Upcoming Lecture: The Quartz Crisis: A Tragic Decade for Swiss Watchmaking

Join HSNY on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 for a lecture on The Quartz Crisis: A Tragic Decade for Swiss Watchmaking, by Hyla Ames Bauer, Watch and Jewelry Writer (New York, New York).

HSNY’s September 2022 lecture will take place in person at the General Society Library. The lecture will also be livestreamed.

Doors open at 6PM ET, lecture and Zoom livestream to begin at 7PM ET.

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!

READ THE FULL STORY HERE!
RSVP is required.

HSNY's 2022 Charity Auction Raises Over $120,000

Presented Online By Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo 

The Horological Society of New York (HSNY) announces that it has successfully raised $124,362 at its Timepieces for HSNY: 2022 Charity Auction, presented online by Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo from July 6-13, 2022. The total raised is a new record for HSNY, which brought in just over $80,000 in 2021.

Nine lots made up this year's auction, which included Swiss, German, Japanese and American brands consisting of limited edition watches, sold-out timepieces, a prototype model, a Tiffany-stamped Patek Philippe and more. A ‘No Reserve’  policy was implemented across all lots, causing bidders to extend the auction an extra 15 minutes over two coveted timepieces. Brands on the virtual auction block included Patek Philippe, Zenith, Grand Seiko, TAG Heuer, Ulysse Nardin, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Equation of Time Watches, NOMOS Glashütte and UNIMATIC X Massena LAB.

Included in this year’s total is the sale of HSNY’s first ever lifetime membership card which was auctioned by Phillips at the Society’s 156th Gala in April 2022. The one-of-a-kind card was engine turned (guilloché) and hand-engraved and brought in $18,000 for HSNY and its educational mission. 

“We’re thrilled to have broken our record for money raised at auction,” said HSNY Deputy Director Carolina Navarro. “The support of sponsors, donors, bidders and Phillips will help ensure HSNY is able to offer financial aid for the next generation of watchmakers and beyond.” 

All proceeds from the auction will benefit HSNY in its ongoing mission to advance the art and science of horology, which includes offering financial aid to watchmaking institutions and full-time watchmaking students in the United States.

In 2022, HSNY awarded $100,000 in financial aid — another record amount — and introduced The Grace Fryer Scholarship for Female Watchmaking Students.

HSNY Opens “Watches From the James Arthur Collection” Exhibit

On Display Summer 2022 — Winter 2023

The Horological Society of New York (HSNY) announces today the opening of an exhibit nearly a century in the making — “Watches From the James Arthur Collection” — named after one of New York’s most passionate and hands-on collectors.

Arthur (1842-1930) was born in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, and migrated to the United States in 1871 where he found a job in manufacturing. Unlike many immigrants of the time who struggled to find jobs on the East Coast, Arthur was immediately employed in New York City as a mechanic. He went on to work with steam pumps and valves manufacturer Adam Carr and jointly patented an improvement to the condensing pumping engine, which was filed with the US Patent Office in 1876 and published the following year. Arthur would go on to establish his own business in 1885 — Arthur & Company Machine Works — where he made his own fortune and began collecting timepieces in earnest.

Interior of James Arthur’s home in Brooklyn, New York.

What separated Arthur from other serious collectors was that he wanted to understand his timepieces, often altering and tinkering with them. Other aristocrats, such as J. Pierpont Morgan, amassed collections based on their beauty rather than their technical allure. Over time, Arthur’s collection grew in the thousands, collecting everything from tall case clocks to pocket watch movements. (Archive images from his home show Arthur’s Brooklyn residence lined with timepieces along the walls, shelves and even floors.) Arthur was one of the first serious horological collector-scholars, publishing “Time and Its Measurement” in 1909, and built clocks of his own throughout his life, introducing new designs and materials never used before.

Arthur bequeathed his collection of more than 1,900 timepieces to New York University in 1925 with detailed instruction and generous financial backing (millions in today’s dollars) to make it available to the masses. However, history would paint a darker picture for the once unified collection, which in time would go on to be divided, sold and partially stored away from public viewing. 

In 1983, the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC) was granted a large portion of what remained of Arthur’s intact collection — 561 complete watches, 1,107 uncased watches, 210 clocks, and additional uncased clock movements, sundials and tools. The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., where the collection had been on long-term loan, also received more than 200 timepieces. While Arthur’s wish of having his complete collection permanently displayed in New York was sadly never realized for numerous reasons, today HSNY rightfully restores some important examples to the Big Apple where his original dream began.

The “Watches From the James Arthur Collection” exhibit, loaned and curated by the NAWCC Watch and Clock Museum, highlights 14 items once belonging to Arthur, and interprets how he was fascinated by technical details rather than a piece’s purity or rarity. Notable items on show include a pocket watch made by Thomas Tompion of London around 1709, with a signed and numbered movement and an engraved balance cock with a large diamond endstone; a large pocket watch made by William Carpenter of London around 1790, with four subsidiary dials that show hours, seconds, fifths of a second, and the age of the moon; and a 19th-century quarter-repeating pocket watch, modified by Arthur to showcase the complex under-dial work. Additional highlights of the collection can be seen at the NAWCC Watch and Clock museum located in Columbia, PA.  

“For nearly fifteen years, I have been researching and promoting James Arthur’s legacy,” said Bob Frishman, HSNY Exhibit Curator. “This exhibit is a small but meaningful step in honoring an avid and generous horological scholar and collector from the past. When I introduce the sixtieth James Arthur Lecture at the upcoming NAWCC symposium — “Horology’s Great Collectors” — October 21-22 in midtown Manhattan, I will remind my listeners that these lectures began in 1932 and that they will continue to be a vital feature of the NAWCC’s annual educational conferences and another ongoing tribute to this important figure in horology’s rich history.”

“Watches From the James Arthur Collection” is on display at HSNY from summer 2022 through winter 2023. Timed tickets are required to visit. 

For more information about James Arthur and his collection, please read Jeanne Schinto's four-part series of articles, “James Arthur and His Temple of Time: A Cautionary Tale for Collector-Donors and Their Beneficiaries,” originally published in Maine Antique Digest (www.greathorology.com/arthur).

Welcoming New HSNY Members, June 2022

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. 

  • A. Powell, MA

  • Albert Poon, Australia

  • Alex Ferris, NJ

  • Andrew Golder, TX

  • Brendan E. Hartford, IL

  • Brendan Ko, NY

  • Camren Rodolpho, FL

  • Christian Mardones, NY

  • Dan Merry Bibalou, France

  • Edward J. Loper, CT

  • Frederick Nagle, NJ

  • Harry Nielsen, Canada

  • Heather Hilgers, NY

  • Jacob Kelin, NY

  • Jayson Rodriguez, GA

  • Jeremy Oster, CO

  • John McNew, CA

  • Jordan Ferro, Gibraltar

  • Jorge Ortiz III, NY

  • Joseph Mecca, NY

  • Juneau Kang, NJ

  • Kaspar Alexander, NY

  • Kevin Ng, NY

  • Kyle Yu, Canada

  • Lam Ng, CA

  • Lazar Bojic, NY

  • Mark King, NY

  • Michael Bauman, NY

  • Michael Johnson, NY

  • Michael Richards, NJ

  • Narender Lakshman, CA

  • Nicholas Thiessen, AZ

  • Orlando Valenzuela, FL

  • Paolo Morales, PA

  • Parvez Fakhruddin, NJ

  • Philip Corwin, VA

  • Philipp Krick, Switzerland

  • Rafael Dada, Germany

  • Roberto Wong, NY

  • Shawn C. Lese, NY

  • Thomas Camplin, NY

  • Thomas DiCandido, CT

  • Tianlei Wu, NY

  • Tianyi Xia, CA

  • Victor Bonadonna, NY

  • William Hara, CA

  • William Wu, CA

Welcoming New HSNY Members, May 2022

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. 

  • Al Preciado, CA

  • Alejandro Zaballero, NY

  • Alexandros Keravnos, Cyprus

  • Amel Komic, GA

  • Amit Kaushal, NY

  • BK Fulton, VA

  • Christopher Dorr, MO

  • Christopher Torella, NY

  • Colin Mack, MI

  • Corbin Kidd, FL

  • Crawford Daniel, NC

  • Daniel Sheng, NY

  • Dante M. Alexander, OR

  • Edwin Polanco, Puerto Rico

  • Ellen Fisch, NY

  • Emma Stern, NY

  • Hamish Robertson, United Kingdom

  • James Laporte, NY

  • James Stumpf, NY

  • Jean Sourbé, NY

  • Jonas Litborn, NJ

  • Jordan Silver, NY

  • Joseph Sidor, NY

  • Joshua Gorman, VA

  • Kee Chong Tan, United Kingdom

  • Keiichiro Yumiba, CA

  • Keith Fong, CA

  • Kyle McAuliffe, NY

  • Luca Mazzotti, PA

  • Manuel Soto, CA

  • Marius Berkemeier, Germany

  • Nathan Putrich, NY

  • Nick Baumann, MN

  • Nicola Ciottolo Borin, NY

  • Nikolas Onoufriadis, MA

  • Rafky Rafasya Donals, Indonesia

  • Rajan Mac, CA

  • Rene Kubitza, Germany

  • Robert Fassberg, CA

  • Roberto Viola, NY

  • Sai Gudlavalleti, GA

  • Sergio Merlino, Uruguay

  • Shahzwan Puasa, Brunei

  • Stephen E. Thompson, HI

  • Thomas D. Erb, MA

  • Vladimir Grad, Germany

  • Walter Wayne Cade Jr., IL

  • William Towey, PA

HSNY Welcomes H. Moser & Cie. as a Sponsor

NEW YORK — July 5, 2022

The Horological Society of New York (HSNY) announces Swiss luxury watchmaker H. Moser & Cie. has joined as a sponsor.

The brand, which today employs more than 60 people and develops its own in-house calibers, will support HSNY in its mission to advance the art and science of horology. With H. Moser & Cie.’s sponsorship, the Society is able to expand its educational curriculum, establish new financial aid opportunities for watchmaking students, and more. 

“I grew up in the heart of the Swiss Alps, in a family of watchmakers that dates back several generations,” said Edouard Meylan, CEO and Owner at H. Moser & Cie. “Traditional watchmaking is part of our heritage. At H. Moser & Cie., we are clearly committed to the preservation of tradition and of its values. In everything we do, we try to bring something new, something different, but always with respect to tradition. By combining new materials, new technologies and know-how with heritage, we are committed to advancing the art and science of watchmaking, just like HSNY.

HSNY welcomes H. Moser & Cie. and thanks them for their incredible support!

# # #

ABOUT H. MOSER & CIE.

H. Moser & Cie. was created by Heinrich Moser in 1828. Based in Neuhausen am Rheinfall, it currently employs more than 60 people, has developed 15 in-house calibres to date and produces more than 1,500 watches per annum. Through its sister company Precision Engineering AG (PEAG), H. Moser & Cie. manufactures parts such as regulating organs and balance-springs, which are used for its own production as well as to supply its partner companies. Independent company incorporated into Moser Watch Holding in 2012, Precision Engineering AG specialises in watch components for escapements, from their initial design to the production of a quality product ready to be integrated into the watch movement it must regulate. H. Moser & Cie. is honoured to have a Moser family member with the company as Honorary Chairman and President of the Heinrich and Henri Moser Foundation. The aim of the Moser Foundation, created by one of Heinrich Moser’s descendants, is to keep the family history alive and seek out antique pieces for the Moser Museum, located in Charlottenfels Manor, Heinrich Moser’s family home. With its substantial watchmaking expertise and highly acclaimed experience in the sector, MELB Holding holds shares in H. Moser & Cie. and Hautlence. MELB Holding is an independent family group, based in the heart of the legendary Vallée de Joux.

https://www.h-moser.com/

ABOUT THE HOROLOGICAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

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

http://hs-ny.org

Meeting Recap: The Genesis of the Royal Oak: From Iconoclast to Icon

Sébastian Vivas, Heritage & Museum Director at Audemars Piguet (Le Brassus, Switzerland)
June 6, 2022

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 June 2022 lecture at the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), Sébastian Vivas, Heritage & Museum Director at Audemars Piguet, lectured on the legacy of the iconic Royal Oak.

After two generations of the founders’ families running the Audemars Piguet brand, Georges Golay transformed AP from a small workshop of 28 people into a modern company of 80 people. However, it was Golay’s call to the independent designer, Gérald Genta, that the genesis of the Royal Oak was created. Golay requested a sketch of a sports watch by the next day. Genta’s sketch showed the flow of circular, rounded rectangle, and octagonal elements; along with the positioning of the eight screws on the bezel. Vivas shared that the subsequent drawings of the Royal Oak consistently show non-alignment of the screws, and that the screws are attached to the bezel from the back (not the front).  

Certain structures of the Royal Oak highlight its distinctive elements:

Case / Case Back

  • The case was created around the LeCoultre Cie Cal 920 movement that measured 28 mm. Therefore, it was oversized by functional design.

  • The caseback is octagonal and curved

  • The two pieces (combined bezel / case and case back) challenged the ‘monorail’ description since actual monorail timepieces are comprised of three separate pieces: bezel, case, case back.

Bracelet

  • Highly complicated due to the difference of sizes with the links and studs

  • There are no lugs per se due to the innovation and newness of the design

  • It also the first folding clasp at AP

Dial

  • Tapisserie pattern comprised of vertical and horizontal lines

  • Structured by small pyramid-like shapes

  • Every dial of the Royal Oak is unique due to the difference in the size and depth

Origin of the name / Logo

  • Various names were considered such as: Safari, Grand Prix, Diane, Surfrider, Colorado, Kilimanjaro, Canyon, Oxford, Ascot and Yale

  • It is known that the name came from Carlos de Marchi when he referred to the Royal Oak vessels of the Royal Navy

  • It is the first piece that has its name and logo engraved on a watch

  • Since Gérald Genta already left AP, the logo was not shown on the press kits

Other aspects of the Royal Oak were adding a number for each model and each material to give an air of exclusivity for the client; along with a dedicated promotional campaign since it was necessary to explain the high cost of a steel watch. All in all, the Royal Oak is a masterpiece for Gérald Genta and Audemars Piguet.

HSNY thanks Sébastian Vivas for his fascinating lecture!

Submitted by Melody Benloss, Recording Secretary
Photography by Monica Schipper

HSNY Announces 'Timepieces for HSNY: 2022 Charity Auction' Presented by Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo

Online July 6-13

The Horological Society of New York (HSNY) announces today Timepieces for HSNY: 2022 Charity Auction, presented online by Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo from July 6-13, 2022.

Now in its second year as an online auction, HSNY members and friends will have the opportunity to bid from anywhere in the world for a great cause. All sale proceeds will benefit HSNY in its ongoing mission to advance the art and science of horology, which includes offering financial aid to watchmaking institutions and scholarships to full-time watchmaking students.

Bidders can expect top picks from Swiss, German, Japanese and American brands, including limited edition, sold-out timepieces, a coveted Tiffany stamped watch, vintage gems, a prototype model and much more. Best of all, a ‘No Reserve’ policy will apply to all timepieces, encouraging auction-goers to bid enthusiastically.

Lot items from Timepieces for HSNY: 2022 Charity Auction include:

  • Lot 1 — Unimatic x Massena LAB, U1-MLBN “Family and Friends”, DLC-plated stainless steel, circa 2020. Brand New. Donated by Massena LAB.

  • Lot 2 — NOMOS Glashütte, Ludwig Neomatik 39, stainless steel, circa 2020. Brand New. Donated by NOMOS Glashütte.

  • Lot 3 — Equation of Time x Atom Moore ‘Fat Arrow’ Prototype, stainless steel, circa 2022. Brand New, with limited edition metal print. Atom Moore and Roland Murphy/EOT Watches.

  • Lot 4 — GRAND SEIKO, Reference SBGW277 U.S. Exclusive, stainless steel, circa 2021. Brand New. Donated by Grand Seiko.

  • Lot 5 — ULYSSE NARDIN, Open-face chronograph pocket watch with certificate and presentation box, gunmetal blue steel, circa 1912. Donated by Ulysse Nardin.

  • Lot 6 — JAEGER-LECOULTRE, Reverso, stainless steel, circa 2022. Brand New. Donated by Jaeger-LeCoultre.

  • Lot 7 — PATEK PHILIPPE, Reference 715, open-face pocket watch retailed by Tiffany & Co., 18K yellow gold, circa 1967. Donated by Collectability.

  • Lot 8 — TAG HEUER, HODINKEE TAG Heuer Carrera ‘Dato’ Limited Edition, stainless steel, circa 2020. Brand New. Donated by HODINKEE.

  • Lot 9 — ZENITH, Collective x Zenith Chronomaster El Primero C.01, stainless steel, circa 2019. Pre Owned. Donated by Collective Horology.

“The watches donated for HSNY's 2022 auction are amusing, exciting, historical and most of all - meaningful,” said HSNY Executive Director Nicholas Manousos. “The proceeds from the generosity of the donors and bidders will go a long way towards ensuring the success of watchmaking students, and I encourage everyone to bid with that in mind.”

Paul Boutros, Phillips’ Head of Watches, Americas, adds, “We are honored and delighted to once again support HSNY’s efforts that continue to advance watchmaking science and culture in the United States. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of each watch, including Phillips’ buyers’ premium, will benefit HSNY’s educational programs, scholarships, and watchmaking school awards.”

In April 2022, HSNY held its annual Gala — a tradition that dates back to the Society’s start in 1866 — where Phillips’ Watches Head of Sale & International Specialist, Vice President, Isabella Proia auctioned off the Society’s first ever lifetime membership card. The special card was engine turned (guilloché) and hand-engraved and brought in $18,000 for HSNY and its educational mission. Furthermore, HSNY awarded $100,000 in financial aid, the largest sum to date. Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo will be hosting viewings of Timepieces for HSNY: 2022 Charity Auction by appointment only from July 6-13. To schedule an appointment please contact watchesny@phillips.com. Happy bidding!

Download the Phillips app to browse, track, save and bid on Timepieces for HSNY: 2022 Charity Auction. Images courtesy of Phillips.

# # #

ABOUT PHILLIPS IN ASSOCIATION WITH BACS & RUSSO

Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is the watch department at Phillips auction house, dedicated exclusively to the world's finest collectors' watches. Launched in November 2014 by Aurel Bacs and his partner, Livia Russo, the department was established in response to the ever-increasing need for today's collectors to easily access scholarship, guidance and quality across the board. Based in New York, Geneva, London, Hong Kong and Japan, the team of specialists at Phillips Watches is dedicated to an uncompromised approach to quality, transparency and client service. With multiple world records, including for a Rolex wristwatch, vintage Patek Philippe wristwatch, and Omega wristwatch sold at auction, Phillips achieved $209.3 million in 2021, the most successful year for any auction house in watch auction history. In 2019, the auction house opened Phillips PERPETUAL, a private sale program with physical and digital storefronts that offers a highly curated selection of watches sold at fixed prices.

Official website: www.phillips.com/watches 

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 and around the world.

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

Meeting Recap: Hidden Figures: Overlooked Elements of Watchmaking

Jeffrey Kingston, Editor-in-Chief of Le Quai de l’Horloge (Sun Valley, Idaho)
May 5, 2022

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 May 2022 lecture at the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), Jeffrey Kingston talked about the overlooked mechanisms of a timepiece. Watch enthusiasts often admire a particular complication, a certain feature, finishing embellishments, thinness, and sometimes the allure of scarcity. These aspects are immediately seen.

However, Kingston pointed out five areas he believes are the ‘hidden figures’ within a watch: inertial regulation, silicon hairsprings, copper beryllium wheels, multiple mainspring barrels and secure calendar mechanisms. So what is tested to establish the value of a ‘hidden figure’? According to Kingston, it needs to deliver value and make the watch better without bringing attention to itself.

Inertial Regulation
The advantage of this type of regulation (as opposed to the raquette regulation) is that the trial-and-error component is significantly reduced. There’s improved robustness, shock resistance and stability.

Silicon Hairsprings
If the adoption of silicon hairsprings is compatible with traditional watchmaking, then the material more or less preserves the tradition. The advantage is the extraordinary resistance to magnetism, the lighter weight, its idealized shape, its uniform response to impulses and that it ages more slowly than metallic alloys.

Copper Beryllium Wheels
The three main materials of choice for wheels are brass (90% of the industry uses this material), German silver (an alloy of mostly copper and zinc though rarely used) and copper beryllium, which turns out to be the most expensive of the materials. Its advantages are lower friction and greater hardness which results in better wear properties. With copper beryllium, the material can be stamped with a precision of less than 3 microns. Therefore, the greater the precision of the watch part, the better the watch will perform when utilizing copper beryllium wheels.

Multiple Mainspring Barrels
These aid with longer power reserves and are connected in a series. Due to the stiff, strong spring in the outer barrel and the thick spring of the inner barrel, they calibrate the strength of the springs to optimally replenish the innermost barrel. The effect is to get a relatively flat power curve of time.

Secure Calendar Mechanisms
The problem with most complicated calendar constructions is the risk of breakage when manually setting the timepiece during the automatic date changes. Having a secure mechanism within the calendar complication will maintain the integrity of the day of the week, date and month.

HSNY thanks Jeffrey Kingston for his fascinating lecture!

Submitted by Melody Benloss, Recording Secretary
Photography by Monica Schipper

Upcoming Lecture: The Genesis of the Royal Oak: From Iconoclast to Icon

Join HSNY in person on Monday, June 6, 2022 for a lecture on The Genesis of the Royal Oak: From Iconoclast to Icon, by Sébastian Vivas, Heritage & Museum Director at Audemars Piguet (Le Brassus, Switzerland).

HSNY’s June 2022 lecture will take place in person at the General Society Library. The lecture will also be livestreamed.

Doors open at 6PM ET, lecture and Zoom livestream to begin at 7PM ET.

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.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE!
RSVP is required.

Welcoming New HSNY Members, March & April 2022

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. 

Congratulations to Jared Tramontano, left, on winning HSNY's first-ever Lifetime Membership Card!

The Lifetime Membership Card, engraved and ready to ship!

  • Aaron Hart, NJ

  • Abbe Herzig, NY

  • Adrian Deforest, Canada

  • Andrew Cazalet, United Kingdom

  • Anoop Daswani, FL

  • Arnaud Moulin, NY

  • Artaud Charles, NY

  • Arthur Weinstein, NM

  • Bruno Ribeiro da Silva, NY

  • Bryce Walther, CA

  • Cenk Ozdemir, FL

  • Christian Neuhaus, Germany

  • Daniel Niklas, NY

  • Daniel Schwartz, CO

  • Darin Aldrich, MI

  • Daryn Schnipper, NY

  • David Kay, VA

  • David Lopez, CT

  • David Martinez, NY

  • Dawn Schmidt, FL

  • Dominick Colasanto, NY

  • Dylan Ketcham, IL

  • Edward Salonia, NC

  • Elisa Catenazzi, NJ

  • Enrique J. Curras, NY

  • Evan Johnston, NY

  • George F. Lamboy III JD, NY

  • Gergely Hanol, Indonesia

  • Gilius Blinstrubas, IL

  • Henri Salamati, CA

  • Jacqueline Chance, NY

  • James Brignall, Canada

  • James N. Masciale, NY

  • Jan Musil, PA

  • Jared Tramontano, NY *LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP RECIPIENT 2022*

  • Jean C. Gonzalez, NJ

  • Jean-François Noël, Canada

  • Jeff Feddersen, NJ

  • Jeff Heiner, NY

  • Jeffrey Sawyer, CT

  • Jeremy K. Kirkland, MO

  • Jessica Alfrey, CA

  • Jon Carter, NY

  • Jose Acevedo, NJ

  • Kasi Houston, TX

  • Kevin Cheek, VA

  • Kevin O'Leary, FL

  • Kyle Godfrey, NY

  • Marcos Gutierrez, TX

  • Matthew Maicher, WA

  • Michael D. Dubitzky, NY

  • Mitchell Kellert, NY

  • Mohamed Alketbi, VA

  • Nicholas Bayne, NJ

  • Nicholas Bouza, TX

  • Nuriel Gadelov, PA

  • Paul Craythorne, GA

  • Paul R. Anthony, PA

  • Peter Straub, IL

  • Renaud Balland, NY

  • Richard Kurtzer, NY

  • Robert Basiliere, TX

  • Robert DiStefano, FL

  • Scott Becker, CA

  • Sean Lavery, NY

  • Shing Kwan Chan, NJ

  • Simone Aimone, Italy

  • Sukrit Kumar, United Kingdom

  • Theo Konstantinidis, Canada

  • Thomas Kozlowski, Austria

  • Timothy Brennan, NJ

  • Tony Kim, CA

  • Tyler Hill, Canada

  • Victoria Cattin, FL

  • William Malone, PA

  • William Mon, NJ

  • William W. Ehrgood, OH

  • Yang Li, NV

Upcoming Lecture: Hidden Figures: Overlooked Elements of Watchmaking

Join HSNY in person on Thursday, May 5, 2022 for a lecture on Hidden Figures: Overlooked Elements of Watchmaking, by Jeffrey Kingston, Editor-in-Chief of Le Quai de l’Horloge (Sun Valley, Idaho)

HSNY’s May 2022 lecture will take place in person at the General Society Library. The lecture will also be livestreamed. Doors open at 6PM ET, lecture and Zoom livestream to begin at 7PM ET.

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.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE!
RSVP is required.

HSNY Awards $100,000 In Financial Aid at Its Annual Gala (Pics)

Held at the Harvard Club of New York City

After a two-year pause in its 156-year tradition, the Horological Society of New York (HSNY) held its annual Gala on Saturday, April 9, 2022, where it awarded $100,000 to watchmaking students and schools, and raised an additional $18,000 toward its mission of advancing the art and science of horology.

HSNY celebrated the 2022 Gala & Awards Ceremony in style at the landmark Harvard Club of New York City, where 200 members and friends reunited to toast to one of the world’s oldest continuously operating horological associations.

The evening begins with cocktail hour at Harvard Hall!

Highlights from the evening included a presentation by HSNY President John Teifert of the Howard Fass Award, given this year to longtime HSNY member and horological bibliophile Fortunat Mueller-Maerki. Bestowed for the third time since its creation in 2016, the Howard Fass award is HSNY’s highest honor, given to individuals judged to have shown extraordinary dedication to the ideals which the Society pursues.

The lavish evening continued with the announcement of HSNY’s largest financial aid awarded to date — a sum of $100,000 to 15 watchmaking students and three watchmaking institutions across the country. Steve Eagle, HSNY’s Director of Education, presented a check to Robert Younger, a student of the Patek Philippe Institute in New York, who accepted the award on behalf of all recipients. (Please see below a full list of financial aid recipients.)

HSNY President John Teifert presents Fortunat Mueller-Maerki with the Howard Fass Award, HSNY’s highest honor.

Robert Younger, a student of the Patek Philippe Institute in New York, accepts financial aid on behalf of all 2022 recipients. A giant check was issued by HSNY Director of Education Steve Eagle, left.

In between dinner courses and mingling, a lively bidding war took place for HSNY’s first-ever Lifetime Membership Card. Hosted by Isabella Proia of Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, the starting bid of $500 quickly escalated as attendees bid for the evening’s coveted auction item, among them Kevin O'Leary, the entrepreneur and businessman fondly known as Mr. Wonderful on the television show Shark Tank. A hammer price of $18,000 ended the evening’s auction, with Jared Tramontano taking home bragging rights as HSNY’s first Lifetime Membership cardholder. Proceeds from the sale will benefit HSNY’s ongoing financial aid initiatives. The card grants the owner lifetime membership privileges at HSNY, including all aspects of all current and future membership levels. It was engine turned by Joshua Shapiro and hand-engraved by Artur Akmaev, and made from a 92.5% sterling silver alloy with tarnish-resistant properties 4-5 times that of traditional sterling silver. HSNY’s full Charity Auction will be held online in June 2022 and will be hosted by Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo.

Isabella Proia of Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo hosts a lively bidding war for HSNY’s first-ever Lifetime Membership Card.

Bidding starts at $500 and quickly escalates to $18,000!

HSNY’s 2022 Lifetime Membership Card, engine turned by Joshua Shapiro and hand-engraved by Artur Akmaev.

Jared Tramontano, left, poses as HSNY’s first Lifetime Membership cardholder alongside HSNY President John Teifert and Executive Director Nicholas Manousos.

Gala supporters included A. Lange & Söhne, Collectability, Grand Seiko, HODINKEE, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, Slater Team at Compass, Vacheron Constantin, Collective, Watch Club Society, and Ulysse Nardin, along with HSNY officers, staff and fellows.

HSNY thanks all its sponsors, members and guests for their incredible support! A save-the-date for HSNY’s 2023 Gala & Awards Ceremony is coming soon!

HSNY 2022 Financial Aid:

  • The Henry B. Fried Scholarship for Watchmaking Students

    • Cassidy Atkins, York Time Institute, PA ($5,000)

    • Louie Barrera, York Time Institute, PA ($5,000)

    • Levi Cooper, Lititz Watch Technicum, PA ($5,000)

    • Evan Embrey, North Seattle College Watch Technology Institute, WA ($5,000) 

    • Benjamin Herring, Veterans Watchmaker Initiative, DE ($5,000)

    • John B. Kim, Apprentice, OR ($5,000)

    • Harold Liu, Contingent Student, Canada ($5,000)

    • Eric Preciado, Veterans Watchmaker Initiative, DE ($5,000)

    • Matthew Smithey, Paris Junior College Watchmaking Program, TX ($5,000) 

    • Robert Younger, Patek Philippe Institute, NY ($5,000) 

    • Edmond Zacapa, Lititz Watch Technicum, PA ($5,000)

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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 and around the world.

http://hs-ny.org

Photo credit Monica Schipper & Bryan Bedder

HSNY 2022 Lifetime Membership Card To Be Auctioned by Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo

The Horological Society of New York (HSNY) is offering for the first time ever a Lifetime Membership Card, set to be auctioned live at the Society’s 2022 Gala & Awards Ceremony on Saturday, April 9, 2022.

This lifetime membership card grants the owner lifetime membership privileges at HSNY, including all aspects of all current and future membership levels. This year marks the first time that a lifetime membership card has ever been offered by HSNY.

 

Pictures don’t do it justice! See the Lifetime Membership Card in all its glory here!

 

The HSNY 2022 Lifetime Membership Card is both engine turned (guilloché) and hand-engraved. The engine turning was done by Joshua Shapiro and the hand-engraving by Artur Akmaev. The card is carefully crafted from a 92.5% sterling silver alloy with tarnish-resistant properties 4-5 times that of traditional sterling silver. Once the auction is complete, the lucky winner will have their name engraved on the card.

Proceeds from the sale of the HSNY 2022 Lifetime Membership Card will benefit HSNY’s ongoing financial aid initiatives. HSNY’s Charity Auction will be held in June 2022 and will take place online, hosted by Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo.

Happy bidding!

Meeting Recap: Next Generation NOMOS Movements: Thin, Automatic, and Highly Precise

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)
March 10, 2022

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 March 2022 lecture, HSNY welcomed Theodor Prenzel, Head of Design Engineering at NOMOS Glashütte, and Martina Etti, Head of International Sales at NOMOS Glashütte & Co-CEO at NOMOS Glashütte Inc., New York, to present the brand's new line of movements.

Etti began the lecture with an overview of the brand and its history in Glashütte, Germany. NOMOS is an independent and owner-managed manufacturer that currently manufactures 11 calibers:

Automatic Movements

  • DUW 5001

  • DUW 5101

  • DUW 5201

  • DUW 3001

  • DUW 6101

Manual Movements

  • Alpha

  • DUW 4101

  • DUW 4301

  • DUW 4401

  • DUW 1001

  • DUW 2022

Incidentally, DUW stands for Deutsche Uhrenwerke or German Clockworks, which can be seen either on the rotors or plates of the timepieces.

After the German reunification, NOMOS introduced its first collections: Tangente, Orion, Ludwig and Tetra. Throughout the years the brand has created a variety of movements:

  • 2001 DUW 4101 Patented NOMOS date mechanism

  • 2003 DUW 4401 Patented NOMOS power reserve indication

  • 2005 DUW 5001 First automatic movement

  • 2010 DUW 5201 World time caliber

  • 2014 DUW 4401 NOMOS swing system in-house escapement

  • 2015 DUW 3001 Neomatik slim automatic movement 

  • 2018 DUW 6101 Patented NOMOS date mechanism

Etti introduced her colleague, Theodor Prenzel, to discuss the latest developments of the Neomatik and the Neomatik Date mechanisms. These pieces exemplify the next generation of movements for the brand.

For NOMOS, a thin watch is an elegant watch. The first design principle is the layout of the movement — instead of two bridges, there's a 3/4 plate which makes the movement extremely stable with the added benefit of cost efficiency since production can be made in high quantities.

Prenzel presented a specifications overview of the DUW 3001 that highlighted the NOMOS swing system with a tempered blue balance spring; and the DUW 6101 quick date correction feature mechanism. Finally, Prenzel discussed the date jump aspects of the DUW 4101 and DUW 6101.

HSNY thanks Theodor Prenzel and Martina Etti for their fascinating lecture!

Submitted by Melody Benloss, Recording Secretary

HSNY Staff Appointed to 2022 GPHG Academy

The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) announced this week its list of 2022 Academy members, comprised of global talents with a shared passion for watchmaking. This year, HSNY's presence in the GPHG grows with the addition of Carolina Navarro (Deputy Director), Briana Le (Trustee) and H. Jane Chon (Counsel) as its newest members honored with the task of highlighting and awarding the year's most remarkable contemporary creations and promoting the art of watchmaking worldwide.

After undergoing two rounds of voting, the GPHG will announce winners at a special awards ceremony slated for November 10, 2022. The GPHG Academy is now comprised of more than 650 members, including HSNY officers and staff Nicholas Manousos (Executive Director), John Teifert (President), Romain Gauthier (Trustee), Aldis Hodge (Trustee), Eric Ku (Trustee), John Reardon (Trustee), Vincent Robert (Director of Traveling Education) and William Massena (Trustee Emeritus).

To learn more about the GPHG and its 2022 Academy, please visit https://gphg.org/horlogerie.

Welcoming New HSNY Members, February 2022

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. 

  • Amit Puri, VA

  • Andrew Cheng, Canada

  • Brad Hedberg, IL

  • Carlos Carranza, NJ

  • Cheng Siang Lim, Malaysia

  • Chris Carey, MA

  • Cyrus Mirakhor, CA

  • David Englander, VT

  • Delk Edward, NY

  • Edward Bishop, United Kingdom

  • Eric Kunz, NY

  • Faisal Yamin, NJ

  • Gary Hewitt, IL

  • James Stankiewicz, Canada

  • John Edgington, NC

  • Jonathan Clark, CA

  • Joseph Hawthorn, TX

  • Joseph Page M.H, Canada

  • Justin Tse, Hong Kong

  • Ken Deegan, NY

  • Kevin Goh, Malaysia

  • Lee Williams, NY

  • Leslie Bilger, FL

  • Maria Helena Torres, Portugal

  • Maria Lerdal, NY

  • Mark Miller, CA

  • Mark Nester, NJ

  • Martin Sandvoss, Germany

  • Matthew Rosenheim, Washington, D.C.

  • Michael Gardner, PA

  • Michael Tay, Malaysia

  • Miles Membreno, CA

  • Mitchell S. Ross, NY

  • Nathaniel Pettis, NY

  • Paul Goldman, NY

  • Paula Wynn, OR

  • Pavan Bharteey, NC

  • Phillip Michel, Germany

  • R. D. Stark, MA

  • Rachel Baron, NY

  • Ronald Champagne, IL

  • Sailesh Mukundala, Australia

  • Shuajb Berisha, United Kingdom

  • Steven Kanaplue, NJ

  • Suphi Turker, ME

  • Thomas Plantin, TX

  • Tim Feasey, United Kingdom

  • Tony Ricciardi, NY

  • Dr. Wolfram Koeppe, NY

  • Zachary A. Seils, NY

Upcoming Lecture: Next Generation NOMOS Movements: Thin, Automatic, and Highly Precise

Join HSNY on Thursday, March 10, 2022 for a virtual lecture on Next Generation NOMOS Movements: Thin, Automatic, and Highly Precise, by Theodor Prenzel, Head of Design Engineering at NOMOS (Glashütte, Germany).

The March lecture will take place via Zoom and will begin at 10AM ET (GMT -5) to accommodate local time in Germany (GMT +1). There will be no in-person gathering for the February lecture.

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.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE!
RSVP is required.

Meeting Recap: Vacheron Constantin’s Calendar Watches: An Exploration of Time & Space

Christian Selmoni, Vacheron Constantin Style & Heritage Director (Geneva, Switzerland)
Suzanne Wong, Editor-in-Chief, WorldTempus (Geneva, Switzerland)
February 15, 2022

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 February 2022 Horological Society of New York (HSNY) lecture, Christian Selmoni, Style & Heritage Director for Vacheron Constantin, and Suzanne Wong, Editor-in-Chief of WorldTempus, gave a joint presentation on calendar watches from the Vacheron Constantin brand perspective.

The lecture began with four timepieces from Vacheron Constantin’s private collection. The display demonstrated how the calendar progressed throughout the years:

  • Made in 1790, the Heritage INV.NR 10870 was the first example of the day and date indication

  • Established in 1906, the Heritage INV.NR 403474 pocket watch features a chronograph and alarm function

  • The Model 3620 Don Pancho (1936 - 1940) calendar wristwatch with a retrograde date

  • Launched in 2005, the Reference 80250 Tour De L’Ile Caliber 2750 became a true springboard for the brand’s grand complications

The significance of time is how it is universally, culturally and individually experienced. Selmoni and Wong also pointed out how time is observed as a phenomenon. The following timepieces exemplified the idea of time:

Time observed as a phenomenon

  • Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grande Complication Caliber 3600 — launched 2017

  • Caliber 2755 TMRCC Minute Repeater combined with a sky chart display on the back

  • Metiers d’Art Copernicus Celestial Spheres Caliber 2460RT — launched 2017

Time as a cultural concept

  • Collection Excellence Platine Caliber 2460431R7 — launched 2008

  • Overseas Perpetual Calendar Openworked Caliber 1120QP — launched 2021

  • Metiers d’Art The Masks Caliber 2460G4 — launched between 2007 - 2009

Time that we experience

  • Traditionnelle Twin Beat Perpetual Calendar Caliber 3610 (2019)

  • Overseas Dual Time Caliber 5110DT (2018)

  • Metiers D’Art Tribute to Great Explorers Caliber 1120AT (2021)

HSNY thanks Christian Selmoni and Suzanne Wong for their fascinating lecture!

Submitted by Melody Benloss, Recording Secretary

Welcoming New HSNY Members, January 2022

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 L. Sloper, CA

  • Ali Sarafzadeh, VT

  • Andrew Simon, TX

  • Antonio Hidalgo, CA

  • Benjamin Dreher, Switzerland

  • Charles Rubin, FL

  • Court Godin, FL

  • David Brown, CA

  • David Sanchez, TX

  • Derek Brehm, Washington, D.C.

  • Derek Steer, CA

  • Dwight Bussman, WI

  • Efstratios L. Gavas, NY

  • Glenn C. Jones, VA

  • Graham Wetterhahn, CA

  • Hunter Anthony, CT

  • Ian Hundiak, NY

  • Ian Yang, CA

  • Ira Lehrman, NY

  • Ishaan Acharya, NJ

  • Jack Togati, NY

  • Jacob Moghimi-Danesh, Esq., NY

  • James Hinman, VA

  • Jonathan Alarie, NY

  • Jordan Kassell Thaler, NY

  • Judy Bowman, NJ

  • Justin V. Signorelli, NY

  • Ken Verbosky, PA

  • Luke Cox-Bien, NY

  • Mackenzie Corbin, NY

  • Marc L. Diamond, NY

  • Maria Porras, NY

  • Mark Kosmala, NY

  • Matthew Lewis, CA

  • Mia Hamano, CO

  • Moe Akyol, TX

  • Molaundo Jones, AL

  • Olga Gonzalez, NY

  • Paolo F. Fuentes, WA

  • Paul Halliwell, United Kingdom

  • Peter Edin, Sweden

  • Phillip Tiongson, NY

  • Prachi Gauriar, NY

  • Rhyan Washington, MA

  • Richard Saul, MA

  • R.J. Sullivan II, CT

  • Ronald Lockwood, GA

  • Stephen Ricciardelli, NY

  • Theodore Wojciechowski, FL

  • Todd Missroon, GA

  • Will Charlesworth, United Kingdom

  • Vincent Escobedo, VA