American brands like Weiss Watch Company have had to navigate a landscape devoid of an ecosystem. However, every renaissance encounters obstacles. Since Swiss industrialisation owes much to American innovations, it could be argued that while Weiss watches’ movement mechanics may be Swiss, their soul remains genuinely American. In this context, Weiss isn’t just a brand it’s a revival mission. The Swiss later adapted American techniques for their own success, while America’s watchmaking legacy faded during the quartz crisis of the 1970s. By the mid-19th century, America’s manufacturing prowess surpassed even the British and Swiss, revolutionising wristwatch technology and movement precision, as proven through the challenge of two World Wars. His goal was ambitious: to resurrect American watchmaking of the 1920s with advanced production methods.ĭelving into Weiss’ set-up takes us back to the heyday of American horology, a time when names like Waltham and Elgin thrived. The workshop serves as a testament to this vision, where old-world watchmaking tools and lathes coexist with state-of-the-art CAD and CAM systems.

Leveraging his experience at prestigious Swiss manufacturers, Weiss melds artisanal flair with computerised manufacturing expertise. This bona fide USA-made mechanism, reengineered from a pocket watch movement, was single-handedly manufactured by Weiss except for the jewels and springs.įrom the outset, Weiss sought to acquaint himself with large-volume precision technology. Since its inception, the collection has progressively embraced an American identity, culminating in the introduction of the in-house Weiss calibre 1003 in 2019.

Most models feature simple time-only displays, some with a date function, powered by hand-wound modified Swiss movements. While we incorporate polishing, fine finishing, and decorative touches, the overall aim is meant to feel utilitarian,” explains Weiss. “This bridges the gap where it is a bit elevated and also approachable, because Americans are pretty casual people. Prices are intentionally accessible, currently ranging from $2,000-3,000. “I think the aesthetic resonates with the essence of American culture and its practical nature.” “I drew inspiration from objects like old aircraft gauges inside cockpits,” Weiss explains. The style remains true to timeless American tastes and sensibilities. Dressed in rugged attire driving a classic Defender, Weiss is the very image of his brand. Weiss watches exemplify what the market considers ‘tool watches’. Weiss also personally assembles every watch from start to finish. The family-owned venture goes beyond the capabilities of its peers, producing cases, dials, components, and even springs, all on American soil.

Hayek Watchmaking School in Florida, Weiss Watch Co distinguishes itself in a wave of new American brands. Weiss is bringing American watchmaking back to the future, not from a base in Bienne or Tokyo, but in Nashville, Tennessee.įounded in 2013 by Cameron Weiss, an all-round horologist trained at the Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Program (WOSTEP) at the Nicolas G. This boutique independent brand presents an arresting narrative that departs from the well-trodden stories of his overseas competition. With a strong aesthetic identity defined by its distinctive mechanism, the Atmos naturally lends itself to different design treatments and, in 2022, Jaeger-LeCoultre presents two new interpretations of this unique clock.N the world of horology, where Swiss and Japanese giants often overshadow smaller players, Weiss Watch Company is a breath of fresh air. In doing so, they have discovered that the complications best suited to the Atmos are those based on longer cycles, such as the phases of the moon, months, seasons, years and beyond. Over time, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s watchmakers have continued to master the challenge of adding functions to the mechanism without substantially increasing energy consumption. Instead, its mechanism is powered by normal, everyday fluctuations in air temperature a variation of just one degree Celsius is sufficient to guarantee two days of running time, enabling it to run perpetually if kept under normal everyday conditions. An invention that appears to defy the laws of physics, running for centuries without the need for any conventional energy source or rewinding. Born in 1928, the Atmos is a clock like no other.

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