CONVERGENCE 2004

by C. Bradley Jacobs

Originally published in International Watch Magazine, December 2004

At the beginning of October 2004, a few dozen watch enthusiasts gathered for the third annual Convergence, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The two-day event included a bus trip to the Lititz Watch Technicum and RGM Watch Company on October 1, and the Convergence Expo the following day. Many door prizes, including fine watches and accessories, were presented.

The first stop on the bus tour was the impressive facility known as the Lititz Watch Technicum (LWT). Located about twenty minutes outside Lancaster, this Rolex-subsidized facility houses the only WOSTEP (Watchmakers Of Switzerland Training & Education Program) school in the eastern United States. Headed by Mr. Hermann Mayer, the LWT curriculum focusses on teaching traditional watchmaking and repair over a two-year course of study. One dozen students are accepted into the program each year as the result of an intensive application and interview process. The Technicum is so intent on only accepting students who will be able to successfully complete the curriculum, that the candidates often spend much of their interview visit at the watchmaker's bench performing tasks such as filing and component manipulation. The LWT staff like to be sure of an applicant's ability to accept instruction before they invest the effort required to teach them watchmaking skills. Mr. Mayer summed this up when he described a recent graduate who displayed the desired attitude: "If she could not successfully perform an operation, it was clearly the fault of the instructor."

Mr. Mayer described the stages of the curriculum in detail and presented a slide show to illustrate his points. Convergence group members were invited to ask questions and a lengthy Q&A session ensued during which the topics included watchmaking and repair techniques, educational approaches, chronograph movements and collecting.

After this session, the tour concluded with a visit to the second-year students' classroom. Mr. Michael Pahl presided over an orderly room at which nearly a dozen prospective watchmakers toiled quietly over their class watches and other projects. The end of the school day was approaching so, after the students tidied up their benches, students, faculty and visitors all fell into enthusiastic conversation covering myriad horological topics. Invitations were extended for the students to attend the Convergence Expo the following day and the group departed, excited and somewhat in awe of the wonderful LWT facility and the precision with which it is administered.

For the third straight year, the Convergence entourage was able to visit the workshops of RGM Watch Company and for the third straight year they were treated to a fascinating exhibition of old-style watchmaking skill. In 2002, owner Roland Murphy demonstrated the application of perlage on a chronograph plate. During Convergence 2003 watchmaker Alan Schade assembled a finely decorated watch movement as Mr. Murphy described the process to the audience. This year, the group enjoyed a special treat indeed: Roland Murphy demonstrated the use of a vintage rose engine to apply guilloche to the bridges of a watch movement. RGM has owned a high-quality rose engine--made by Lienhard of Chaux-de-Fonds in 1913--for several years, and has undertaken to utilize this machine to create the guilloche embellishments that have become a signature of their watches. Mr. Murphy and his chief designer have been actively exploring the art of the guillocheur and are beginning to apply their skills in new ways. Several examples of RGM's in-house guilloche work were on display, including a finely decorated vintage watch movement intended for use in a new series of watches. The piece decorated during this event was another such movement which will be made available for sale in coming months and would be quite a noteworthy memento of an enjoyable visit to America's premier watchmaking atelier. The demonstration was eye-opening to all present and one attendee was heard to remark that seeing the antique rose engine being used to decorate a vintage movement was like "seeing the Gutenberg Bible being printed."

Following the RGM presentation, Convergence attendees had the option of visiting a local brewery and restaurant complex for dinner or returning to the hotel--most chose to enjoy the company of their fellow watch enthusiasts, along with Mr. Murphy and Russell Frost, the director of Convergence. As has become the norm for off-nights during Convergence, the making and renewal of friendships was by far the highlight of the evening. Expectations for a fascinating display of watches the next afternoon were high, so the group took advantage of some non-watch specific free time to focus on good food and drink, some fine cigars and, the surprise second theme of the weekend, the high-performance flashlights and other small lamps brought by many of those in attendance. Strange glows emanating from various tables, resounding peals of laughter, and a frazzled waitress who quit her job mid-meal were all notable elements of a joyous atmosphere.

Day two of Convergence officially began at mid-day and as noon approached, the hotel lobby became more and more crowded with excited collectors eager to enter the exposition space. However, the benefits of holding this event in Lancaster were clear to all earlier in the day because they had the opportunity to indulge their palates before the Expo. That morning, nearly everyone enjoyed a hearty brunch served at one of the many country-style buffets in the area. Anticipation of the horological wonders to be seen was barely tempered by the enjoyment of local delicacies--along with Blancpain and Panerai, mush, baked goods and scrapple were the talk of each table.

Upon filing in to the conference room, the attendees were invited to choose a seat, set up their own personal watch displays, and prepare for a group discussion. A carry-over from last year's panel discussion, this year's chat featured much less formal but no less enlightening conversation. Topics included predictions of upcoming trends such as watch sizes, mechanical watches for women, and the future of in-house movement making as a result of ETA's distribution limitations. A mixed group of collectors, watch company representatives and other pundits provided much insight and entertainment to kick off the Expo.

Following the discussion, everyone was invited to circulate and mingle. Representatives of RGM, EOT, Fortis, Harwood, Chronodeco and MarcelloC watches were present with examples of their lines available for viewing. New models, such as MarcelloC's ladies dive watch (one of the door prizes), EOT's Model 22 chronometer, and the Chronodeco Era with black dial captured the attention of every collector present. Just as intriguing, however, were the personal collections on display. Themes including watches with black or orange dials, military watches, art deco wristwatches, split-second timers, vintage chronographs and even fine pens and knives were represented. Though security for the tens of thousands of dollars' worth of items on display was provided, it seemed superfluous; the aura of fellowship and professional interest within the group was universal. No one exhibited any fear that watches would be stolen or even mishandled--the only mishap reported was a misplaced case knife.

This year's event closed with announcements that are sure to generate much excitement for Convergence 2005. The first of these included the prize drawings. International Watch was the sole representative of the print media to sponsor Convergence but other sponsors combined with iW to donate many books, watch and pen magazines, knives, hats, watches, straps, and other paraphernalia. Watches by Epos, Chronodeco, Fortis, VIXA, Reactor, and MarcelloC were among the most sought-after prizes. As has happened at the previous two events, no registrant departed without a door prize; this is a testament to the generosity and dedication of the sponsors and organizers of Convergence.

The final announcement, regarding the site and dates of Convergence 2005, was a surprise to almost everyone. Tentatively scheduled for June 8-9 of 2005, the fourth annual event will be held in Las Vegas to coincide with the annual JCK show. The horological wonders of Lancaster and environs have provided much education and entertainment to Convergence attendees The visits, during previous Convergence events, to the NAWCC headquarters, Lititz Watch Technicum, RGM Watch Co. and the former Hamilton factory have served to set the bar for future events of this kind and have also created lasting memories. Convergence aims to be more than just a regional event. The selection of Las Vegas for the next gathering shows that the organizers are serious about developing this event into a world-class conference for watch enthusiasts. All the most up-to-date information can be found at the official Convergence website: www.convergencetime.com. (Author's note: Sadly, Convergence as a formal event did not happen in 2005, nor has it been successfully staged since, and the website has been dismantled. The spirit of Convergence continues on the Watch Discussion Forum at EOT, where many menbers congregate to this day for virtual interaction and sharing of their love for watches.)