Join Us as We Celebrate 159 Years of New York’s Horological Tradition!

The Horological Society of New York (HSNY), America’s oldest watchmaking guild, founded in 1866, announces today its 159th anniversary Gala, taking place on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the iconic Plaza Hotel in New York City. This milestone event will bring together top watch brands, horology enthusiasts, industry leaders, and collectors to celebrate the Society’s rich history and its ongoing mission to advance the art and science of horology.

HSNY’s annual Gala is a glamorous evening filled with fine dining, scholarships for watchmaking students, and a live auction showcasing exceptional timepieces. 

Yoni Ben-Yehuda, Head of Watches, Material Good (New York, New York)

The current watch market is in a fascinating state, blending traditional luxury with modern innovation and shifting consumer preferences. To understand how we got here and what the future of watch collecting looks like, especially in the U.S., it’s essential to explore the evolution of the market, the underlying factors shaping it today, and what collectors need to keep in mind when curating their collections in 2025.

At the March 2025 lecture of the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), Yoni Ben-Yehuda, Head of Watches at Material Good, will lecture on the current watch market, its evolution, and what the future of watch collecting may look like. Ben-Yehuda will offer a peek into the inner workings of the watch industry (from the retail perspective) and explore the do’s and don’ts of building a modern watch collection in 2025.

*Doors open at 5:30 PM ET, lecture to begin at 6 PM ET. RSVP is required.

** The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

About Yoni Ben-Yehuda

As Head of Watches at Material Good, Yoni Ben-Yehuda oversees strategic initiatives related to luxury watch sales and services for all MG enterprises, including partnerships with select branded boutiques across the United States.

Yoni has played a pivotal role in some of the most notable sales of both vintage and modern grail watches, showcasing a deep understanding of the market and collector needs. He serves as an executor for estates belonging to prominent watch collectors, ensuring that valuable pieces are managed and preserved appropriately. Yoni has been instrumental in designing timepieces for prestigious brands like Audemars Piguet and Cartier, with additional projects currently in development. With over a decade of experience in marketing, Yoni has worked across various industries, including healthcare IT, entertainment, and luxury goods, adding a diverse skill set to his profile. He has served as an advisor of a social entrepreneurship independent study program at The Wharton School, illustrating his commitment to education and mentorship.

François Perez, Technical Director and Movement Constructor at Biver (Givrins, Switzerland)

What does it take to create a timepiece that transcends mere function and becomes a work of art? How do watchmakers incorporate elements of design and aesthetics into their creations? And what specific skills and techniques are necessary to elevate a watch from a simple tool to an object of beauty and wonder?

With a career distinguished by multiple world records in horological innovation, François Perez, Technical Director and Movement Constructor at Biver, draws on both his personal achievements and the brand's meticulous approach to advance the art and science of horology.

At the February 2025 lecture of the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), Perez will discuss the processes that transform raw materials into exceptional mechanical timepieces. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the craftsmanship involved in creating high-end watches at Biver, as well as the careful balance between preserving traditional techniques and embracing modern advancements.

*Doors open at 5:30 PM ET, lecture to begin at 6 PM ET. RSVP is required.

** The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

About François Perez

François Perez (1988) was born in Paris and began his schooling at the École Alsacienne in Paris, later attending the Lycée Saint-Denis in Loches, where he earned a scientific baccalaureate with honors. He then moved to Switzerland to attend the Haute École Arc Ingénierie in Le Locle, pursuing his passion for precision engineering. There, he earned a bachelor’s degree in microtechnology and watchmaking engineering, with a specialization in watch construction and complications.

In 2012, after completing his schooling, François joined Concepto Watch Factory, one of Switzerland’s premier movement developers and manufacturers. He spent the next decade at Concepto creating no fewer than 36 unique movements and setting three world records in the process. Among his creations are the Datora for Breitling, the Tourbillon Chronograph (WR), Finissimo Ultra, and Finissimo Ultra COSC (WR) for Bvlgari, the Bugatti Chiron for Jacob & Co., the Maximus (WR) for Kerbedanz, and the Memoris and Tourbillon Chronograph Memoris for Louis Moinet. These creations, among others, earned François a reputation for pushing boundaries and achieving technical excellence across the Swiss watch industry.

François joined Biver as Technical Director in 2022, overseeing the technical office and managing the setup, recruitment, and development of the brand’s watchmaking and decoration workshops, as well as handling logistical operations. He has overseen the development and creation of all Biver watches since the company’s inception and continues to work on new in-house Biver calibers, ensuring the brand’s continued success and growth. Every watch that leaves the Biver workshop passes under his careful eye before it reaches a customer’s wrist.

Richard Newman, Antiquarian Horologist (DeKalb, Illinois)

A watch was one of the most expensive consumer goods that one could buy in early America. They were a technical mystery that embodied the very height of craftsmanship, fashion, and artistry in the world, and conveyed one’s stature in society.

At the January 2025 lecture of the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), Antiquarian Horologist Richard Newman will introduce “Early American Pocket Watches,” HSNY’s latest exhibit that spans 125 years of American watchmaking. From the earliest known American-signed watch, made in about 1715, to watches made during the early Federal period after the War of Independence, Newman will take us on a journey through the beginnings of an era that laid the foundations for the American watch industry.

*Doors open at 5:30 PM ET, lecture to begin at 6 PM ET. RSVP is required.

** The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

About Richard Newman

Richard Newman is Chair Emeritus and a Star Fellow of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC), Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, and a Director of the American Clock & Watch Museum. He currently leads NAWCC’s British Horology Chapter and the USA Section of the Antiquarian Horology Society based in London. Newman has lectured and published articles on early clocks and watches in the U.S. and abroad and hosts a website on early watchmakers, colonialwatches.com, to promote research and education.

Bernhard Lederer, Master Watchmaker and Founder, Lederer Timepieces (Saint-Blaise,
Switzerland)

The world of escapements is absolutely captivating, as each tick and tock reveals the precision of a timepiece and the artistry of its maker. At the December 2024 lecture of the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), Bernhard Lederer, Master Watchmaker and Founder of Lederer Timepieces, will take the audience on a journey through the evolution of these mechanisms, from the origins of resting escapements to the revolutionary innovations of horological legends like Abraham-Louis Breguet and George Daniels. 

This lecture isn’t just for those with technical knowledge — it’s for anyone with a passion for horology eager to uncover the secrets behind the pulse of every mechanical watch. With modern advancements woven into centuries-old craftsmanship, you’ll gain a unique perspective on how these intricate systems transform watches into living legacies. 

*Doors open at 5:30 PM ET, lecture to begin at 6 PM ET. RSVP is required.

** The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

About Bernhard Lederer

Bernhard Lederer’s journey into the art of watchmaking began with a spark of curiosity, ignited in his childhood by the ticking of pocket watches passed down from his grandfather. Growing up in the heart of Germany, Lederer’s fascination with timepieces soon evolved into a lifelong quest for innovation, fueled by both reverence for tradition and a desire to break boundaries. At 17, a pivotal discovery in his local library introduced him to the intricate language of escapements, laying the foundation for a future defined by relentless exploration and technical mastery.

Lederer’s work is a tribute to horological legends, yet his creations transcend tradition. One of his greatest achievements, the Central Impulse Chronometer, is a breakthrough in watchmaking. With each creation, Lederer merges classic mastery with visionary thinking, crafting timepieces that defy expectations. A guardian of tradition and an architect of tomorrow, he transforms unseen complexities into mesmerizing simplicity, inviting collectors to witness the impossible brought to life.

Lederer’s story is one of passion, precision, and pioneering spirit, a reminder that when curiosity meets dedication, it shapes creations that redefine the possible.

Yusra Mardini, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and Oris Ambassador (Berlin, Germany)

The Paris Olympics may be over, but athletes’ stories last a lifetime. Join us for an evening with Olympian and humanitarian Yusra Mardini. Hear the incredible story of Mardini, who fled the war in Syria to Germany, made it to the Olympic Games, and is now a sustainability ambassador for Oris. Through the Yusra Mardini Foundation, she supports refugees around the world, for example with a swimming project that helps refugees return to the water, gain self-confidence, and find their place through swimming. 

As a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and two-time Olympian, Mardini has a unique story of hope, purpose, and change for the better. Join Mardini at the November 2024 lecture of the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), and learn how Oris approaches sustainability as a leading climate and carbon-neutral watch brand, along with their role as a maker of sustainability-focused watches that transcend just a marketing initiative and help to impact real change.

*Doors open at 5:30 PM ET, lecture to begin at 6 PM ET. RSVP is required.

** The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

About Yusra Mardini

The story of how Yusra Mardini fled civil war in Syria, a terrifying ordeal that involved extraordinary hardship, was told beautifully in her book Butterfly and the Netflix film The Swimmers. Having swum to safety as a 17-year-old refugee after the outboard motor on her small boat failed, she would realize her dream of swimming at the Olympics, qualifying for the Refugee Olympic Team at both the Rio and Tokyo Games.

At just 17 years old, she was appointed a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, the youngest in the refugee agency’s history, and in 2023, she founded the Yusra Mardini Foundation with a mission to bring hope and purpose to refugees whose stories mirrored her own. Yusra is an ambassador for Independent Swiss brand Oris Ambassador and her foundation is an Oris Sustainability Partner.

Follow Yusra on Instagram: @yusramardini

Rémi Maillat, Founder, Krayon (Neuchâtel, Switzerland)

We all depend on the sun rising and setting each day and generally know the times it does so. But determining those times with a mechanical watch is complicated. With a deep understanding of that issue, Rémi Maillat, Founder of Krayon, has invented a mechanical timepiece that can display sunrise and sunset times nearly anywhere in the world.

At the October 2024 lecture of the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), Maillat will offer a deep dive into the brand, unveiling the complexity behind their timepieces. Maillat will explore not only the mathematical and mechanical aspects but also the astronomical implications embedded in what appear to be simple designs. In addition, Maillat will highlight the artistic importance that remains at the heart of all Krayon creations.

*Doors open at 5:30 PM ET, lecture to begin at 6 PM ET. RSVP is required.

** The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

About Rémi Maillat

Born in 1984 to a family of scientists (his father is a microtechnology engineer, his mother an associate mathematics professor), Maillat graduated as a Micromechanical Engineer from Applied Sciences University of Le Locle in Switzerland. 

He began his horological career developing for various well-known high-end brands, including the Rotonde de Cartier Grande Complication, among others.

More than a watchmaker, Maillat has the ability to materialize mathematical calculations and transform them into fantastic watchmaking creations.

Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, (4th) Managing Director, Fears Watch Company (Bristol, UK)

What does it take to bring an old family watch brand back to life? From the planning, research and trademarking to working out how to actually make the watches, there are many aspects to consider. At the September 2024 lecture of the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, (4th) Managing Director of the Fears Watch Company will discuss how three British watch companies were restarted by a member of the founding family in the past decade: Duckworth Prestex, Fears and Vertex.

*Doors open at 5:30 PM ET, lecture to begin at 6 PM ET. RSVP is required.

** The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

Nicholas Bowman-Scargill

Nicholas Bowman-Scargill is the (4th) Managing Director of his family's British watch company, Fears, that he restarted in 2016 after 39 years of dormancy. He works from the company’s head office in its original home city of Bristol in the western part of the UK. Alongside the dedicated team at Fears, he oversees the creation of elegant and understated watches that are hand built in England acting as a modern interpretation of what Fears made before. Nicholas has been a longtime watch enthusiast since receiving his first watch at the age of six and spending 5 years as an apprentice watchmaker at Rolex.

PLEASE NOTE JUNE’S LECTURE WILL begin at 6pm.

Jack Forster, Global Editorial Director, The 1916 Company (New York, New York)

The world of horology, of timekeeping and calendar reckoning, is based on the assumption that in the world around us, there are orders that can be reflected in watches and clocks. This includes everything from the simplest precision timekeepers, which rely on the stability of mechanical, electromechanical, and quantum oscillators, to highly complex calendars and calendar systems that reflect cycles in the physical universe, including the motion of astronomical bodies. Beginning from an examination of the simplest ideal classical oscillator – a pendulum with a massless rod, swinging in a vacuum on a frictionless bearing – this lecture will look at the gaps between ideal systems and their physical manifestations.

At the June lecture of the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), Jack Forster, Global Editorial Director of The 1916 Company, will look at factors affecting the stability of oscillators and also at the behavior of longer natural cycles that determine the structure of calendars. In both cases, the great challenge is for horologists to understand that it is fundamentally and axiomatically impossible to ever duplicate the behavior of idealized systems – but the challenge is to get as close as you can. What connects the simplest and the most complex horological mechanisms, is their attempt to capture the ideal – whether an ideal oscillator or a perfectly harmonious calendar – in a mechanical form. 

*Doors open at 5:30 PM ET, lecture to begin at 6 PM ET. RSVP is required.

** The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

PLEASE NOTE JUNE’S LECTURE WILL begin at 6pm.

About Jack Forster

Jack Forster has been interested in watches, clocks, and the problems involved in precision timekeeping for many years. He has written for numerous publications, including The 1916 Company, Hodinkee, Forbes, Vanity Fair, and many others. He is the author of several books, including Cartier: Time Art; Accutron: From The Space Age To The Digital Age; Watches: A Guide By Hodinkee (contributor and editor); MING: The Quest For All Positions;  and an upcoming history of the first 100 years of the Citizen watch company.

PLEASE NOTE MAY’S LECTURE WILL TAKE PLACE ON WED, MAY 15.

Joseph Kirk, Brand Curator and Director of Marketing, Grand Seiko Corporation of America (New York, New York)

Grand Seiko design adopts its ethos from Japan itself, embodying elements of nature, light, and shadow, and even from architectural design to bring to life a unique sensibility in the watch industry. While Grand Seiko established its design code in 1967, the design traits of the brand have continued to evolve over time.

At the May lecture of the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), Grand Seiko Brand Curator and Director of Marketing Joseph Kirk, along with special guest Junichi Kamata, Grand Seiko Design Director, will discuss how the brand has mastered its manufacturing and craftsmanship, attained through years of experience and today defined by its unique dials, Zaratsu polishing, and even movement designs that reflect the natural beauty surrounding the studios where the watches themselves are made. 

*Doors open at 6PM ET, lecture to begin at 7PM ET. RSVP is required.

** The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

About Joseph Kirk

Joseph Kirk is the Brand Curator and Director of Marketing for Grand Seiko Corporation of America. Kirk has worked in the watch industry for over 18 years, in retail, media and educational formats. His knowledge of timepieces was gained through hands-on experience and time; along with the help of many watchmakers, engineers and designers from the industry overall, as well as the brand itself.

Special Guest: Junichi Kamata, Grand Seiko Design Director. Kamata began his current role as Design Director in 2019. Finding beauty in the natural world and changing of the seasons, he and his team evoke the brand’s philosophy of “The Nature of Time.”

Malaika Crawford, Style Editor, Hodinkee (New York, New York)

Many see high-end watches as a token of forever, but view fashion as a fleeting fad. Malaika Crawford, Style Editor at Hodinkee, argues that both are fundamentally expressions of personal style. The gap between the two comes down to a dichotomy of permanence and obsolescence. But, ultimately, fashion and pop culture both do influence watch design - as well as the way we collect, consume, and wear watches.

At the March lecture of the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), Crawford will explore the intersection of fashion and watches by looking at the design links between them through decades past. The use of black as a symbol of extreme modernity, or the similarities between Yves Saint Laurent and Gérald Genta, for example. In examining the parallels, we can better understand the impact and significance of fashion on the world of horology. 

*Doors open at 6PM ET, lecture to begin at 7PM ET. RSVP is required.

** The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

About Malaika Crawford

Malaika Crawford is the Style Editor at Hodinkee, focusing primarily on style-related content in hopes of broadening the watch space and converging fashion and watch audiences. Malaika is also a Wardrobe Stylist who has previously worked with celebrities such as Rihanna. Prior to her position at Hodinkee she was the Watch and Jewelry editor at Highsnobiety and Fashion Editor at Interview Magazine. Malaika co-hosts a watch and pop culture podcast called “Killing Time.”

Laurence Bodenmann, Head of Heritage at ZENITH (Le Locle, Switzerland)

History is not stationary. It is the ever-evolving result of research based on existing material, made alive by continuous questioning. This research is entrusted to ZENITH’s Heritage Department, which can take advantage of the exceptionally rich historical assets of the nearly 160-year manufacture.

At the February lecture of the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), Laurence Bodenmann, Head of Heritage at ZENITH, will present a behind-the-scenes look at the brand whose collection spans over 3,000 linear feet of archives and 5,000 timepieces. Learn about ZENITH’s storied heritage, how they secured their spot in the world of watchmaking, and how they are shaping the ‘making of’ watchmaking history at large.

*Doors open at 6PM ET, lecture to begin at 7PM ET. RSVP is required.

** The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

About Laurence Bodenmann

Laurence Bodenmann is an anthropologist and historian specializing in the documentation and patrimonialization of horology and the broader evolution of objects from the 19th century onwards, approaching them from a technical, stylistic, and social point of view.

Bodenmann has curated horological exhibits and conducted scientific research on key horological collections within the Musée international d'horlogerie (Switzerland), National Watch and Clock Museum (United States), and Deutsches Uhrenmuseum (Germany) notably. Since 2015 she is the Head of ZENITH’s Heritage Department and teaches the history of objects to conservators and restorers at the Haute-Ecole Arc Graduate School in Switzerland.

Artur Akmaev, Founder of Artur Akmaev Watches (Santa Monica, CA)

Embarking on the journey of mastering the art of hand engraving is a rewarding and intricate process that requires dedication, patience, and a keen eye for detail. But how can one start practicing hand engraving and what is the process?

At the January lecture of the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), Artur Akmaev, founder of his eponymous watch brand, will share his experience working with different hand-engraving styles and techniques that he has learned and applied to his watches, culminating in his recent collection complete with fully engraved dials showcasing craftsmanship at its finest.

*Doors open at 6PM ET, lecture to begin at 7PM ET. RSVP is required.

** The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

About Artur Akmaev

Artur Akmaev is a Russian-born craftsman and a wristwatch designer who moved to America seven years ago. He currently resides in Santa Monica, California, working part-time for fellow HSNY alum Josh Shapiro, and runs his own business — Artur Akmaev — crafting unique timepieces using his skills of hand engraving, enameling, and high-end finishing.

At a very early age, Akmaev’s parents exposed him to museums and art galleries and bought him books with images of art pieces from a wide range of cultural eras. By the time he started middle school, Akmaev exhibited a strong ability to paint and draw with decorative stencils. After a few tryouts, he was invited to join an evening school for the Arts, and though attending two schools at once could feel overwhelming at times, immersion in the disciplines of sculpturing, painting, architecture, and art history was very exciting.

Years later, Akmaev went to a college of Arts and Crafts named after Carl Fabergé where he took jewelry design and fabrication classes. In the final year of college, he arrived at the discipline of fine hand engraving using very traditional sets of tools, some of which Akmaev learned to make from scratch.

After college, Akmaev continued his education at the University of Applied Arts in Moscow and took a part-time job at the local watch repair shop — his introduction to movements and the operations of basic cleaning and restoration. On occasion, the shop had high-end watches with hand engraving and it was there that Akmaev became fascinated by the meticulous engraving and how it influenced the design.

This was a huge inspiration to bring his skills to the level where Akmaev would start his eponymous brand, designing with engraving movements and fabricating original dials and hands.

Fernanda Zapata, Founder of Gigantem (New York, NY)

Note from the lecturer: Bring a watch with emotional significance to you!

A fine watch, unlike many other luxury items, often carries with it a strong emotional significance to its owner. Steeped in history and craftsmanship, watches are both utilitarian and artistic, useful, and decorative. Watch companies, in turn, understand this, and use these values to their advantage when selling their timepieces.

Using organic storytelling, brands can effectively connect and communicate with potential clients — all without resulting to the marketing "fluff" to which modern consumers are sensitive to. At the December lecture of the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), Fernanda Zapata, founder of Gigantem — an agency that specializes in public relations and events for brands such as Parmigiani Fleurier, H. Moser, Zenith and Girard-Perregaux — will discuss how watch companies engage in marketing using their history and ethos to connect with customers based on shared interests and values. 

*Doors open at 6PM ET, lecture to begin at 7PM ET. RSVP is required.

** The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

About Fernanda Zapata

For over fifteen years, Fernanda has developed a well-curated career specializing in immersive storytelling for the luxury industry. She delves into her clients' history, ethos, passion, and dedication. As founder of boutique marketing, communications, and events agency Gigantem, she builds integrated marketing and communications programs, ideates unique branding concepts, and produces compelling experiential events. Constantly inspired by music, films, yoga, and her genuine interest in other people’s life experiences, her communication strategies are designed to share compelling stories that emotionally connect with like-minded individuals and make indelible impressions.

Roland Murphy, American Watchmaker, Founder of RGM Watch Company (Mount Joy, PA)

In the mid-1990s the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC) Museum asked American watchmaker Roland Murphy to repair a Patek Philippe Grand Complication — an important timepiece in the James Arthur collection. They were making a video and needed the repeater mechanism to function. Additionally, photographs were taken during the repair and restoration process to give a glimpse inside the extremely rare and complicated watch.

The 35mm negatives were recently scanned and were shared for the first time in the spring of 2023. At the November lecture of the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), Murphy will share the scans and his experience of repairing one of the most important watches in horological history.

*Doors open at 6PM ET, lecture to begin at 7PM ET. RSVP is required.

** The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

About Roland Murphy

Roland attended Bowman Technical School in Lancaster, PA in the early 1980s. In 1986 he furthered his watchmaking training in Switzerland at the Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Program (WOSTEP). He has also trained at Audemars Piguet, ETA, and Girard Perregaux. After WOSTEP he was hired by SMH to work in product development as technical manager for the Hamilton Watch Co. He remained there until he started RGM Watch Co. in 1992.

Many of his ideas come from his vast knowledge and love of watchmaking, watch history, and from his many years of restoring watches which he still enjoys doing to this day.

Wilhelm Schmid, Chief Executive Officer, A. Lange & Söhne (Glashütte, Germany)

At the October lecture of the Horological Society of New York, Wilhelm Schmid, CEO of A. Lange & Söhne, will explain how the vision of Dresden watchmaker Ferdinand Adolph Lange, who laid the cornerstone of Saxony's precision watchmaking industry when he established his manufacture in 1845, still defines the philosophy of A. Lange & Söhne today. After his great-grandson Walter Lange had the courage to relaunch the brand together with the industry expert Günter Blümlein in 1990, A. Lange & Söhne quickly worked its way up to the top of the watchmaking world again.

Since its new foundation, developing and producing movements has been the Saxon manufacture’s special expertise. Every timepiece that bears the brand’s logo is equipped with a manufacture movement crafted in-house. Over the years, this has resulted in 71 distinctive masterpieces in a relatively short time. Each one combines traditional elements with groundbreaking innovations and is distinguished by an extremely high level of craftsmanship. Discover what factors have contributed to this extraordinary achievement and what future strategies A. Lange & Söhne is pursuing.

*Doors open at 6PM ET, lecture to begin at 7PM ET. RSVP is required.

** The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

About Wilhelm Schmid

Wilhelm Schmid, born in 1963, has been CEO of A. Lange & Söhne since 2011. Being both a watch lover and a petrol head, he therefore succeeded in making his passion a profession for the second time in his life, as his previous professional stations were in the automotive world. After his time at Burmah Oil Germany (Burmah-Castrol) from 1989, he held senior positions in sales and marketing at BMW AG between 2002 and 2010.

Richard Newman, Antiquarian Horologist (DeKalb, Illinois)

Robert Leslie was at the forefront of invention and innovation in 18th-century Philadelphia and was awarded America’s first clock and watch patents. However, his contributions were discounted until one of his patented watches was found in 2012 which prompted renewed research. The trail amazingly led to George Washington and the time of his death on December 14, 1799, when his last breath was preserved for eternity on the dial of a colonial-made chamber clock.

At the September lecture of the Horological Society of New York, antiquarian horologist Richard Newman will discuss Leslie’s legacy as the greatest American clock and watchmaker of the 18th century.

*Doors open at 6PM ET, lecture to begin at 7PM ET. RSVP is required.

** The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

About Richard Newman

Richard Newman became interested in the history of early American watches and clocks following in the footsteps of his father, Walter. He is Chair Emeritus and a Fellow of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC), and Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers. He currently leads NAWCC’s British Horology Chapter and the USA Section of the Antiquarian Horology Society based in London. Newman has lectured and published articles on early clocks and watches in the U.S. and abroad and hosts a website on early watchmakers, colonialwatches.com, to promote research and education.

Dr. Paul Lawrie, Associate Professor, Department of History, York University (Toronto, Canada)

Time — much like race — possesses an ostensible ‘naturalism’ which often obscures the various historical factors which went into its making. Dr. Paul Lawrie’s research asks if time is indeed relative — as something born of specific historical contingencies — then how do different peoples experience time differently? Moreover, how does the lived experience of time create or reinforce racial inequality within cities? Time and race intersected to inform the landscape of modern urban America in a number of ways: from curfews and commutes to time work management and timekeeping itself.

At the June lecture of the Horological Society of New York, Dr. Paul Lawrie, Associate Professor, Department of History, York University, will examine the remarkable life of one Peter J. Huffstead — Harlem's self-described "master clockmaker" — and one of the earliest Black members of the Horological Society of New York. An analysis of Huffstead's career reveals key insights into the racialized nature of expertise, migration, the politics of respectability and the making of urban community in early 20th century America. Positing time as a past, present and future agent of urban development and racial identity, this lecture presents new perspectives into the spatial and temporal dynamics of urban race relations from the assembly line to the city streets. 

*Doors open at 6PM ET, lecture to begin at 7PM ET. RSVP is required.

** The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

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About Dr. Paul Lawrie

Dr. Paul Lawrie is an Associate Professor of History at York University, Toronto, Canada. He is a historian of modern African American culture with specific interests in urbanism, labor, disability and technology. He is the author of “Forging a Laboring Race: The African American Worker in the Progressive Imagination” (NYU Press, 2016) which examined the intersections of industrial science and racial management in early 20th-century America. His current research, supported by a grant of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Committee of Canada, entitled “The Color of Hours: Race, Time and the Making of Postwar Urban America,” links African American, labor and urban histories to the emerging field of time studies to chart the temporal geographies of race in twentieth-century urban America.

Brittany Nicole Cox, Antiquarian Horologist (Seattle, Washington)

Birds are a wonder, not just for their vocal abilities or their powers of prediction, but for their biology. The iridescent colors some feathers generate are the result of the refraction of light. A bird's feathers weigh more combined than its skeleton. A bird is capable of singing two notes simultaneously. Mankind has attempted for centuries to emulate their song and their beauty. The mechanical singing-bird tabatière was born during the late 18th century and continues to enchant today.

At the May lecture of the Horological Society of New York, Brittany Nicole Cox will examine the history behind the lineage of the mechanical singing-bird along with a case study.

Special thank you to the Toledo Museum of Art for allowing Brittany Nicole Cox to share this talk. Photo credit Ben Lindbloom.

*Doors open at 6PM ET, lecture to begin at 7PM ET. RSVP is required.

** The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

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About Brittany Nicole Cox

Brittany Nicole Cox is an artist, antiquarian horologist, guillocheuse, and scholar based in Seattle. Her lifelong passion for horology has seen her through nine years in higher education where she earned her WOSTEP, CW21, and SAWTA watchmaking certifications, two clockmaking certifications, and a Masters in the Conservation of Clocks and Related Dynamic Objects from West Dean College, UK. She founded Memoria Technica in 2015 where she teaches, makes original work, and operates her conservation studio. Her work has been shown at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York and was featured in National Geographic and two feature-length documentaries. She has written for Vanity Fair and is working on a manuscript to be published by Penguin Press.

Eric Wind, Founder and Owner of Wind Vintage (Palm Beach, Florida)

In March of 2019, Eric Wind lectured at HSNY on the topic of collecting vintage watches. This lecture proved to be extremely popular with both the in-person and online (YouTube) audiences. On March 6, 2023, Wind will return to HSNY to follow up on the topic of collecting vintage watches. Wind will cover trends he has been seeing in the watch market during the last three years and present ideas to help advance the future of watch collecting.

Doors open at 6PM ET, lecture to begin at 7PM ET. RSVP is required. Due to the anticipated demand for this lecture, tickets will be released according to this schedule:

• February 27, 2023: HSNY Gold Members

• February 28, 2023: HSNY Silver Members

• March 1, 2023: HSNY Bronze Members

• March 2, 2023: General Public

The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

Want to be notified as soon as ticketing is live? Follow us on Eventbrite!

About Eric Wind

Eric Wind founded and owns Wind Vintage, a company he started in 2017 that is dedicated to offering exceptional watches for sale at all price points and providing advisory services to top vintage watch collectors around the world. Eric previously served as Vice President, Senior Specialist for Christie's where he helped lead the sale of a number of important watches at auctions around the world and through private sales. Eric served as an early contributor to HODINKEE starting in 2010. He has been featured and quoted in a number of publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The New Yorker, Financial Times, The Chicago Tribune, HODINKEE, GQ, Robb Report, Fortune, Men's Health, The Hollywood Reporter, and more. He is recognized as a foremost expert on vintage watches.

Kari Voutilainen, Founder and Owner of Voutilainen SA (Switzerland)

Watch manufacturing has always been a complex endeavor that requires expertise in many different areas. That expertise is usually spread out with a network of suppliers or a large manufacturer. Being able to concentrate that expertise with one small team, independent of traditional industry suppliers, is not an easy thing to do. But some watchmakers have done exactly this and have shown remarkable success. One such independent watchmaker is Kari Voutilainen.

At the February 6 meeting of the Horological Society of New York, Voutilainen will discuss his journey from a "one-man show" to a small and totally independent workshop producing incredible mechanical watches.

Doors open at 6PM ET, lecture to begin at 7PM ET. RSVP is required. Due to the anticipated demand for this lecture, tickets will be released according to this schedule:

• January 30, 2023: HSNY Gold Members

• January 31, 2023: HSNY Silver Members

• February 1, 2023: HSNY Bronze Members

• February 2, 2023: General Public

The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

Want to be notified as soon as ticketing is live? Follow us on Eventbrite!

About Kari Voutilainen

Kari Voutilainen was born in Rovaniemi, Finland, in 1962. He studied watchmaking in Finland from 1983-1986, and subsequently traveled to Switzerland to study at WOSTEP from 1988-1989. After WOSTEP, Voutilainen worked at Parmigiani Fleurier from 1990-1999, honing his skills on creating unique pieces. From 1999-2002, Voutilainen taught courses at WOSTEP on complicated watches. And finally in 2002, Voutilainen launched his eponymous brand, which today creates some of the finest mechanical watches in the world.

Joshua Shapiro, CEO J.N. Shapiro Watches LLC (Los Angeles, California)

American watchmaking had a meteoric rise in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The U.S. made millions of highly precise and beautiful timepieces. The means of producing these timepieces heavily influenced manufacturing techniques within watchmaking and industry at large. However, within a relatively short time period after World War II, mechanical movement watch companies would disappear completely from America. Now the U.S. is experiencing a resurgence of American watchmaking.

At the January 2023 lecture of the Horological Society of New York, Joshua Shapiro, CEO of J.N. Shapiro Watches LLC, will explore the rise of American watchmaking, the factors behind its demise, and lastly, share the exciting horology currently happening in the U.S.

Doors open at 6PM ET, lecture to begin at 7PM ET. RSVP is required.

The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

About Joshua Shapiro

Joshua Shapiro is the founder and CEO of the eponymous brand J.N. Shapiro Watches. He is also an educator with a Bachelor's and Master's in U.S History.  Shapiro began by making traditional engine-turned dials for other watchmakers. In 2018, he launched the Infinity Series, which featured highly complex engine-turned dials with traditional and exotic materials. Soon after Shapiro and his team produced the first tantalum wristwatch cases made outside of Switzerland. Now they are tackling the final and most important component of the watch. 

Colin de Tonnac, Watchmaker, CEO and Founder at Semper & Adhuc (Labouheyre, France)

HSNY's December 2022 lecture will take place in person at the General Society Library. Doors open at 6PM ET, lecture to begin at 7PM ET. RSVP is required.

Since the 1980s and in the general subconscious, watchmaking has been above all a Swiss affair. When we think of watches or of a watch-producing country, typical images of Lake Geneva, the Swiss flag or the snowy mountains of the Vallée de Joux immediately come to mind.

However, there is another neighboring country that produces fine timepieces as well: France.

For the final lecture of 2022, Colin de Tonnac, Watchmaker, CEO and Founder at Semper & Adhuc, will discuss the evolution of French watchmaking, focusing on events, anecdotes, innovations and flagship models that put France on the map as a serious watchmaking nation, including the revival it has experienced in recent years.

The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

About Colin de Tonnac

After graduating in Paris and then Morteau watchmaking schools, Colin worked in a prestigious and independent family-owned manufacture in Geneva: Patek Philippe SA. First in the quality department, then as a lab technician in watchmaking, he kept on improving his abilities in elaborating, optimizing and assembling timekeepers. In August 2016, driven by a deep desire to set up his own business, he created the project of his dreams: Semper & Adhuc atelier, an elegant and durable watch production company creating new watches from restored old watch mechanisms.

Jean-Christophe Sabatier, Chief Product Officer at Ulysse Nardin (Le Locle, Switzerland)

Video recordings of lectures are available immediately to HSNY members, and the general public with a two-month delay.

HSNY's November 2022 lecture will take place in person at the General Society Library. Doors open at 6PM ET, lecture to begin at 7PM ET. RSVP is required.

The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.

The Freak by Ulysse Nardin is unique by name and by the promises it carries in terms of design and technical content. The Freak has seen many iterations since its inception in 2001, gathering inspiration from the ever-changing cosmos.

At the November 2022 lecture, Jean-Christophe Sabatier, Chief Product Officer at Ulysse Nardin, will share how the Freak has been a significant contributor in establishing the brand as an independent integrated manufacture. Sabatier will also discuss its history, cutting-edge components and more.

About Jean-Christophe Sabatier

Jean-Christophe Sabatier is head of the product department at Ulysse Nardin, in Le Locle. Responsible for the brand’s product range from design of new collections to market distribution, Jean-Christophe and his team draw up designs for new products, decide on their positioning, and help to keep the spirit of creativity and innovation going – values dear to the Maison. Jean-Christophe is a project management expert responsible for a team of ten people, including artists, designers and project managers.

 With years of technical endeavors in automotive and sports industries under his belt, Jean Christophe entered the watchmaking sector in 2002 as marketing and communications director of Baume et Mercier. In 2011, he started at the Kering group, as director of the Watches sector at Boucheron. Finally, in March 2016, Jean-Christophe arrived at Ulysse Nardin as product director.

Special Guest: With twenty-five years at the bench under his belt, Ulysse Nardin’s Head Watchmaker Kris Endress joined the team in 2009 after being introduced to the Ulysse Nardin Freak a few years prior. Having fallen in love with the uniqueness of this piece, Endress turned down several offers from other companies to move his family to Switzerland to work for Ulysse Nardin.

With an affinity for technical content and creation, Sabatier and Endress have enjoyed working closely for the last six years continuing to revolutionize the art of horology at Ulysse Nardin.

Dr. Jane Desborough, Keeper of Science Collections at the Science Museum (London, England)

* HSNY's October 2022 lecture will take place in person in the General Society’s Assembly Room, located on the first floor of the building due to renovations in the General Society Library. Seating is limited and available via RSVP on a first-come-first-serve basis.

The lecture will also be livestreamed. RSVP is required. Doors open at 6PM ET, lecture and Zoom livestream to begin at 7PM ET.

Early modern clock and watch dials mirrored changes in the wider intellectual and cultural context of which they were inextricably a part. At the October 2022 lecture of the Horological Society of New York, Dr. Jane Desborough, Keeper of Science Collections at the Science Museum in London, will chart the significant changes that dials underwent in the period from 1550 to 1770, highlighting the many factors that eventually led to a more-or-less uniform design being adopted by 1770. This 220-year journey of development was a fascinating one in which different attributes of dial design were introduced to meet a particular user demand, such as the touch-pins which were added to help partially-sighted users and which were then discarded once alternative aids became available. It is, therefore, the discarded elements that did not secure a place on the uniform design that are the most interesting.

Multiple forms of lunar calendar and astronomical symbols, for example, were highly significant to both makers and users during the late-sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, but eventually either disappeared entirely or survived on only rare examples. Comparing dials with contemporary texts and diagrams enables us to identify the influences that led to these changes. Clock and watch makers of the past were after all inextricably part of the wider context of experiment, knowledge formation and exchange which characterised the early modern period. Highly literate, highly skilled and an integral part of wide-ranging & highly-connected networks, early modern clock and watch makers played an active role in disseminating, validating and discrediting ideas and practices. This was evident in their dial designs.

About Dr. Jane Desborough

Dr. Jane Desborough is Keeper of Science Collections at the Science Museum in London where she is responsible for the Museum’s Time Measurement Collection. She is author of The Changing Face of Early Modern Time, 1550-1770, based on her Ph.D. research, and co-author of Science City: Craft, Commerce & Curiosity in London 1550-1800.

Hyla Ames Bauer, Watch and Jewelry Writer (New York, New York)

Note from the lecturer: Wear a Swatch if you have one!

In the early and mid-20th century, the Swiss watchmaking industry was booming — until the quartz crisis happened in the 1970s and shook it to its core.

At the September 2022 lecture of the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), watch and jewelry writer Hyla Ames Bauer will discuss the quartz crisis, beginning with what a quartz watch is, and why it's called a quartz watch and not a battery watch (or some other name). The lecture will also include an overview of how successful Swiss watchmaking was prior to the crisis, and how important it was to the Swiss economy. Bauer will describe the rapid development of quartz timepieces in Japan, at a time when the Swiss were just dipping their toes into quartz technology. Ultimately, in the mid-1970s, quartz watches became an inexpensive novelty that attracted millions of buyers. At that time, Swiss brands could not produce quartz watches at lower prices and the industry faltered. How many job losses occurred, and how many brands closed for good? Join us on September 7 as Bauer shares the facts on how Swiss brands were impacted and got back on their feet!

About Hyla Ames Bauer

Hyla Ames Bauer began her career as a fashion editor at Conde Nast Publications. After stints at GQ and Vogue, she became the Executive Fashion Editor of Conde Nast Traveler. Hyla fell in love with watches on her first trip to Basel while at Traveler. Hyla's passion for watches led her to seek a job in the industry, and she left Traveler to become the head of PR for Vacheron Constantin North America. After two years, Hyla returned to magazines as Editor in Chief of Watch Journal, where she oversaw a redesign of the magazine and its website. Hyla is currently a freelance writer in watches and fine jewelry.

Sébastian Vivas, Heritage & Museum Director at Audemars Piguet (Le Brassus, Switzerland)

In 2022, the Royal Oak watch is celebrating its 50th anniversary. In preparation for this event, the Audemars Piguet Heritage team spent a few years in the brand’s archives to better understand the history of this iconoclastic timepiece, which became a cultural icon within and beyond watchmaking.

This lecture will share the results of this ongoing research, while shedding light on the major actors involved in the watch’s creation, among whom are Italian agent Carlo de Marchi, designer Gérald Genta, and former CEO of Audemars Piguet Georges Golay. It will also pay tribute to the many people and companies that contributed to the timepiece’s challenging development: case-maker Favre-Perret, movement-maker LeCoultre & Cie, bracelet-maker Gay Frères and famous dial-maker Stern Frères.

At the June 6, 2022, lecture of the Horological Society of New York, Sébastian Vivas, Heritage & Museum Director at Audemars Piguet, will distinguish myth from reality in terms of the watch’s creation process as well as its reception, commercial success and extraordinary destiny.

About Sébastian Vivas

In 2001, Sébastian Vivas obtained his Master’s in Modern History at the University of Neuchâtel. He went on to publish the history of the Journal Suisse d’Horlogerie, a study awarded by the Fritz Kunz prize. From 2001 to 2012, Vivas served as Heritage Manager at Jaeger-LeCoultre, where he contributed to several exhibitions, publications and to the creation of the in-house museum, named the Heritage Gallery, inaugurated in 2007. 

Since 2012, he has acted as Heritage & Museum Director at Audemars Piguet, where he oversees the study, structuring, preservation and communication of the brand’s heritage. He is assisted in this mission by a diverse team, which includes restoration watchmakers, historians and archivists.

Among his notable contributions, Vivas directed and co-authored the book Audemars Piguet 20th Century Complicated Wristwatches published in 2018, as well as the web platform APChronicles, launched in 2022. He also managed the project of the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet, which opened its doors in 2020, and continues to curate its permanent and temporary exhibitions. Lastly, he has curated a variety of exhibitions for the brand, among which Beyond Watchmaking (Shanghai 2016, Tokyo 2019). 

Jeffrey Kingston, Editor-in-Chief of Le Quai de l’Horloge (Sun Valley, Idaho)

Many elements of a fine watch are often overlooked by connoisseurs or not given their full due. Free-sprung balances, silicon hairsprings, copper beryllium wheels, multiple mainspring barrels and secure calendar mechanisms all could be considered the "Hidden Figures" of watchmaking.

At the May 5, 2022, lecture of the Horological Society of New York, Jeffrey Kingston will discuss these elements and show the importance and value that they bring to horology.

About Jeffrey Kingston

Jeffrey Kingston is an author and frequent speaker on watchmaking. He has given talks throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He is the Editor of Breguet’s magazine, Le Quai de l’Horloge. In a former life he was an anti-trust lawyer and was lead counsel in the proceedings against Microsoft in Brussels that led to the landmark judgement in 2004.

Theodor Prenzel, Head of Design Engineering at NOMOS Glashütte (Glashütte, Germany)
Martina Etti, Head of International Sales at NOMOS Glashütte & Co-CEO at NOMOS Glashütte Inc., New York (Glashütte, Germany)

The NOMOS caliber DUW 3001 could be hidden from view behind a stack of nine postage stamps. At 3.2 millimeters in height, NOMOS’ caliber DUW 3001 is thinner than almost everything else in the world of watchmaking that self-winds and is produced in large-scale series — and yet it is still highly precise. The successive caliber DUW 6101 with patented date mechanism measures only 0.4 millimeters more. How was this even made possible?

At the March 2022 meeting of the Horological Society of New York, Theodor Prenzel, Head of Design Engineering at NOMOS Glashütte, will explain the new construction principle in comparison to classical construction principles in watchmaking. In addition to DUW 3001, the lecture will also explore DUW 6101 with a new, innovative mechanism and double-sided quick date adjustment.

About Theodor Prenzel

Born in 1984, Theodor Prenzel trained as a watchmaker at the Swatch Group, after which he worked as a watchmaker at Omega. He completed his studies in Precision Engineering at the Ernst Abbe University in Jena. 

Theodor has been a Design Engineer at NOMOS Glashütte since 2013, and in 2014 he was promoted to Head of the Design Engineering and Deputy Head of R&D. 

Christian Selmoni, Vacheron Constantin Style & Heritage Director (Geneva, Switzerland)
Suzanne Wong, Editor-in-Chief, WorldTempus (Geneva, Switzerland)

Beyond seconds, hours and minutes, the calendar organizes our days, weeks and months. With that in mind, it makes sense that calendars were among the earliest complications added to clocks and watches. Understanding the calendar complication can lead to a deeper understanding of what makes a mechanical watch tick, and the effort that goes into designing and manufacturing them.

At the February 2022 meeting of the Horological Society of New York, Vacheron Constantin Heritage & Style Director Christian Selmoni will explore the very notion of time through the medium of calendar watches. Join Selmoni for a deep dive into the stories behind the Maison’s calendar watches and their roots in astronomy. Watch journalist Suzanne Wong will join Selmoni in uncovering the innovations Vacheron Constantin has developed in this field through timepieces such as Celestia, Planetaria and more.

About Christian Selmoni

Born in 1959 to a Swiss family of watchmakers in the Vallée de Joux, one of the historical birthplaces of watchmaking, Christian Selmoni serves as Style and Heritage Director at Vacheron Constantin.

Christian joined Vacheron Constantin in 1990 as Sales Administration Manager, becoming Purchasing Manager in 1992, and Production & Purchasing Director in 1996, during which time he played a key role in overseeing all aspects of manufacturing and sourcing.

In 2001, he was tasked with incorporating all product-creation aspects of Vacheron Constantin – from concept to final prototypes and product launch – into a unique Product Department, notably responsible for the design and development of the company’s famous 250th anniversary elements.

Christian was appointed Artistic Director at Vacheron Constantin in 2010, with responsibilities including the long-term definition of products and future “product” tendencies for the Maison; its creative aspects as well as the development and consolidation of the Métiers d’Art workshops (artistic crafts such as enamel, engraving, gem-setting and guillochage), together with Les Cabinotiers workshop which includes design and development of made-to-order timepieces.

In 2017, Christian was appointed Style and Heritage Director. Within the Heritage department, his main responsibilities are to enrich and develop the Maison’s heritage, as well as to extract designs and design elements from the past to nurture Vacheron Constantin’s present and future creations. In addition, he consolidates and develops relationship with international press, clients and watch collectors.

About Suzanne Wong

Suzanne Wong is a veteran watch journalist, born and raised in Singapore, one of the world’s most influential and mature watch markets. Her experience — which includes four years as editor-in-chief of Revolution magazine’s original flagship Asia edition and her current position as editor-in-chief of online media WorldTempus — spans both print and digital publishing and ranges from directing editorial strategy to creating compelling watch-related content. 

At the heart of Suzanne’s work is the passion for furthering appreciation of fine mechanical watchmaking on a worldwide level. Her commitment to building relationships within the Swiss watch industry, allowing her to create stories that better reflect its core values, led her to relocate to Geneva in 2017, where she is now based.

Suzanne has been a member of the Cultural Council of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie since 2017, served three years on the jury of the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), is part of the pioneer cohort of the GPHG Academy, and is the co-founder of Watch Femme, a non-profit association dedicated to advancing women’s voices in the watch world.