Upcoming Lecture: Space Shuttle Columbia Tragedy: A Watch's Story

Join HSNY on Monday, March 1, 2021 for a virtual lecture on Space Shuttle Columbia Tragedy: A Watch's Story, presented by Ann Micklos, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Engineer, Merritt Island, Florida.

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For the Horological Society of New York’s March 2021 lecture, former NASA Engineer Ann Micklos will discuss the general history of watches in spaceflight, which leads to her personal story about a watch that flew on a Space Shuttle. The watch was a gift that had the honor to fly on Columbia, STS-107. Unfortunately, Columbia and her crew were lost during her entry into Earth’s atmosphere. However, the pain for losing the crew and Columbia was slightly dulled with a watch which was meant to get back to her owner.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE!

Zoom Webinar to begin promptly at 7:00pm Eastern Time (US and Canada).
Webinar registration is required.

Q&A with Kelly Yoch (February 2021 Meeting)

Earlier this month, the Horological Society of New York welcomed Watches of Switzerland Director of Client Relations Kelly Yoch to present a lecture on Collecting for Passion, Not Investment.

With more than 800 RSVPs and tune-ins from 16 countries, there were bound to be some questions left to discuss. Below, Yoch has graciously taken the time to continue the conversation on why collecting for passion is the way to go.

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

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Q: Would you put more responsibility on the brands to come to market and advertise more unique designs or on the collectors to expand their horizons and look to purchase outside of "what everyone wants"? Eric A

A: The brands definitely need to be more creative. In saying that…if you are a collector of anything, you should be open to all things that encompass your "passion".

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Q: Watch enthusiasts are focused on buying, selling, wearing and enjoying watches, and the appetite for owning luxury mechanical watches will continue to grow, but looking forward 10-20 years, do you see a problem where there will be an insufficient number of qualified watchmakers to service the industry? And if you see this as a potential problem facing the industry, what are the major retail ADs, such as Watches of Switzerland and others, doing to promote the interest in watchmaking as a career? M. Russell

A: It's ultimately not up to the retailers…..it's up to Societies like HSNY and the brands themselves to ensure their product continues to be serviced appropriately. WoS can support HSNY (which they do). Patek, for instance, has their own school here in the United States. Hopefully, more brands will follow.

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Q: What are your thoughts about micro brands and the resurgence of American watchmaking? M. Macdonald

A: The more the merrier.

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Q: Kelly, thank you for telling people to buy what they love! Have you ever purchased a watch that you didn’t end up loving? Can you explain why? A. Moore

A: Yes. I did recently. I'm really into the history of the piece. I found out the watch didn't belong to a good person - someone who had done me wrong in the past. Didn't want any part of it at that point even though I loved the watch. I have also purchased things a long time ago that currently don't fit with my style or life currently. We are allowed to evolve and change (thank god). ;)

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Q: Kelly, what are a few of the watch brands and what specific pieces that we should keep an eye on that are under-appreciated? R. Sufi

A: I love independents…Moser, Armin Strom, Laurent Ferrier. BUT BUY WHAT YOU LOVE!

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Q: What would you say is the best way to bring back passion and get away from the re-sale value craze that has affected the watch collecting world? Can brands do anything to help? J. Veliz

A: Get off Instagram and go have a conversation with an AD, auction house, or other collectors. The brands can do better with monitoring the secondary market and hold the retailers accountable.

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Q: How do you recommend we get comfortable with condition, fit, and other physical factors of watches while relying on the internet to purchase watches remotely during this pandemic? Is it a matter of trusting the dealer, or taking advantage of return policies, or something else? D. Herer

A: Finding a legit second-hand dealer is ultimately the goal. Making sure they have a return policy is important. And ACTUALLY speaking to a human should be important as well.

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Q: Retail is becoming focused on just a few brands as well, with many collectors unable to find much variety beyond Rolex, Omega, TAG, Breitling, etc. How can the retail industry encourage variety when most sales counters look the same? S. Foskett

A: To the little guy - say in the middle of the country - those brands are what pays his bills. Finding larger retailers with extensive selection can help steer variety in a personal watch collection.

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Q: Hi Kelly! What’s on your wrist tonight and why did you choose to wear it for your lecture? E. Gonzalez

A: Patek Philippe Ellipse 5028G. This watch encompasses exactly the theme of the lecture. This is something I coveted since I started in 1997. The fact that I now own it is still a shock to me. I love it every time I look down at my wrist. Not a popular piece by any means…but I bought it because I loved it and has special meaning to me.

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Q: What is more important to you - collecting vintage or modern? R. Houde

A: My heart is with vintage. But there are so many modern pieces in my collection. To me, the fun is having a collection that includes both. It shows that you are open to all possibilities. :)

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Q: Are the popularity of dial sizes more driven by consumers or manufacturers? I.e. are manufactures making watches in sizes they feel are appropriate, or are they stretching the design to satisfy what they feel consumers want? M. Russell

A: I wish more brands would actually listen to the client. The end user is ultimately the biggest critic and assistant. I wish there were more "round table" discussions so that we could get more of a feel for the market.

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Q: Thank you for the lecture. How would you advise a new watch collector to choose an AD? How do you develop a "relationship"? J. Molina

A: Find the dealer that has everything you are looking for…go in, have discussions, touch and feel product. I'm still a "brick and mortar" gal…I know that's not the way of the world right now. Retailers are specifically asked to put brand ambassadors in place so that a client's questions can be answered totally. I know that at WoS, each brand is represented wholly.

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Q: Many of the leading brands today are owned by one of three or four Private Equity groups whose primary motivation is financial, not horological. This entices the brands to pool the purchase of watch parts, case and dial manufactures among themselves in order to manage manufacturing costs very similar to how the automobile manufacturers work. Is this trend eventually going to negatively impact the uniqueness of individual brands? K. Lobo

A: It's ultimately the responsibility for these Private Equity groups to put the proper people in place to guide the growth of the brands. That’s if they are interested in actually making a profit. :)

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Q: How do you suggest young or new collectors begin collecting when their price point is a little lower? It seems building a relationship with an AD is key in the long run but it can be hard to justify when the grey market provides lower prices for the same products. C. Kowalczyk

A: If price is the only driving force behind a watch purchase, then the secondary market is fine. To me, there are so many more factors involved - servicing, future purchases, security in that purchase, etc.

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Q: As mentioned, HODINKEE, social media, etc. have led to an increased interest in horology amongst younger people - what do you feel has been the most important factor/biggest selling point for mechanical watches particularly for this demographic, and how do you think we can ensure that future generations remain engaged? B.Darling

A: As long as the watch community stays current with all the platforms offered in today's changing world, we should always be fine.

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Q: Sometimes I think of watch collecting in "wine" terms...for example, I know I can spend $250+ and get a bottle of wine I'll love...the challenge is how to find a $30 bottle of wine that may not have "the label", but will rock...similarly, I know that I can spend 5-6 figures on a watch and get a killer piece...but how do you compare and judge watches in the under $10k range? Or, even sub $5k? H. Lichtig

A: Plenty of great brands - Doxa, Grand Seiko, etc. Look at the finishing of a Grand Seiko dial. It rivals Patek any day of the week. Always looking for that $30 bottle of wine. When I do, it's usually Italian. :)

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Q: When you describe your collection, I hear a love of watches that remind you of specific times in your life. So when you listen to clients, how do you help them identify the "current time in their life" and the watch that will become as meaningful to them in the future as your older special watches? M. Datta

A: That's how I collect…that may not remotely be important to the person in front of me. I think everyone approaches collecting differently. It's more important to discover what is important to that person.

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Q: Who is the new average buyer? How do you see women changing this industry? S. Roberts

A: New average is young…under 35. Women need to become more confident selling timepieces. Women have the creativity, the heart and the confidence to change anything.

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HSNY Announces Mark Armenante and Daniel Mooncai as Trustees

New York City - February 16, 2021

The Horological Society of New York (HSNY) welcomes today two members to its Board of Trustees, finalizing 2021’s team of 12. Mark Armenante injects new insight into America’s oldest watchmaking guild while Daniel Mooncai returns as a Trustee following his 2019 term fulfillment.

Mark Armenante has spent the last 35 years in the technology sector. Fascinated by the similarities between tech and watchmaking, he has been a collector for 30 of those 35 years. Mark founded several companies including Veeva Systems, Vlocity Inc., Verve Wines and Rigor Hill Farm. He is a board member at A Collected Man, Oryn Therapeutics, Global Medical Aid and Case Western Reserve University. His undergraduate degree is in Biology and he holds an MBA in Finance.

Daniel Mooncai earned a bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Rochester in 2010 and soon after went on to graduate from the 3,000-hour WOSTEP program in 2012. Mooncai has worked as a watchmaker for a variety of brands under the Richemont Group, with a majority of his time on the IWC team. Mooncai moved to New York City in 2014 to work professionally as a watchmaker for the Henri Stern Watch Agency. He quickly became a member of the Horological Society of New York and fulfilled his first term on HSNY’s Board of Trustees in 2019. In April 2019, Moocai was promoted to Team Leader for Level 3 watchmakers at HSWA. 

Horological Society of New York Board of Trustees, 2021

Meeting Recap: Collecting for Passion, Not Investment

Kelly Yoch, Director of Client Relations, Watches of Switzerland, USA
February 1, 2021

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

For the Horological Society of New York (HSNY) February 2021 lecture, Kelly Yoch, Director of Client Relations for Watches of Switzerland, presented a fascinating topic of collecting for passion — not investment, based on what she has observed amongst watch collectors throughout her career in the watch industry.

To get a historical context, Yoch began the lecture with three watch collectors that are well known to watch enthusiasts and the watch industry: Henry Ford, who ‘tinkered’ with watches and pocket watches as a hobby; and the timepiece competitiveness between James Ward Packard and Henry Graves, Jr.. One can surmise that these individuals exemplified a period when collectors actually collected for passion.  

Based on the following timeline, Yoch classified watches that were representative of the period they were produced:

1970s:  Royal Oak, Nautilus, Hamilton, Pulsar

1980s:  Swatch, Rolex Gold President, Omega Constellation, Cartier’s Pacha and Santos, Piaget

1990s:  Rolex Submariner and Daytona, TAG Heuer link bracelet, Omega and the James Bond   franchise, Franck Muller Master Banker

2000s:  Panerai, Hublot’s Big Bang, Chanel J12

2010s:  Patek Philippe Tiffany-stamped pieces

2020:    Blue dial, steel bracelet — different watch brands are looking the same with their design

During the 70s, the Quartz Crisis was a major disruption for the watch industry. In order to remain relevant and to gain (and retain) an audience, brands had to turn to quartz movements. The 80s was the extravagant era where gold watches (and more specifically gold Rolexes) were the must-have items to possess. The timepiece created to display one-upmanship was the Franck Muller Master Banker in the 90s. If an individual was wearing a Master Banker piece, it was because that person was a banker (not pretending to be a banker). 

Collecting started to change in the 2000s by the obsession of Hublot’s Big Bang and where Yoch observed that everyone wanted the same thing. However, platforms such as HODINKEE, HSNY, and RedBar gatherings brought individuals back to the passion mindset and that watches are an art form. The following decade (2010s) saw celebrity endorsements and brand sponsorship at high-profile events such as the Oscars. Finally, 2020 saw astronomical auction sales and an increase in online commerce due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two other influences that cannot be ignored are the internet and Instagram. Both entities displayed timepieces to people who started to see things they could not have. As such, retailers and trade shows were forced to re-think how to provide personalized service for their clients. Yoch concluded by saying that she believes watch collecting is where you want it to be, not where everyone else wants it to be. Timepieces tell time, but they also invoke passion.

HSNY thanks Kelly Yoch for her fascinating lecture!

Submitted by Melody Benloss, Recording Secretary & Associate Librarian

HSNY Offers Complimentary Europa Star Subscription With Membership

HSNY is happy to introduce a new membership benefit to its supporters worldwide! 

Beginning today, new and existing HSNY members with a recurring membership plan who choose to opt in will receive a complimentary six-month print and digital print subscription to Europa Star. As an added bonus, Europa Star will include complimentary one-month digital access to its archives, spanning eight decades.

Europa Star dates back to 1927 when Hugo Buchser, its founder, was a young and enthusiastic entrepreneur with a passion for watches. He launched a guide for watch buyers which soon became an essential tool for the entire watch industry. A seasoned traveler and globetrotter, he voyaged around the world, creating a network of magazines which would promote the watch industry worldwide.

Today, Europa Star is published in Switzerland and is delivered to more than 170 countries around the world. A Europa Star magazine subscription is valid for six months from the opt-in date and is available to HSNY members worldwide.

View all HSNY membership benefits here and join today! 

*By opting in, members allow Europa Star access to personal information for shipping and marketing purposes. HSNY members must have a recurring membership plan to opt in.

Already a member? Click here to opt in (using your HSNY membership password).

Access a watch history database of over 100,000 pages of Europa Star archives!

Welcoming New HSNY Members, January 2021

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

• Abhinav R. Jain, United Kingdom

• Adam Ballard, NY

• Adam Meyer, Australia

• Adam Victor, NY

• Akonwi Ngoh, NY

• Alexandre Alesandrini, CA

• Ali Darwish, CA

• Allen Soong, CA

• Andrew Forbes, NY

• Andrew Varela, Panama

• Anil Wilson, CA

• Anthony Hernandez, VA

• Ara Kouyoumjian, CA

• Atish Banerjea, CA

• Benjamin So, Philippines

• Brett Rutledge, TX

• Brian Traynor, TX

• Caleb Lippman, IL

• Carlton Dewoody, CA

• Charles Wallace, MA

• Christopher Rooney, KS

• Chuckie D. Crawley, NM

• Daniel Herrera, NY

• Daniel Ku, CA

• Davis Allsop, CA

• Dianne Batista, NJ

• Dustin OHara, CT

• Dustin Tsitouris, OH

• Eric D. Rosendahl, CT

• Eric Lassin, PA

• Euan Stevenson, NJ

• Fabian Cruz, GA

• Ferdinand Kuznik, NJ

• Frank Tsai, CA

• Geoffrey Redmond, NY

• Gerald Hambley, KS

• Herman A. Graves, NJ

• Howard A. Lichtig, OH

• Husein Kadribeg, NJ

• Ivaylo Ninov, VA

• James K. Han, MD

• Jarad Schaeffner, NY

• Jeffrey DiFrancesco, PA

• Jeffrey Weinstein, NJ

• Jimmy Lin, WA

• Joaquin Perez, NY

• John Aselton, TX

• John Ruggiero, NJ

• Jonathan Bergner, NY

• Jonathan Huang, CA

• Jose Lagdameo, CA

• Joseph V. Conroy, NY

• Joshua T. Brady, MD

• Juan Fullaondo, CT

• Kelly Yoch, PA

• Kian Soleimanpour, CA

• Kurtis Glade, CA

• Logan Amato, NY

• Luis Bendezu, NC

• M. L. Strauss, OH

• M. R. Regel, United Kingdom

• Malte Brummer, Germany

• Marcos Dytz, NJ

• Mark Steve, NJ

• Matthew Naftilan, CT

• Matthew Soldo, CA

• Merrick Cheney, CA

• Michael Cheah, FL

• Michael Levinson, HI

• Miles Fisher, CA

• Nicholas Humphries, NY

• Nicolas Oncken, OR

• Noah Passovoy, CA

• Patrick Mont, MA

• Pawel Hrebenko, CT

• Peter Campanella, PA

• Renato Caetano Faria, NY

• Richard Fleischman, CA

• Richard Kelley, Ireland

• Robert E. Colletti, NY

• Robert McClelland, CA

• Roger Michel, United Kingdom

• Roger Van Craeynest, CA

• Ryan C. Fernandes, NY

• Scott Jones, MS

• Serge Panczuk, CA

• Susan Benne, NY

• Timothy White, Canada

• Tze-Scheng Chuang, NY

• Wei Jin Lim, Singapore

• Wesla Weller, CA

• Wesley Yamada, CA

• Yee Jiun Song, CA

Upcoming Lecture: Collecting for Passion, Not Investment

Join HSNY on Monday, February 1, 2021 for a virtual lecture on Collecting for Passion, Not Investment, presented by Kelly Yoch - Director of Client Relations, Watches of Switzerland, USA.

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The face of watch collecting has changed dramatically over the last few years. Brands have mimicked designs based on the success of their competitors, and attitudes have shifted towards attaining rather than collecting. Star factor, Instagram likes and fast money have all become important in today's watch world. Auction houses are seeing record prices for watches that were considered basic not long ago, and some retailers have not been playing fairly. All of these factors determine how and why we shop for certain watches. So where does that leave us? At the February 2021 meeting of the Horological Society of New York, Kelly Yoch will discuss how we can get back to collecting what we love instead of what is expected.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE!

Zoom Webinar to begin promptly at 7:00pm Eastern Time (US and Canada).
Webinar registration is required.

Meeting Recap: Journey Through the Secrets of Vacheron Constantin

Christian Selmoni, Vacheron Constantin Heritage & Style Director, Geneva, Switzerland
Roger Michel, Institute for Digital Archaeology Executive Director, Oxford, United Kingdom
January 6, 2021

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

For the first Horological Society of New York lecture of 2021, members were presented with a comprehensive presentation of Vacheron Constantin from Christopher Selmoni, Heritage & Style Director of Vacheron Constantin in Geneva Switzerland, and Roger Michel from the Institute for Digital Archaeology, Executive Director in Oxford, United Kingdom.

The lecture highlighted the chronology (provided by Selmoni) and the impressive historical context (provided by Michel) of the Vacheron Constantin brand.

1700s

• 1755: The origins of Vacheron Constantin and the significance of the lever escapement by Thomas Mudge

1800s

• 1806: First chiming watches

• 1812: Ladies quarter repeater

• 1817: First commercial exchange with USA

• 1822: Development of decorative crafts

• 1827: First Grand Sonnerie

• 1839: The Pantograph for calibers — Georges Auguste Leschot (1800 - 1884)

• 1846: Experiments in the field of protection against magnetism

• 1862: Research and development in the field of non-magnetic materials

• 1880: The iconic Maltese cross design

• 1885: Balance wheel, hairspring, anchor and anchor wheel in palladium and bronze

• 1889: Presentation of the first known Vacheron Constantin wristwatch at the Universal Exhibition of 1889 in Paris

1900s

• 1904: Early Aviator’s Watch

• 1912: Early Tonneau shape wristwatch demonstrated the creativity and daring with shapes

• 1918: Collaboration with the US Corp of Engineers and the bespoke pocket watch of James W. Packard

• 1921: Samuel Parkes Cadman - the owner of two Historiques American 1921

• 1925: Partnership with Verger Freres in Paris and the influence of Japanese design on the Art Deco timekeepers

• 1928: The Henry Graves Tourbillon Chronometer and The Boisrouvray

• 1929: The King Fouad timepiece presented as a gift to King Fouad I of Egypt

• 1932: The first ‘Cottier’ World Time system and the introduction of the Platinum Ultra-Thin Pocket Watch

• 1936 - 1940: The ‘Don Pancho’ Story — Grand complication wristwatch with minute repeater and 31-days retrograde calendar

• 1938: Measured the water speed record via the contraleague electric module with a mechanical timing machine and the collaboration with Alcan to create the Aluminium Pocket Watch Ref. 4348

• 1940s: Introduced experimental designs such as the influence of aerodynamics

• 1944: Deck watch aboard The HMS Belfast and D-Day

• 1946: The King Farouk timepiece (created in 1937) was a major grand complication with 820 components and 13 hands

• 1950s: ‘The Future is Now!’ was exemplified by the Butterfly timepiece

• 1955: Vacheron Constantin celebrates 200 years

• 1972: Debut of the Trapeze model and its variations

• 1975: The Reference 2215 in Steel

• 1977: The ‘222’ Collection designed by Jörg Hysek

• 1979: ‘Kallista’ 140 Carats wristwatch

HSNY thanks Christian Selmoni and Roger Michel for their fascinating lecture!

Submitted by Melody Benloss, Recording Secretary & Associate Librarian

HSNY Welcomes Three New Trustees

New York City - January 19, 2021

The Horological Society of New York (HSNY) welcomes today three new members to its Board of Trustees. Eric Ku, William (Bill) Buchalter, and Briana Le round out the 2021 decision-making branch of the Society as Karen Ripley and Kiran Shekar fulfill their five-year term limits. 

Eric Ku is an internationally recognized expert in vintage and contemporary watches. In 2005, he launched the website 10 Past Ten, specializing in the sale of fine and rare vintage Rolex watches. His interest in the scholarship of vintage Rolex led him to acquire the Vintage Rolex Forum in 2013. Vintage Rolex Forum has been the epicenter of scholarly discussion about all topics relating to vintage Rolex since its inception in 1999. In 2016, he co-founded Los Angeles Watchworks, a business specializing in the service and restoration of vintage and modern timepieces. Ku’s newest venture is Loupe This, a watch auction platform that is launching in early 2021. A member of the GPHG Academy, Ku has served on the jury twice, where he and fellow jurors have been responsible for recognizing achievements and innovation in watchmaking. Ku completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley and has resided in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1997.    

William (Bill) Buchalter is an entrepreneur and watch collector. His business background includes 20 years in the securities business from which he retired in the early 2000s. At that time, he was responsible for implementing firm strategy in the western United States covering more than $120 billion in client assets and creating the Private Wealth Management business of Prudential Securities. 

Retirement wasn’t particularly enjoyable, so he started Capital Growth Properties which later merged with The Buchalter Companies - his family’s real estate development company - to create Capital Growth Buchalter, which he owns and operates today with one of his brothers. He invests in a wide range of ventures including areas such as Banking, FinTech, Biotech, Oil and Gas and Distilled Spirits. He and his wife have a number of philanthropic interests, most of which have a strong affiliation with education, mentorship, and medical research.

Buchalter has collected watches for 30 years and is a lifetime student of horology. His collection includes a variety of makers and themes. Through being part of the collecting community, Buchalter joined HSNY and is looking forward to helping the Society further develop its place in horological history. He and his wife have five children, four grandchildren, and two golden retrievers named Lucy and Ethel. In addition to horology, Buchalter is an avid golfer, amateur writer, and college football fan. 

Briana Le graduated with an honors degree in Marketing Management and Finance from California State University. She previously worked in the field of marketing in various multifaceted industries such as Safeway Inc., Topcon Corporation, and Z-Line Design Inc. After 12 years in the corporate world, she left the desk life behind to pursue her dream of becoming a watchmaker.

After studying for 3,000 hours, Le graduated from a Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Program (WOSTEP) partnership school and has since become a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers. She is a practicing watchmaker in the San Francisco Bay Area and apprenticing with the noted horologist David Walter of Santa Barbara. Le is currently working under Walter’s guidance to make a watchmaker’s regulator clock and complete her first wristwatch. 

She has been teaching watchmaking classes for HSNY since 2016 alongside Vincent Robert, founder of Etablee and HSNY Director of Traveling Education. Over the past four years, Le has worked closely with the HSNY team to bring watchmaking education to new audiences in Seattle, San Francisco, Texas, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Google.

HSNY Welcomes New Sponsors in 2021

New York City - January 11, 2021

It’s the year of more for the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), America’s oldest watchmaking guild, founded in 1866. More scholarships, more lecture attendees, and now, more sponsors. HSNY welcomes today three sponsors who are helping the nonprofit advance the art and science of horology – Collective Horology, Ulysse Nardin, and Hamilton Jewelers.

HSNY’s sponsorship banner expands with top names whose support will directly help fund the Society’s multiple financial aid opportunities in the United States, continue monthly lectures via Zoom, and further develop Virtual Horological Tutoring classes and other educational initiatives. 

HSNY welcomes Collective Horology, Ulysse Nardin, and Hamilton Jewelers and thanks them for their incredible support!

About Collective Horology 

Collective Horology™ is a community of enthusiasts who share a passion for watchmaking and collaborate with the brands we love. You can learn more about Collective – who we are, our philosophy, and projects – from HODINKEE Radio, Robb Report, Watchonista, as well as from our current and previous collaborations.

If you’re interested in joining Collective, please visit our membership page for more information and FAQs. For general questions and media inquiries, email info@collectivehorology.com.

Official website: https://collectivehorology.com

About Ulysse Nardin

Ulysse Nardin is the Pioneering Manufacture inspired by the sea and delivering innovative timepieces to free spirits. Founded by Mr. Ulysse Nardin in 1846 and a proud Maison of the global luxury group Kering since November 2014, Ulysse Nardin has written some of the finest chapters in the history of Haute Horlogerie. The company’s earliest renown came from its links to the nautical world: its marine chronometers are among the most reliable ever made, still sought by collectors around the world. A pioneer of cutting-edge technologies and the innovative use of materials like silicon, the brand is one of the few with the in-house expertise to produce its own high-precision components and movements. This exceptional level of watchmaking excellence has earned Ulysse Nardin membership in the most exclusive circle of Swiss watchmaking, the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie. Today, from its sites in Le Locle and La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland, the brand’s continuing quest for horological perfection centers around five collections: The Marine, the Diver, the Classico, the Executive and the Freak. In 2020, Ulysse Nardin explored the Xtremes, bringing the X-factor to the core of its collections.

Official website: www.ulysse-nardin.com 

About Hamilton Jewelers

Founded in New Jersey in 1912, Hamilton Jewelers has a heritage of tradition and outstanding service. This spirit of service - to our clients and our communities - is the thread that unifies the 4 generations of the Siegel family across the decades and miles from Princeton, New Jersey to Palm Beach, Florida, as well as around the globe. Bringing the world's finest offerings in jewels and timepieces to our national and international clientele has been a Hamilton tradition that began with our founder in 1912, and was conveyed to successive generations of the Siegel family. Martin, our former Chairman until his passing in 2019, joined the business in 1955. Hank Siegel followed his father's path in 1981, becoming the third generation to be President, and was appointed CEO in 1992. Hank's son Andrew joined the firm in 2017 as Hamilton's Director of Business Strategy and Operations, representing the fourth generation of the Siegel family to lead the family business.

Since the company's beginning, Hamilton Jewelers has always combined the characteristics of an international jeweler with the unique hospitality of a regional family business. Wherever you are in the United States, when investing in fine jewelry or your next favorite timepiece, you can trust our earned reputation for excellence. Our tenured team is highly accredited in their fields of expertise, from watchmakers to gemologists and appraisers, to certified jewelry professionals. Our sales consultants take the time to build relationships with our guests so that your needs are anticipated and expectations are exceeded.

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

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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: https://hs-ny.org

HSNY Establishes New Scholarships for Black and Jewish Watchmaking Students

New York City - January 5, 2021

The Horological Society of New York (HSNY) was founded in 1866 by a small group of German emigres answering the call for a need for watchmakers in the USA. They formed a library, offered lectures, and provided their members with benefits. Today, HSNY continues its spirit of expansion and inclusivity with two new scholarships - the Benjamin Banneker Scholarship for Black Watchmaking Students and the Oscar Waldan Scholarship for Jewish Watchmaking Students.

Time does not discriminate, but Black and Jewish watchmakers are underrepresented both in the historic and modern watchmaking industries. The goal of the Benjamin Banneker Scholarship for Black Watchmaking Students and the Oscar Waldan Scholarship for Jewish Watchmaking Students is to encourage a stronger and more diverse industry with a broad range of backgrounds and experiences, and in turn, advance the art and science of horology.

Benjamin Banneker depicted on a 1943 mural by Maxime Seelbinder in the Washington D.C. Recorder of Deeds Building.

About Benjamin Banneker

Those who studied American history might recall the name Benjamin Banneker but may not know of his incredible horological achievements. Banneker (1731-1806) was a renaissance man of many talents - a self-taught mathematician, astronomer, and horologist - who built one of the first wooden mechanical clocks in North America in 1753. Modeled after an imported pocket watch that he disassembled and studied, the hour-striking clock kept precise time and ran for 50 years before it was destroyed by fire. Banneker is also credited with corresponding with Thomas Jefferson on the issue of slavery, and his messages were promoted by abolitionists and supporters of racial equality. 

Today, Banneker is honored with many schools, streets, recreational and cultural facilities named after him. In 1980, the U.S. Postal Service honored Banneker with a postage stamp.

“I'm proud of HSNY's newest step towards building legacy,” said actor, horologist, and HSNY Trustee Aldis Hodge. “I believe, with the establishment of the Benjamin Banneker Scholarship, we’ll be able to open doors of opportunity and light fires in the souls of the next generation of brilliant minds who’ll carry horology to its greatest potential.”

About Oscar Waldan

Oscar Waldan (1923-2018) was a Polish-born, Jewish watchmaker and the founder and former President of Waldan International. Waldan learned the basics of watchmaking during his imprisonment in the Buchenwald Concentration Camp during World War II, where he befriended a watchmaker in the camp who took him on as his apprentice and subsequently, that skill saved his life. Upon liberation, Waldan continued to pursue a life of horology with training in Switzerland and Germany. 

Oscar Waldan (1923-2018), Founder and former President of Waldan International

Following a prestigious career having held senior positions in both sales and design at Tissot, Universal Geneve and the Holzer Watch Company from the 1950s to 1970s, as well as independent consulting for entities like IWC and Rolex in the 1980s, Waldan founded Waldan International in 1979. He went on to produce various private label collections of timeless wristwatches for companies like Tiffany & Co., Tourneau and Neiman Marcus before designing and launching his own line of Waldan Watches, a collection of high-grade chronographs and chronometers capturing the best of his eye and career of high-end craft and design.

“It brings me great pride to launch this scholarship with the Horological Society of New York, in honor of my late father, Oscar Waldan,” said Andrew L. Waldan, CEO and President of Waldan International. “Education was one of my father's greatest passions in life, he worked to enrich his own life with knowledge, and by offering this opportunity supporting talent where merited, we will contribute to the current and next generations of this great art form that connects so many around the world.”

Application Process

The application period for the Benjamin Banneker Scholarship and the Oscar Waldan Scholarship is January 1 to March 1 of every year. Additional financial aid opportunities include HSNY’s Henry B. Fried Scholarship for Watchmaking Students and the Howard Robbins Award for Watchmaking Schools. 

Any Black or Jewish student who has been accepted or is currently studying at a full-time watchmaking school in the USA is eligible for the Benjamin Banneker and Oscar Waldan Scholarship, respectively. Prospective students may also apply, with the understanding that the scholarship is contingent on their enrollment at a full-time watchmaking school. Financial aid is awarded every April with awards up to $5,000 in 2021.

To apply, students should email a letter in PDF form to the Trustees of the Horological Society of New York that includes a biography, an explanation of their motivation to study watchmaking, and an explanation of how this scholarship would benefit the applicant. A resume is required, and reference letters are recommended.

To learn more about the Benjamin Banneker Scholarship and to read the full qualifications, please visit https://hs-ny.org/benjamin-banneker-scholarship. 

To learn more about the Oscar Waldan Scholarship and to read the full qualifications, please visit https://hs-ny.org/oscar-waldan-scholarship. 

To learn more about the Henry B. Fried Scholarship and to read the full qualifications, please visit https://hs-ny.org/scholarship.  

To learn more about the Howard Robbins Award and to read the full qualifications, please visit https://hs-ny.org/robbins-award.   

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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.

Welcoming New HSNY Members, December 2020

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

• Adam Harris, Spain

• Adrian Ivashkiv, NY

• Alp Onay, MA

• Andrew Baker, NY

• Anthony Halstead, CA

• Anthony Salva, NY

• Ben Walsh, PA

• Brad Howard Levey, PA

• Brad Tucker, GA

• Brendan Cunningham, CT

• Chan Chun Wing, Hong Kong

• Charles Allen, NC

• Chris Williams, NJ

• Clarke Harding, CA

• Clay Foster, MO

• Corey Sherman, NY

• Cormac Kinney, NY

• Dan Axtell, NC

• Daniel Giardina, NY

• Daniel Wright, VA

• David Gorrell, MD

• Dennis Gallitano, IL

• Dennis Leyble, NY

• Duncan Wood, Australia

• E. Jay Abt, GA

• Eric Elenewski, IL

• Eric Goetz, TX

• Eric Root, FL

• Erik Swanson, IL

• Gregory A. May, NY

• Harrison Gordon, NY

• Henry Li, CA

• Hillit Zwick, NY

• Jack Bonner, SC

• Jacob Moss Idema, MI

• James Hochmuth, CO

• James McBride, CA

• James Melkun, NY

• Jazz Munitz, NY

• Jeremy Muir, AZ

• Jesse Munning, NJ

• Jon W. Breitenbucher, OH

• Jonah Leigh Durrant Olsen, Canada

• Josh Aubuchon, FL

• Josh Cohen, NY

• Joshua Wise, CA

• Justin Robert Lotsbom, CO

• Keith Olender, IL

• Kenneth Liu, NY

• Lawrence Adam, Singapore

• Lee Tse, GA

• Marc Simons, WA

• Matt Urquhart, CA

• Matthew Jimenez, FL

• Matthew Schwartz, CT

• Mel Spinella, CA

• Michael Green, NJ

• Michael Nickle, CO

• Nicholas DePetrillo, CA

• Nikhil Kriplani, NC

• Noah Lesser, FL

• Noah Wrubel, NJ

• Norman Harris, CA

• Patrick Aguilar, OK

• Peter C. Coffee, WA

• Peter Dipietro, NJ

• Peter Hui, CA

• Peter Pronko, CO

• Peter Whittle, PA

• Reggie Mathew, FL

• Richard Freilich, NY

• Rob Handshy, IL

• Robert Michon, Canada

• Ron Houde, CT

• Dr. Ronald Frank, NJ

• Russell Farhang, CT

• Sam Bhayani, MO

• Sam Corrao Clanon, NY

• Sean King, CT

• Shantanu Agrawal, MD

• Snah Desai, CA

• Spencer Chang, CA

• Spencer Havens, WA

• Ted Baer, NE

• Thomas Divilio, MD

• Thomas Lubeck, NY

• Thomas Matta, NY

• Tianzhi Cui, NJ

• Tripp Carey, PA

• USA Watch Service, NH

• Victoria Smith, MD

• Vincent J. Scutaro, NY

• William H. Julien, FL

• William Huff, MO

• William Remington, IA

• Yana Polikarpov, NY

Upcoming Lecture: Journey Through the Secrets of Vacheron Constantin

Join HSNY on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 for a virtual lecture on a Journey Through the Secrets of Vacheron Constantin, presented by Christian Selmoni, Vacheron Constantin Heritage & Style Director, Geneva, Switzerland, and Roger Michel, Institute for Digital Archaeology Executive Director, Oxford, United Kingdom.

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Join Vacheron Constantin Heritage & Style Director Christian Selmoni as he shares some of Vacheron Constantin’s most incredible timepieces and the stories behind them. Institute for Digital Archaeology Executive Director Roger Michel will join Selmoni in exploring the intimate ties between the notion of time and the ingenuity devoted to its measurement through successive eras. The lecture will focus on a variety of timepieces from Vacheron Constantin, all steeped in history.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE!

Zoom Webinar to begin promptly at 1:00pm Eastern Time (US and Canada).
Webinar registration is required.

HSNY Offers Complimentary GMT Magazine Subscription With Membership

HSNY is excited to offer our members even more benefits with their recurring memberships! 

New and existing members who choose to opt in will receive a complimentary digital subscription to GMT Magazine for 2021.

HSNY members can dive in to the December issue of GMT Magazine, featuring all the winners from the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. Enjoy GMT year-round with additional issues in April, June, September, October and November, delivered straight to your inbox.

View all HSNY membership benefits here and join today! 

*By opting in, members allow GMT Magazine access to personal information for marketing purposes. A GMT Magazine digital subscription is valid from December 2020 to December 2021. HSNY members must have a recurring membership plan to opt in.

Already a member? Click here to opt in (using your HSNY membership password).

HSNY President's Holiday Letter, 2020

Dear HSNY members, officers, staff, and family,

Since this is my first Horological  Society of New York (HSNY) holiday letter I should introduce myself. I’ll be brief because I generally don’t like to advertise. I’ve been interested in timekeeping for as long as I can remember, especially in wristwatches. This passion turned into a small collection. That turned into completing a 3,000-hour WOSTEP training which laid the foundation for my career in the industry. Since then I’ve been incredibly lucky to be in the right place at the right time. I have ten years’ experience as a watchmaker at the bench. Along the way, I completed many trainings including a Breguet factory certificate for complicated tourbillon watches. In the last decade, I’ve been privileged to manage two different SAV workshops and work with many incredibly talented people.

Frankly, it is humbling to write this and to now serve you all as President of HSNY. I’m grateful to my longtime friend Ed Hydeman who stepped down earlier this year as HSNY’s Executive Director. Ed deserves an enormous amount of credit for keeping our organization alive when many people thought watchmaking was going to die. I wish him a very long and healthy retirement.

I’m grateful to Nick Manousos who has done so much to grow HSNY and congratulate him for now assuming the Executive Director position.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Henry Fried. The most famous past president of HSNY, who left impossibly large shoes to fill. I never had the chance to meet him but have learned from him through his incredible books.

Most of all, I am grateful to all the members, sponsors, and donors who support HSNY. Perhaps you have found this holiday greeting through an enthusiasm for watches, clocks, timekeeping, or simply craftsmanship itself. Whatever excites you, our goal during the year is to add fuel to your fire.

No matter how you’ve stumbled across this note, I hope it finds you in good health and encourages you to keep learning, to take care of the ones you love, and to do what you can to create a few more beautiful things to add to the world for others to enjoy today and in the future.

This is what brings us together, and what strengthens the community we enjoy so much — excitement for the best of what we can create, appreciation of time and timekeepers, and HSNY's mission of education. Time, after all, is the most precious luxury of all.

I look forward to a better 2021, to building an even more amazing membership, and to learning from as many of you as possible. With that, I wish all of you, very sincerely, happy holidays and best wishes going into a New Year.
 

Season’s greetings,
John Teifert
President, Horological Society of New York

Meeting Recap: A Tapestry of Time

William J. H. Andrewes, Sundial Architect & Horological Consultant, Concord, Massachusetts
December 7, 2020

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

For the Horological Society of New York’s (HSNY) final lecture of 2020, sundial architect and horological consultant William Andrewes discussed the overdue recognition of the contributions of John Harrison (1693 - 1776) to precision mechanical timekeeping and the dedicated individuals who continued Harrison’s legacy.

FINDING LONGITUDE
Before getting into Harrison’s horological heritage, Andrewes began with a retrospective on the early days of horology and detecting longitude. There were maps illustrating longitude from a 1549 manuscript from France and a 1482 creation based on Ptolemy’s geography. Also discussed were the proposals on determining longitude such as using lunar distance (Johannes Werner in 1514), the use of a timekeeper (Gemma Frisius in 1530), and the observation of the eclipse moons of Jupiter (Gallileo - 1610). Due to the substantial loss of life and cargo from shipwrecks, the British government was prompted to establish the Longitude Act to solve the problem of longitude with a prize of £20,000 (about $30 million today). The invention of the pendulum is noteworthy since it improved the precision of mechanical clocks from about 15 minutes a day to one minute a week. Also of note is the importance of the balance spring in enhancing precision. Because of the improvement in precision, the clock now became a legitimate scientific tool.

JOHN HARRISON (1693 - 1776)
Andrewes then turned his attention to Harrison and his horological creations. In 1713, Harrison’s foray into horology began with a tall case clock made of wood (with the use of oak for the wheels and boxwood for the pinions) which exemplified his livelihood as a carpenter. His ingenuity was displayed by using an oily wood called lignum vitae which eliminated the need for lubrication. Harrison’s ideas brought him to London and he made contact with the luminaries Edmund Halley (1656-1742) and George Graham (1673 - 1751). After receiving an interest-free loan from Graham, Harrison was on his way to building his first marine chronometer and his venture towards the prize for finding longitude. The H1 was completed in 1735, the H2 was completed in 1739 but smaller than H1, the H3 took 19 years to make. Between the H3 and H4, Harrison designed a pocket watch in 1752 that incorporated temperature and the H4 which was completed in 1759 and tested on the 1764 voyage to Barbados.

SAVING TIME
One would think that Harrison’s timekeepers would be considered as national treasures; however, they were all but forgotten within the walls of Greenwich. It wasn’t until Lieutenant Commander Rupert Gould (1890 - 1948) saw the mechanisms on March 5, 1920 (and dedicated himself to their restoration) that an exhibition was arranged in 1935 to display all of the marine chronometers: H1, H2, H3, H4 and H5. That’s rather incredible given that Gould was not compensated for the work (he was given the odd amount for expenses) and that Gould is not a trained clockmaker.

RENAISSANCE OF THE TIMEKEEPERS
Andrewes has been fortunate to work with timekeepers and curators of high regard throughout his horological career. Individuals such as Martin Burgess who established the Harrison Research Group; Colonel Humphrey Quill (1897 - 1987) who published “John Harrison: The Man who found Longitude” and continued the studies of Harrison when Burgess passed away in 1938. By Quill’s request, Andrewes got the opportunity to work on an unfinished wooden movement that Harrison started in 1720 and apprenticed under George Daniels who oversaw the project. The movement was completed in 1972 and was fitted with a purpose-built display case for exhibition in the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers’ Museum. 

After diverging into engraving medals for the tercentenary of the Royal Observatory, Andrewes met Richard Good and Derek Howse (1919 - 1998). Derek offered Andrewes a job for three days a week to conserve the clocks at the Observatory, which in turn introduced Andrewes to Seth Atwood (1917 - 2010), the founder of The Time Museum, and to Marjorie and Roderick Webster, curators of the Adler Planetarium’s collection in Chicago. In 1976, Andrewes (along with others) established The Harrison Exhibition at the National Maritime Museum. However, the exhibition was thwarted due to publicity conflicts.

The listing below illustrates the other fascinating individuals that lead to other projects in Andrewes' horological career:

• Len Salzer (1922 - 1990) was commissioned to make a replica of H1 with Charles Allix (1921 - 2015)

• David Pingree Wheatland, founder of the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments (CHSI) that Andrewes oversaw as the curator from 1987 to 1999

• Andrewes was finally able to give Harrison the recognition he deserved by hosting The Longitude Symposium at Harvard University in November 1993. Notable attendees such as David Landes, Alistair Cooke and Dava Sobel helped tremendously with publicity

• Malcolm Leach (mechanical engineer) who built an exact reconstruction of H2 and was exhibited at Christie’s London in June 2005

• Unfinished movement of Burgess clock “B” was acquired and moved from the shop with the help of Charles Frodsham & Co.

• Derek Pratt (1938 - 2009) along with Frodsham & Co made a replica of H4

HSNY thanks William Andrewes for his fascinating lecture!

Submitted by Melody Benloss, Recording Secretary & Associate Librarian

HSNY Offers Complimentary HODINKEE Magazine Subscription With Membership

We are delighted to offer Horological Society of New York Members exciting new benefits beginning...NOW!

Starting today, new and existing HSNY members who choose to opt in will receive a complimentary print subscription to HODINKEE Magazine.

Embark on a horological reading journey with an ongoing subscription to HODINKEE Magazine, beginning with Volume 7, featuring "Why I Collect" stories, vintage watches insight, a personal essay from actor, horologist and HSNY Trustee Aldis Hodge, and much more!

Now is the perfect time to give the gift of horology with a membership to America's first watchmaking guild!

View all HSNY membership benefits here and join today!

*By opting in, members allow HODINKEE access to personal information for shipping and marketing purposes. At this time, HODINKEE Magazine subscriptions are available to HSNY members in the US only.

Already a member? Click here to opt in (using your HSNY membership password).

Consider This: Talking Bremont Watch Company with The Royal Oak Foundation, December 10

If you’ve ever visited the Horological Society of New York’s headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, you know that the building we are in, the General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen, is home to some of New York’s most interesting non-profit organizations.

One of them is The Royal Oak Foundation, and on Thursday, December 10, 2020 at 1PM ET, they’ll be joined by Bremont Watch Company for a zoom webinar on the brand’s history. If you’ve ever wanted to know more about the British brand, now is the time to tune in.

From tragedy to triumph, Bremont Watch Company co-founder Giles English will discuss the story of the company that today produces British bespoke watches for adventure seekers, aviators, Olympians, military personnel, and more.

The webinar will be hosted by The Royal Oak Foundation, which seeks to raise awareness of and advance the work of the National Trust of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland by inspiring support from the United States for the Trust’s efforts to preserve and protect historic places and spaces—for ever, for everyone. In the United States, the Royal Oak Foundation offers a wide range of programs and activities focused on the National Trust, British art and architecture, fine & decorative arts, gardens, history, as well as conservation and historic preservation.  

Learn more about The Royal Oak Foundation here, and join the Crafting Time: Bremont Watch Company zoom webinar here.

Horology Documentary “Keeper of Time” Debuts Teaser Trailer

Back in 2018, documentary producer and director Michael Culyba set out on a mission to produce a fresh feature-length picture about the world of horology.

Today, Culyba and his independent production company, Tourbillon Film Works, LLC, are ready to present a teaser trailer for “Keeper of Time”.

“Keeper of Time” dives into the world of mechanical watchmaking, following the journeys of independent watchmakers Philippe Dufour, Roger W. Smith, François-Paul Journe and Max Büsser. A much-needed fresh take on the world of horology as it exists today, the documentary is packed with in-depth interviews from some of the Horological Society of New York’s (HSNY) key players and lecturers, including HSNY Executive Director Nicholas Manousos, Ben Clymer (Founder/Ceo, HODINKEE), Michael Friedman (Head of Complications, Audemars Piguet and HSNY Trustee), William Andrewes (Sundial Maker who is lecturing on December 7, 2020), Eric Ku (Vintage Watch Dealer/Collector), William Massena (Watch Collector and HSNY Trustee), Brittany Nicole Cox (Antiquarian Horologist) and much more. 

“Keeper of Time” is set to debut in late winter 2021. Keep up with “Keeper of Time” announcements on keeperoftimemovie.com and on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Welcoming New HSNY Members, November 2020

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

• Amy L. Bohl, PA

• Andrew Darnell, CA

• Anibal Arocho, NY

• Braulio R. Chavez, TX

• Bryce E. Bockman, WA

• Chip DiPaula, MD

• Conor John Loughran, NY

• Cooper Pellaton, CA

• Dan Zuckerman, ID

• Davide Cerrato, Switzerland

• Derek R. Manchuk, Canada

• Drew Osborne, NY

• Eric Van Leeuwen, Netherlands

• Ethan Weinstein, CA

• Gabriel Hindin, Washington, D.C.

• Gabriel Tataru, Austria

• Greg Minuskin, CA

• Gregory Seaman, NJ

• Ivan K. Fernando, NY

• Joe Gallitano, PA

• Johnathan Charles, DE

• Joseph Finkhouse, MA

• Lou DeMarco, MD

• Marc Grabowski, IL

• Mark Paquette, MA

• Michael Zwolinski, OH

• Nicholas Ferrell, CA

• Panagis Alexatos, NY

• Patrick A. Lynn, MO

• Robert Dennis Tarro II, TX

• Robert Ivan Olanday, Singapore

• Roberto C. Sosa, TX

• Rohit Chatterjee, MA

• Steve Lessler, CA

• Zachary Blass, NY

• Ziad Annan, Lebanon