Exhibits

The Horological Society of New York welcomes its members and the general public to attend exhibits at its headquarters on “Club Row” in Midtown Manhattan. The rotating exhibits reflect HSNY’s mission of horological education.

Early American Pocket Watches

January — December 2025

Presenting “Early American Pocket Watches,” a revolutionary exhibit showcasing a collection of pocket watches that helped shape the history of timekeeping in early America.

“Early American Pocket Watches” is made possible with the help of antiquarian horologist Richard Newman, who has spent decades preserving American horological history and now shares it for the world to see. The 42-piece curated collection spans 125 years and includes the earliest known American-signed watch (c. 1715), some of the country’s earliest known watch papers, and only-known examples in a variety of categories. “Early American Pocket Watches” timepieces were made and retailed on American soil and include examples made during Colonial America, the Revolution, and the Federal era. 

The exhibit, on show at HSNY’s Jost Bürgi Research Library in Manhattan, includes rare timepieces from renowned makers such as Moses Morse, Robert Leslie, and Samuel G. Jones. Today, these important examples provide a glimpse into the lives of those who relied on these precision instruments during a time when a watch was one of the most expensive consumer goods one could buy.

The 2025 exhibit is complemented by a fully illustrated catalog with original photography that captures intricate engravings, delicate watch papers, and mechanical movements manufactured throughout the Colonies. The print catalog is available for purchase in-person and online and is available for free digitally on the HSNY website.

“Early American Pocket Watches” is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10AM to 5PM. Admission is free. HSNY is located at 20 West 44th Street, Suite 501, New York, NY 10036.

past exhibits

Member of the media? Contact carolina@hs-ny.org to learn more!