to build up the story. And it’s not one role or character, but every part and detail of this movie.

Can you clue us into the story?

I’ve actually had to explain this before, as I had to do a presentation on this movie in a few different cities. It is about a man. He is struggling in his life but after he has a dog, something changes. That is one of the easiest concepts of the story. Then one day. a girl enters into his life, and it totally changes his life and point of view.

Could you describe Audemars Piguet in three words?

The three words I think would be powerful, energetic and craftsmanship.