Walk No. 20 A Man of Time to Follow: Michael Clerizo (3/22/2016)

Like to read intelligent watch commentary?  Then Michael Clerizo is your man. On December 10, 2015 his The Watch Man feature column debuted in the Wall Street Journal with "How to Buy a Luxury Watch on a Budget." His latest feature, in the WSJ's Saturday/Sunday, March 19-20, 2016 Style and Fashion section is the best summary I've read on watch fairs like the currently running Baselworld and the now concluded SIHH. In it he gives advice on such things as: "Beware the word 'trend.'"; "Don't bother with mechanics buzz.".; and "Big Brands aren't everything." He's every reason to subscribe to the paper!

March 2016 Bench #3 -- Anthony Eglin

Those of you who read my blog, Wrist Watch Redux know that a number of my posts on it have a botanical basis or slant.  I am especially drawn to wristwatches that have an association with flowers and pollinators. It's with this passion that I highly recommend prize-winning author Anthony Eglin's book, The Lost Gardens: An English Garden Mystery (St. Martins Minotaur Books, 2006).

Besides being an exciting read, the discovery of a mysterious, engraved Hamilton wristwatch from the 1930's plays an important role in work!   

Walk No. 19 NAWCC Library's Online Catalog: Searching for Horological Riches (3/11/2016)

The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors' Library & Research Center, physically located in Columbia, Pennsylvania offers an unbeatable,online resource to horologists worldwide.

The library's collection covers subjects ranging "from the repair of clocks and watches to the philosophy of time and a small collection of fiction books whose stories revolve around clocks, watches, or horology. The library specializes in reference services. With more than 30,000 books, catalogs, and periodicals, its resources are used to document timepieces around the world. The archives contain company information from several American watch and clock companies, collections of advertisements and postcards featuring timepieces, and the papers of prominent horologists." 

You can find all of the books and videos in the lending library in its catalog http://opac.libraryworld.com/opac/signin?libraryname=NAWCC%20LIBRARY . Also NAWCC Members have lending privileges and the majority of its materials can be borrowed through the mail or by visiting the library.

Walk No. 18 Open Source Hardware 3-D Printed Watch (2/8/2016)

The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC) February 2016 eHappenings Newsletter has just reported that "Swiss engineer Christoph Laimer has built an open-source hardware, 3-D printed watch with a tourbillon mechanism, uploading it to Thingiverse for you to print and assemble yourself." 

Thingiverse is a 3-D printing file sharing site. 

For more information, the blog Hodinkee gives an in depth review of this groundbreaking, innovative engineering design. Worth a read by  horological hobbyists and engineers.

Visit my companion blog, Wristwatchredux for an April 2014 post on watches and 3-D printing, "Will 3D Printing Usurp the Human Hands of Time?"


  
 

February 2016 Bench #2 -- Robin Houghton

Great guide for new and seasoned bloggers in search of self confirmation, re-affirmation  and inspiration. Most importantly Robin Hougton's book, The Golden Rules of Blogging (& When to Break Them) (HOW Books, Cincinnati, OH : 2015) helped me to realize that my own blog writing style, content and presentation were not frivolous just because they were outside of conventional blogging conventions or wisdom.

Thanks to Robin, my journeys exploring wristwatches in this blog and its companion www.wristwatchredux.net will continue with a renewed sense of self trusting direction.   

Walk No. 17 De-accessioning Time: The Metropolitan Museum's Sale (2/2/2016)

Who's to say when one walks, one can't shop as well?  What better place to virtually stroll than an online museum store?  Right now, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has a fabulous selection of its art-inspired watches on sale at 50% off.

• Greek Meander Bangle Watch
• French Deco Harlequin Watch (I featured this one in my post, "Yuletide Timings:  Meet Me At the Met," December 2014)
• Parisian Buckle Watch
• Medieval Quatrefoil Bangle Watch
• Chevron Motif Bangle Watch
• Jewelled Laurelton Hall Mosaic Watch
• Laurelton HallPendant Watch
• Rohde American Modern Watch
• Edo Cherry Blossoms Watch
• American Art Deco Bracelet Watch   

Walk No. 16 An Exciting Career Path -- The North American Institute of Swiss Watchmaking (1/30/2016)

Want to work first hand on luxury watches?  Consider applying to the North America Institute of Swiss Watchmaking (NAIOSW) in Fort Worth, Texas. The Institute is sponsored by the Richemont Group, a luxury brand holding company with ties to such outstanding firms as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Piaget, Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-LeCoultre.  NAIOSW was founded for "the purpose of educating successful watchmakers for a career in luxury watch repair."

The 2017 Certified Watchmaking Course began in early January, 2016 and is an immersive 3000 hours of study and practice. The dates for the Classes of 2018 and 2019 have already been announced. Student selection is highly competitive. The good news --- there is a Prestigious Watch Brands scholarship that provides each student with the full amount of tuition, fees, tools, and supplies necessary to complete the program. Room and board are at the students' choice and expense.