Financial Assistance for Watchmaking Schools

To train the next generation of watchmakers, watchmaking schools need to be equipped with a wide range of tools, movements, raw materials and spare parts. Budgeting for these supplies can be difficult, especially for watchmaking schools that do not have a sponsoring brand. This is where the Howard Robbins Award for Watchmaking Schools comes in; the Horological Society of New York wants to ensure that watchmaking schools can provide their students with the highest level of education without worrying about budget shortfalls. The Howard Robbins Award is intended to foster Robbins’ professional rigor, love of people and belief in education within the watchmaking community.

Howard Robbins

Howard Robbins (1950-2020) was a professional in the world of timepieces for nearly 40 years. He began his career in New York in 1980 working with Tourneau. There for 14 years, Robbins represented the most iconic brands in horology. Because of his personality, knowledge and character, Robbins' client list included many celebrities, business owners and the like. In 1994, Robbins and his wife Vicki moved to South Florida where he became Director of Prestige Timepieces for Mayors Jewelers.

Robbins' passion for horology was palpable. Watch sales was his profession. He believed in horological education and took every opportunity to learn, while encouraging his clients to do the same. But as much as anything, Robbins knew that the world of horology was more about the people involved in it and the relationships between and among them. Robbins passed away in March, 2020.

Details

Any accredited watchmaking school or program in the USA is eligible for the Howard Robbins Award. Awards up to $25,000 are available. To apply, schools / programs should email a letter in PDF form to the Trustees of the Horological Society of New York that includes an overview of their program, and their current needs. The application period is January 1 to March 1 of every year.

The Howard Robbins Award for Watchmaking Schools is made possible by a generous donation from Lisa and William Buchalter.