Upcoming Lecture: Horological Homecoming: The Hidden History of WWII Watches

Join HSNY on Monday, February 3, 2020 for a lecture on the hidden history of World War II watches, presented by HODINKEE editor Cole Pennington.

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Most of the time we don’t even consider it, but a single line of text on the caseback of a watch can tell us so much about where it’s been and what it may have seen. It can add context to the marks in the case and the patina on the dial. Watches have stories to tell, and in this case, a small bit of info can unravel fascinating accounts about the watches and the people who wore them during WWII. 

Last July, Cole Pennington published an article that chronicled the tale of buying a watch at a fair and using the caseback engravings to get it back to where it belonged -- the next of kin of the original owner. This specific watch was involved in the grim and desperate business that was the Battle Of The Atlantic, and the mission concluded with placing the watch in a museum in Canada. A number of other watches led to dead ends, and no further information could be found -- until he received an anonymous email that included a few key pieces of missing information that started the search back up. At the Horological Society of New York (HSNY) lecture on February 3rd, Pennington will present detailed imagery and archival documents that bring to life the tales of those watches.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE!

*Free tickets are required to attend

HSNY Introduces Eneuri Acosta and Tania Edwards as New Trustees

New York City - January 16, 2020

The Horological Society of New York (HSNY) owes its start in 1866 to a small group of German emigres who established the watchmaking guild to represent their craft and fellow watchmakers following the Civil War. Fast forward 154 years and HSNY now thrives as America’s oldest watchmaking society, due in part to the dedication of its board of trustees.

Today, HSNY is pleased to introduce Eneuri Acosta, COO of HODINKEE, and Tania Edwards, luxury watch consultant at Collectability, as new trustees who will help mold the Society as it enters a new decade. Acosta and Edwards succeed HODINKEE’s CEO Benjamin Clymer and Patek Philippe watchmaker Daniel Mooncai whose five-year term limits have been fulfilled. 

Eneuri Acosta is the Chief Operating Officer of HODINKEE, ​the foremost destination for all things in the world of horology. He joined HODINKEE in 2017, bringing more than 10 years of communication, marketing and brand building experience to his role with the company. As COO, Enuri Acosta is responsible for overseeing the ongoing business operations and growth strategy across HODINKEE’s multiple disciplines which include editorial, technology, business development and advertising. Acosta has been instrumental in growing HODINKEE from a watch media outlet to a diversified commerce and content platform for some of the most well known watch brands in the world. Through his expertise, Acosta is helping to lead HODINKEE in changing the way individuals interact with not just watches, but luxury products as a whole.

Prior to HODINKEE, Eneuri was Global Manager of Marketing Communications for Cadillac. In his role, he developed and implemented communication and branding strategies to re-introduce the storied American brand to a 21st century consumer. Over the years, Acosta filled a number of key positions within Cadillac, managing brand communications that included campaigns for fashion and art partnerships, and the brand’s main advertising initiative, “Dare Greatly.”

Eneuri graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications. He was born in the Dominican Republic and is fluent in Spanish.

Tania Edwards has 30 years of experience in the watch industry, mostly with Patek Philippe. Her career started on the PR agency side, promoting the 150th Anniversary of Patek Philippe which led to the offer of Marketing Director at the Henri Stern Agency (Patek Philippe USA), a position she held for ten years, eventually becoming Vice President. Her pivotal role in developing the global campaign, ‘You never actually own a Patek, you merely look after it for the next generation’ which is still running after 24 years, is testament to Tania’s deep understanding of how to appeal to the most discriminating customers. She remains a special projects consultant and content editor for Patek Philippe, Geneva, and still edits the award winning Patek Philippe Magazine, a position she has held for 24 years. More recently, Tania was global lead for the marketing of Christie’s Luxury division: Watches, Jewels, Wine and Handbags, followed by US Head of Marketing for the luxury British watch company Bremont. In December 2019, Tania joined Collectability and is thrilled to continue her Patek journey with her friend and colleague, John Reardon.

Meeting Recap: OMEGA Speedmaster: The Evolution of Calibers 321 and 861

Bernhard W. Stoeber, CW21
January 6, 2020

Video recordings of lectures are available to members immediately (using your membership password), and to the general public with a 2 month delay.

On January 6, Bernhard Stoeber kicked off the 2020 HSNY lecture series about the changes of the Omega Speedmaster chronograph Caliber 321 and Caliber 861.

Stoeber introduced the discussion with a brief history of the chronograph (including the Greek roots of the word - chrono = time / graphein = to write) and its association with key individuals such as George Graham, Nicolas Rieussec and Aldophe Nicole; and an explanation of why Valle de Joux was the cradle of complicated watchmaking due to its location, climate and people. Throughout the years, the chronograph experienced some notable changes:

• 1860s — Chronograph function under the dial

• 1880s — Chronograph function located on the movement side

• 1910 — First wristwatch chronograph with a one push button

• 1934 — Chronograph with two push buttons

The association of Omega and Lemania started in 1932 when Lemania joined SIHH (Societe Suisse de l’Industrie Horlogère) along with Tissot. In 1940, Omega stipulated that Lemania produce and develop a 27 mm chronograph with a minute and 12-hour counter. So, between 1941-1943, the calibers 27 (Omega 320 was only a minute counter) and 27CH (Omega 321 was a minute and 12-hour counter) were created.  Albert Piguet and John Hasler worked on the calculations, whereas Jacques Reymond provided the drawings.

Throughout the lecture, Stoeber pointed out the following events with the Omega chronograph:

• Evolution of the early Speedmaster - such as the 1959 Lollipop (Ref. CK 2998)

• The key changes of the CK 2998 reference

• Transition of the Speedmaster to Caliber 861

Then came the subject the audience was eagerly waiting for: Omega’s partnership with NASA. In 1964, NASA needed a standard issue chronograph for all of its manned space flights and sent a request to Hamilton, Omega, Rolex and Longine to submit 12 chronographs of the same model to undergo the following tests: Heat, Cold, Vacuum, Humidity, Corrosion, Shock, Acceleration, Decompression, Pressure, Vibrations and Sound. What was interesting is that Omega did not find out until a year later (from a magazine advertisement) that NASA had used their chronograph. Then each year, NASA would send about eight to 12 Speedmasters for servicing and calibration; in which Stoeber had the opportunity to work on as the final Quality Control at the Omega workshop.

HSNY thanks Bernhard Stoeber for his fascinating lecture!

Photography by Atom Moore
Submitted by Melody Benloss, Recording Secretary & Associate Librarian

HSNY Welcomes 2020 With New Sponsors

New York City - January 14, 2020

2019 was a monumental year for the Horological Society of New York (HSNY). America’s oldest watchmaking guild welcomed record-breaking crowds to their monthly lectures, expanded their global reach with traveling education, and raised more than $45,000 towards advancing the art and science of horology. 

Now, HSNY is kicking off 2020 with the addition of four new sponsors. HSNY’s support banner grows dramatically with the addition of Greubel Forsey, Ferdinand Berthoud, Watches of Switzerland and Collectability as sponsors.

HSNY’s newest sponsors directly help the nonprofit reach its goal of advancing the art and science of horology by continuing its sold-out monthly lecture series with industry leaders, enhancing educational initiatives - including developing horology courses in New York and internationally - as well as securing funds for HSNY’s Henry B. Fried Scholarship designed to support watchmaking students in the United States.

HSNY thanks Greubel Forsey, Ferdinand Berthoud, Watches of Switzerland and Collectability for their incredible support! 

About Greubel Forsey 

When Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey teamed up and launched Greubel Forsey in 2004 in La Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland), they shared a common view that there was still room for creativity in the development of complications in watchmaking. Their goal was to improve the performance of existing complications but also to invent innovative mechanisms. Over the years, they have honed their creative approach to fine watchmaking. The technical and aesthetic aspects complement one another, giving rise to bold creations. Greubel Forsey creations have been honoured with many prizes and are presented each year at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva, which brings together some of the most prestigious watchmaking brands. Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey create around one hundred timepieces each year – which speaks volumes about the quality of their workmanship and attention to detail.

Official website: https://www.greubelforsey.com 

About Ferdinand Berthoud

At the initiative of Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, draws inspiration from the remarkable heritage of the Swiss master watchmaker Ferdinand Berthoud while giving it a remarkable contemporary twist. As Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, President of the new company points out: “We have sought to transpose what Ferdinand Berthoud might have created if he was living now.” Born in 1727 in the Val-de-Travers, Ferdinand Berthoud was one of the pioneers of marine chronometry, a discipline calling for extreme precision. A visionary watchmaker, daring researcher and acknowledged theoretician, he earned the title of “Master Horologist” in Paris in 1753, at the age of 26, and was to make an indelible imprint on history through his inventiveness and his talent for mechanics. His ultra-precise marine chronometers made it possible to calculate longitude to the nearest half-degree and to conduct the great scientific explorations and cartography campaigns of the 18th century. These horological feats earned him the much-envied title of Clockmaker and Mechanic by appointment to the French King and the French Navy under Louis XV.

The identity of the new timepieces produced by Chronométrie FERDINAND BERTHOUD stems from the considerable heritage of the Maison. These contemporary yet timeless watches are endowed with the signature touches embodying the excellence and the renown of the Berthoud dynasty. Precise, complex and elegantly understated, they symbolise the natural continuity of creations by Ferdinand Berthoud. Their innovative mechanical movement, entirely developed, produced and assembled in-house, displays a characteristic pillar-type structure graced with refined finishes and housed within a distinctive case.

Official website: https://www.ferdinandberthoud.ch

About Watches of Switzerland

The Watches of Switzerland Group is the UK’s largest watch retailer, operating in both the UK and US, comprising four prestigious brands, Goldsmiths (UK), Mappin & Webb (UK), Watches of Switzerland (UK and US) and Mayors (US), with complementary jewellery offering. The Watches of Switzerland Group has 129 core showrooms across the UK and US (which includes 20 dedicated mono-brand stores in partnership with Rolex, TAG Heuer, Omega and Breitling) and has a leading presence in Heathrow Airport with representation in Terminals 2,3,4 and 5 as well as five online transactional websites.

The Watches of Switzerland Group is proud to be the UK’s largest retailer for Rolex, Cartier, Omega, TAG Heuer and Breitling watches. Mappin & Webb holds Royal warrants as goldsmiths, silversmiths and jeweler to Her Majesty The Queen and silversmiths to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. The Mappin & Webb master jeweller has been Crown Jeweller, custodian of the Crown Jewels of Her Majesty The Queen since 2012.

Official website: https://www.watchesofswitzerland.com

About Collectability

Collectability LLC was founded in 2019 by John Reardon, a Patek Philippe expert and horological historian. John’s passion for fine timepieces started in his teens and he has since built a highly respected career in the watch industry working for Patek Philippe and at major auction houses.

The goal of Collectability is to give collectors at all levels, the knowledge they need to make informed decisions on buying and selling vintage and pre-owned Patek Philippe watches. Collectability strives to make the process transparent and enjoyable by providing engaging and in-depth information on its website www.collectability.com, as well as through the personal advice of John. Other leading industry experts, collectors and influencers also share their scholarship on the website making Collectability the perfect home for anyone obsessed with Patek Philippe.

Official website: https://collectability.com/ 

Welcoming New HSNY Members, December 2019

We hope you had a wonderful holiday season! Here’s to 2020! (Photo credit Ellen Wallop)

HSNY would like to welcome the following new members. It is only with our member's support that we are able to continue flourishing as America's oldest watchmaking guild and advancing the art and science of horology every day. 

• Alex Ruthmann, OH

• Brian Standig, NJ

• Bruno Ferrari Faviero, CA

• Chris Doehlert, MA

• Christopher Petrone, VA

• Corey Menscher, NY

• Edward Shamosh, NY

• Gary Getz, CA

• Geoffrey Trenholme, WI

• George Yang, NY

• Giovanni Jagiello, CA

• Ilmo Eckhardt, Germany

• Jacob Gardner, NY

• Jacob Noes, NY

• Jake Lewis, NY

• James M. Stephens, NY

• Jeffrey Veit, NY

• Kyle Mathers, IL

• Matthew Shpuntoff, MD

• Michael Shanlikian, MI

• Murat Altun, NY

• Nolan Reed, GA

• Richard Freilich, NY

• Ryan Hopewell, NY

• TanTan Wang, NJ

• Tobias Patrick Wolf, United Kingdom

In The News: HSNY President Nicholas Manousos Chats With Business Insider

Last year was a great one for the Horological Society of New York and 2020 is already predicted to top it. We started on a high with a one-on-one interview with Business Insider, where HSNY President Nicholas Manousos shared tidbits about horology and a glimpse at HSNY’s inaugural loan exhibit, “Highlights of the Collection of Bob Frishman”. Thank you to Business Insider for featuring HSNY!

S2:E3 - Hourglasses And Sundials Are Handmade In Rome By A Time Artisan (Business Insider Today)

HSNY Announces Inaugural Loan Exhibit, Showcasing Jan-May 2020

HSNY’s inaugural exhibit, “Highlights of the Collection of Bob Frishman”, will be on show from January - May 2020. Photo credit Ellen Wallop.

Next time you visit the Horological Society of New York (HSNY) don’t be surprised if you see a new setup with clocks adorning the shelf-lined walls. For the first time in its 154 year history, HSNY is showcasing a loan exhibit with more than 45 items illustrating horology’s rich history. 

The inaugural exhibition, titled “Highlights of the Collection of Bob Frishman”, was graciously loaned by the eponymous Fellow of the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors (NAWCC) and Chairman of the NAWCC Time Symposium Committee. Frishman also serves as a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers and is Founder and Owner of Bell-Time Clocks. 

The exhibition is currently on show at HSNY and features clocks, watches, portable pocket sundials, tools & instruments and ephemera dating as far back as 1784. Highlights include a Bedside Watch Display reportedly sold at the 1851 London Crystal Palace World’s Fair, a Clockwork Telegraph Register (c.1850) used for recording incoming telegraph signals later decoded by an operator, and a “Phonometer” used in 1918 to time costly telephone calls of the era. 

Bob Frishman shares the spotlight with his collection. Photo credit Ellen Wallop.

“My hope is that visitors will find the exhibit interesting, unusual and educational,” said Frishman, who submerged himself in the world of horology in 1980 and has not looked back since. “It is more “Smithsonian” than “Metropolitan Museum of Art”. It’s an honor to loan HSNY its first exhibit and I invite members and visitors to consider loaning some of their own treasures for future exhibitions.”

“HSNY's inaugural loan exhibit, “Highlights of the Collection of Bob Frishman”, is a delightful diversion for anyone with an interest in the esoteric side of horology,” said Nicholas Manousos, HSNY President. “The breadth of Frishman's collection is on full display, with a wide range of clocks, watches, sundials, tools, instruments and ephemera. Don't miss the candle-illuminated night clock, the "Sectora" watch or the "Golden Vision" mystery clock.”

Guests can visit HSNY and view the exhibition currently on display until May 2020. Exhibition times are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-4PM, or by appointment. For appointments, please email info@hs-ny.org. HSNY is located at 20 West 44th Street, Suite 512, New York, NY 10036. 

A fact sheet of installed collection items can be found here.

For more on Bob Frishman, please visit http://www.bell-time.com/. His lecture on horology in art, which took place at HSNY’s monthly lecture series on January 10, 2017, can be found here. Frishman currently serves as HSNY’s Exhibit Curator.

Upcoming Lecture: OMEGA Speedmaster: The Evolution of Calibers 321 & 861

Join HSNY on Monday, January 6, 2020 for a lecture on the evolution of OMEGA Speedmaster Calibers 321 and 861, by Bernhard W. Stoeber, CW21.

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You likely have heard about the watch that went to the Moon, OMEGA's Speedmaster. But what you may not know is the fascinating story of the movement inside that watch, the Caliber 321. At the January 6, 2020, meeting of the Horological Society of New York, Bernhard Stoeber, will discuss the evolution of Caliber 321. Stoeber's lecture will cover the history of watchmaking in the Vallee de Joux and that of Lemania, as well as their relationship with OMEGA. The focus will be on the early development of Caliber 321, why this caliber was selected by NASA for their manned space program and the transition to Caliber 861. The lecture will also include the changes at Lemania after 1982, how it became part of Breguet, and the more recent Special Editions released by OMEGA of the Speedmaster.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE!

Free tickets are required to attend.

Meeting Recap: Exploring the Surface of Venus with a Clockwork Rover

Evan Hilgemann, Mechanical Engineer at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California
December 9, 2019

A technical issue caused the video recording of this lecture to be lost. We sincerely apologize for this happening.

To conclude the 2019 HSNY lecture series, Evan Hilgemann from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) discussed the Automaton Rover For Extreme Environments (AREE) concept. AREE can be thought of as a clockwork rover. Hilgemann explained how technologies such as a mechanical clock and mechanical obstacle detection could reduce computational complexity and lead to a longer lifespan on the surface of Venus. It was incredible to learn that the current record for rover survival on Venus is 127 minutes. Videos were shown of a prototype mechanical clock surviving simulated Venus conditions on Earth, an impressive feat!

The inspiration for the AREE concept stemmed from early technology such as the H5 Pocket Watch, Babbage Engine, Fire Control Computers and the modern technology of Theo Jansen’s Strandbeest and the adding, multiplying and integration of computing mechanisms. The AREE will be built with a combination of mechanics and electronics. The mechanics will embody the power and mobility functionality with the electronics spearheading the instruments and communications. Since traditional navigation techniques would not work on Venus, mechanical automation makes sense due to the duality of low speed / high torque in and low speed / high torque out. The AREE concept demonstrations focused on the high-temperature clock and the benchtop rover at Venus conditions and the exercise was conducted in two phases.

Hilgemann also discussed a related NASA project using "age-old" technologies, Starshade. Starshade is an origami spacecraft, which would expand to block light from a star, allowing a space telescope to better focus on distant planets. The Starshade would only expand to full size once in outer space and would operate as an independent spacecraft. Starshade's development is further ahead as compared to AREE, with deployment possible in 2020. Hilgemann's inspiring lecture showed us all that innovation can be achieved by looking to historical techniques and technology.

HSNY thanks Evan Hilgemann for his fascinating lecture!

Photography by Atom Moore
Submitted by Melody Benloss, Recording Secretary & Associate Librarian & Nicholas Manousos, President

Call for Donations for HSNY's 2020 Charity Auction

HSNY is now accepting donations of watches, clocks, and horological ephemera for the upcoming Gala & Charity Auction, which will be held on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. The charity auction is the Society's largest fundraising event of the year, providing significant support for the ongoing horological education programs being offered here in New York City and across the country. All donations are completely tax deductible. For donation information, please email HSNY. We look forward to a wonderful Gala, and thank our members and sponsors for their ongoing support!

HSNY raised more than $45,000 towards their mission of advancing the art & science of horology at the 2019 Gala & Charity Auction.

Welcoming New HSNY Members, November 2019

Members from all over travel to attend our lectures. Not in NYC? Video recordings of lectures are available to members immediately, and to the general public with a two month delay.

HSNY would like to welcome the following new members. It is only with our member's support that we are able to continue flourishing as America's oldest watchmaking guild and advancing the art and science of horology every day. 

• Aman Raghuvanshi, NY

• An-Shih Lee, WI

• Bader Hareb, Dubai

• Bernhard W. Stoeber, PA

• Brian Schneider, VA

• Coche González, NY

• Daniel Horan, NH

• Daniel Wesley, PA

• David Ettinger, PA

• David Jaffe, NY

• George A. Sheinkopf, NY

• George Yorgakaros, NY

• Howard Gitman, NY

• Jason S. Levin, PA

• Jeffrey Feingold, NY

• Jesse Hokeness, Washington, D.C.

• Jesus-Victor Corre, Canada

• Jon Larner, CA

• Jonathan Sacks, PA

• Jordan Nebuya, Japan

• Joseph Schwartz, NY

• Keith Graham, NJ

• Keith Lehman, PA

• Olusegun Odutola, NY

• Paul Bragan, VA

• Paul Sereda, Canada

• Peter E. Wais, CA

• Praveen Kannan, CA

• Randal Stahl, CO

• Richard I. Lopez, CT

• Richard Oussedik, TX

• Robert Bennett, CO

• Robert Gillison, MD

• Shumon Ian Dhar, MD

• Stephen Levick, PA

• Thomas Jack, Canada

• Thomas Matta, NY

• Tim R. Schulz, CO

• William Marquez, CA

• Won Kim, CA

• Zane Edwards, Washington, D.C.

Upcoming Lecture: Exploring the Surface of Venus with a Clockwork Rover

Join HSNY on Monday, December 9, 2019 for a lecture on Exploring the Surface of Venus with a Clockwork Rover, by Evan Hilgemann, Mechanical Engineer at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California.

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The surface of Venus is one of the most inhospitable places in the solar system. It features sulfuric acid clouds, temperatures over 450°C, and a pressure 92 times that of the surface of Earth. Only a handful of probes have successfully reached the surface, and even then only survived for about two hours before their electronics failed in the hostile environment. At the December 9, 2019, meeting of the Horological Society of New York, Evan Hilgemann will discuss a potential solution for exploring Venus. The solution comes from 16th century automatons, which were mechanical devices capable of performing a series of complex actions to achieve a specific result. The Automaton Rover for Extreme Environments (AREE), would replace vulnerable electronic systems with a mechanical design, including a mechanical timekeeper. By utilizing high temperature alloys the rover would survive for months, allowing it to collect and return valuable long-term science data from the surface of Venus. This science data would be critical for informing and improving models of dynamic planetary systems. To implement AREE, “steampunk” science fiction meets spacecraft technology in a unique rover that must be robust and able to operate during its entire mission without human intervention.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE!

Free tickets are required to attend.

In The News: HSNY President Nicholas Manousos Speaks With The New York Times

The Horological Society of New York recently caught up with an even older organization - The New York Times - to talk about horology. HSNY President Nicholas Manousos was featured as one of four specialists to discuss the ins and outs of watchmaking and how any level of enthusiast can dive in. Thank you to The New York Times for featuring HSNY!

Did you catch us in the November 23 issue of The New York Times? If not, click here to read the full story.

You Have (Watch) Questions? We Asked the Experts (The New York Times)

Meeting Recap: A Life of Independent Horology

David E. Walter, F.B.H.I., Independent Horologist & Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, Santa Barbara, California
November 4, 2019

Video recordings of lectures are available to members immediately (using your membership password), and to the general public with a 2 month delay.

The risk is not that you set your goals too high and fail to reach them, it’s that you set them too low and do.

The quote was the start of David Walter’s A Life of Independent Horology lecture at the November meeting of the Horological Society of New York. Walter strongly believed in going your own way, never giving up and making sure that what was produced was the best quality. Whenever Walter looked at a watch or clock, he’s reminded that the technology was created 200 years ago with no electricity or machines — as far as he was concerned, there must be a simpler way to make or repair a timepiece.

When Walter was 15 years old, he apprenticed as a clock and watch repairer for six years. At first, he worked on mechanisms ranging from pendulum clocks, alarm clocks and then to smaller mechanisms like pocket watches and wristwatches. However, he knew that he had to leave Australia in order to further his experience especially since the categories of high precision clocks, chronographs and chronometers were gaining in interest for him. So, he worked in London for three years and Vienna for seven years. But corporate culture was not working for Walter, so he decided to make his own horological pieces. In 1978, he made his first piece — a Skeleton Clock — followed by the Perpetual Wall Clock and the (D)W5 Free Pendulum Clock. Each timepiece that Walter created had their unique qualities:

• The world’s smallest Carriage Watch: A special contrite 4th wheel and an escape wheel with an inverted pinion had to be created in order for the train to change plane to drive the escapement

• The Exhibition Tourbillon: Based on Breguet’s 1252 Tourbillon

• Five Presidio Watches: All bear with pride “Made in USA” identification

• The Platinum Watch: Houses David’s DW .900 Platinum movement and a .900 Platinum coin-edged watch case with an exhibition back — the only made of that material due to the challenge of working with the metal

• The White Watch: Case made of Tantalum with David’s interpretation of the Omega Cal. 260 and butterfly snailing

• Azur L’heure Bleue Pocket Watch: Made of Tantalum and all parts including the jewels were made in the USA

Of all the pieces Walter has made he considers the Double Pendulum Clock with Planisphere as his masterpiece especially since he included the following 19 complications:

• Equation of Time, Equation a’ Marchant

• Sunrise - Sunset

• Annual Calendar

• Perpetual Calendar Using George Daniels’ Patented Calendar

• Retrograde Date Change

• Instant Calendar Change

• Month Indication

• Day Indication

• Leap Year Indication

• Equation Calendar

• Sidereal Time Conversion Train

• Planisphere

• Wandering Moon

• Sidereal Hours - Civil Hours Conversion Train

• Age of the Moon

• Angle of the Moon to the Sunday

• Phases of the Moon

• Instant Change of the Moon Waxing to the Moon Waning Indication

• Days Until Next New Moon

To bookend the lecture, Walter gave the following quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry:

Perfection has been achieved, not when there is something more to add, but when there is nothing left to remove.

HSNY thanks David Walter for his fascinating lecture!

Photography by Atom Moore
Submitted by Melody Benloss, Recording Secretary & Associate Librarian

Welcoming New HSNY Members, October 2019

HSNY instructor Vadim Finkel teaches Horology 101 in NYC!

HSNY would like to welcome the following new members. It is only with our member's support that we are able to continue flourishing as America's oldest watchmaking guild and advancing the art and science of horology every day. 

• Alec Casillo, NY

• Barry Fong, CA

• Drew Hamlin, CA

• Himanshu H Bhatt, NJ

• John Easley, NY

• Jonathan C. Massena, NY

• Karim Aujla, NY

• Kenneth Chestnut, CA

• Luca Morelli, NJ

• Matthew Anderson, NY

• Michael Pritch, NY

• Raluca Markow, NY

• Richard Fox, London

• Robert Wasiczko, NY

• Spendi Veliu, NJ

• Steven Selby, CT

• William Jay Roseman, NJ

HSNY Welcomes Vacheron Constantin as a Sponsor

New York City - October 23, 2019

The Horological Society of New York (HSNY) announces that luxury watch and clock manufacturer Vacheron Constantin has become our latest sponsor. Founded in 1755, the Swiss brand has had an uninterrupted history since its founding, much like HSNY. The sponsorship will enable HSNY to continue its 153-year-old monthly lecture series, enhance our educational initiative, and secure watchmaking scholarships for the next generation.

HSNY wishes to thank Vacheron Constantin for their support in helping advance the art and science of horology!

About Vacheron Constantin 

Founded in 1755 in Geneva, Vacheron Constantin is one of the oldest watchmaking manufacture in the world, with 262 years of uninterrupted activity. Founders of the art of precious and technical watch making, the men and women of Vacheron Constantin continue to design, develop and produce exceptional timekeepers, remaining close to the three fundamentals of the Maison: perfectly precise methods, harmonious and inspired aesthetics and the highest level of finishing touches.

Official website: https://www.vacheron-constantin.com

About the Horological Society of New York

Founded in 1866, the Horological Society of New York (HSNY) is one of the oldest continuously operating horological associations in the world. Today, HSNY is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the art and science of horology through education. Members are a diverse mix of watchmakers, clockmakers, executives, journalists, auctioneers, historians, salespeople and collectors, reflecting the rich nature of horology in New York City.

Official website: http://hs-ny.org

HSNY Welcomes Blancpain as a Sponsor

New York City - October 23, 2019

Furthering the Horological Society of New York’s (HSNY) educational mission, Swiss watch manufacturer Blancpain has joined as a sponsor. The brand’s generous support will enhance America’s oldest watchmaking guild in their 153-year-long monthly lecture series, international horological education classes, annual watchmaking scholarships, and ever-growing horological library.

HSNY deeply thanks Blancpain for their support in helping advance the art and science of horology!

About Blancpain 

Founded in 1735 by Jehan-Jacques Blancpain in the Swiss Jura, Blancpain is known as the world’s oldest watch brand. Loyal to its tradition of innovation and confirmed by countless horological complications invented over the years, the Manufacture is constantly pushing the boundaries of watchmaking to take this art to places where it has never been before.

Embodying a long-term vision, this commitment to the revival of mechanical horology is expressed through the passing on of invaluable expertise from one generation to the next, along with regular investments in human resources, production technologies and research.  

Thanks to its constant stream of innovations and its complete mastery of the manufacturing process, Blancpain benefits from a total creative freedom. With a high proportion of its components and tools designed and made in-house, trained specialists and craftsmen, manual assembly of each movement by a single watchmaker, and refined finishes performed entirely by hand right down to the finest hidden details, the strength of the Manufacture lies in its capacity to create timepieces that are at once innovative and loyal to the grand Swiss watchmaking tradition. This philosophy is conveyed through each of the brand’s creations and all its collections, including the classic Villeret timepieces, the legendary Fifty Fathoms diver’s watch, the dainty Women models and the one-of-a-kind Métiers d'Art pieces.

Official website: https://www.blancpain.com

About the Horological Society of New York

Founded in 1866, the Horological Society of New York (HSNY) is one of the oldest continuously operating horological associations in the world. Today, HSNY is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the art and science of horology through education. Members are a diverse mix of watchmakers, clockmakers, executives, journalists, auctioneers, historians, salespeople and collectors, reflecting the rich nature of horology in New York City.

Official website: http://hs-ny.org

Upcoming Lecture: A Life of Independent Horology

Join HSNY on Monday, November 4, 2019 for a lecture on A Life of Independent Horology, by David E. Walter, F.B.H.I., Independent Horologist & Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, Santa Barbara, California.

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What does it mean to be independent in the world of horology? There are many answers to this question, from brands that are vertically integrated, to smaller companies with limited production. The strictest definition is one watch or clock maker, working alone to make their own timepieces. At the November 4, 2019, meeting of the Horological Society of New York, David E. Walter will lecture on his experiences working as an independent horologist. Walter certainly meets the strict definition of an independent horologist. A Liveryman of London's Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, Walter lives and works in Santa Barbara, California. From Perth to London, Vienna to Perth, then to California, Walter will provide insights on what it takes to be a truly independent horologist in today's world.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE!

Free tickets are required to attend.

Meeting Recap: Project A11: How Can A Small Family Business Afford to Design and Produce A Proprietary Watch Movement?

Maria & Richard Habring, Founders of  Habring Uhrentechnik OG Völkermarkt, Austria
October 7, 2019

Video recordings of lectures are available to members immediately (using your membership password), and to the general public with a 2 month delay.

Coming all the way from Austria for the October lecture at the Horological Society of New York, Maria and Richard Habring, founders of Habring², gave their perspective on how an independent company like theirs manages to establish a proprietary mechanical movement.

Habring² was able to purchase small orders of movements and spare parts that were graciously provided by ETA. However, when ETA decided to stop selling their product, more specifically spare parts, Habring² was taken by surprise when they asked ETA to explain their public stance on selling spare parts only to ‘brands’. Here is Richard’s brief rendition of the conversation:

H2: Why are you not selling parts to us?
ETA: It’s simple…you’re not a brand.
H2: Okay. What makes for ETA a brand?
ETA: A brand buys at least a hundred movements of one type per year at ETA. Whether it is a mechanical movement or a quartz movement.
H2: Yes, but you don’t sell us mechanical movements.
ETA: Yes, but you can buy quartz movements.
H2: But why should we buy quartz movements?
ETA: That’s not our problem.

So, Habring² had to look for alternatives. Even though Sellita had the parts that Habring² could use, Sellita’s capacity had yet to be established - it would take 18 months and full payment made up front. Naturally, the Sellita arrangement was not going to fly with Habring². It was then that Maria decided that the company would create their own movement.

It needs to be noted that the consequences of ETA’s decision also affected suppliers. For example, one of ETA’s former partners, Ultra, reached out to Habring² to establish a reliable partnership and expand their skills since they no longer supplied winding stems for ETA. Ultra now makes all of Habring²’s rotating parts such as the pinions. The importance of supplier partnerships is extremely important for Habring². There are about 25 suppliers that work with the brand, so much so that the partnerships are described as The Habring² Suppliers Family with the following principles: Sustainability, Reliability, Responsibility, Short distances (between Austria, Switzerland, Germany), Fairness, and “Give and Take”.

Finally, Habring was able to create its first movement: Calibre A11. The movement then evolved into the Calibre A11B which had a total of 99 components. To date, the A11 movement has brought about eight configurations to the Habring² collection:

• A11B (Base) in the Felix

• A11S (Second) in the Erwin

• A11F (Foudroyante) in the Foudroyante Felix

• A11C (Chrono) in the Chrono-Felix

• A11COS (Chrono COS) in the COS Felix

• A11R (Rattrapante) in the Doppel-Felix

• A11P (Perpetual) in the Perpetual-Doppel

• A11D90 (Repeater) in the Felix-Repeater

HSNY thanks Maria and Richard Habring for their fascinating lecture!

Photography by Atom Moore
Submitted by Melody Benloss, HSNY Librarian & Recording Secretary

HSNY’s Traveling Education Marches to Washington, D.C. in the Name of Horological Education

The Horological Society of New York (HSNY), America’s oldest watchmaking guild, founded in 1866, is marching to the nation’s capital in the name of horological education. 

On October 12 & 13, 2019, HSNY will visit Washington, D.C. in conjunction with District Time 2019, a two-day watch show which is free and open to the public.

Throughout the weekend, HSNY’s staff of professional watchmakers will teach the Society’s award-winning Horology 101-103 classes, which include lessons in movement mechanics, gear training, winding and setting. Classes will be graciously hosted by McDowell Time and The Time Bum at the District Architecture Center, a spacious, modern venue in the heart of Penn Quarter.  

Tickets are selling fast and can be purchased via HSNY’s Eventbrite page. Sales are directly reinvested into HSNY’s ongoing educational mission to advance the art and science of horology. See you there!