{
  "id": 18310955,
  "title": "Nothing is cooler than a simple watch, says Abu Dhabi's young watch-designer",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/nothing-is-cooler-than-a-simple-watch-says-abu-dhabis-young-watch",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-05T13:12:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/uae/abu-dhabi/nothing-is-cooler-than-a-simple-watch-says-abu-dhabis-young-watchmaker-1.500737250"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Abu Dhabi-born watch-designer Hamdan Ahmed Al-Mehyas, just 24 years old, has found inspiration for his craft in more than just the act of keeping time. To him, watches serve as markers of important moments, keep cherished memories alive, and offer a creative outlet. As a student of urban planning at Sorbonne University, Al-Mehyas has long been captivated by the artistry and intricacy of watches.\n\nOne of his earliest memories of wearing a watch dates back to around the age of three, when he was gifted a black-and-orange Swatch. Despite the size being significantly larger than his wrist, the watch made him feel older, more mature, and 'cool'. This sentiment led to Al-Mehyas’ first watch design in September 2025, which he named 'deem'.\n\nThe allure of a simple watch lies in its elegance, according to Al-Mehyas. In today's digital age, he explains, people are gravitating back towards analogue timepieces as a means to detach from the overwhelming online world filled with videos, shows, and the constant buzz of our phones. Al-Mehyas' watches are more than just functional; they are wearable pieces of art that carry personal memories and heritage.\n\nAl-Mehyas' collection includes a watch with a history dating back to 1973, which was repaired in Hong Kong, and a gift from his late grandfather's house. He considers his most treasured piece to be a gold-and-silver watch that was passed down through his family, repaired by a Hong Kong jeweler as it was believed to be either his grandfather's or his uncle's.\n\nWhile not driven by financial prospects, Al-Mehyas' passion for design is his primary motivation for creating his watch brand, 'Deem'. His designs draw inspiration from the landscapes and heritage of the UAE, with the watch's wave patterns signifying the two cultures of the Emirates - the Bedouin and the seafaring. The waves on his new watch face point towards the northwest, representing the wind direction in the UAE and the Gulf countries.\n\nAl-Mehyas' message to new watch collectors is to start with any budget, as everyone begins with just one watch. He hopes his designs will offer a unique perspective by not merely replicating landscapes but by embodying a sense of place and belonging. His next collection, to be released ahead of UAE's national day, will feature a military watch design, incorporating elements such as Arabic calligraphy by renowned Emirati calligrapher Mohammed Mandi.",
  "summary": "For Hamdan Ahmed Al-Mehyas, watches have never been just about telling time. They have marked milestones, carried memories and, eventually, become a canvas for creativity. The 24-year-old Abu Dhabi Entrepreneur is an urban planning student at Sorbonne University. He has been fascinated by watches since childhood. His earliest memories of wearing them date back to around the age of three, but one…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}