![]() The next phase is to open the Initiative’s permanent facility in Middletown. The Bulova School of Watchmaking trained an entire generation of disabled World War II vets before closing in 1993. And I can’t wait to get back in here every day.” Logo for the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative (Shirley Min/WHYY)Ĭannan can’t take all of the credit for the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative. “Time goes by, it’s an 8-hour day and the next thing you know, it’s over with. I’m in this tiny little world, with my loupe, and taking it apart and seeing everything that’s in there,” LaRusso said. And sure enough, now that we’re diving into movements for quartz watches, I zone in on the work. “From day one, and all we were doing was resharpening tweezers, I could see myself getting into it. Watchmaking is a quiet, solitary profession where you can work at your own pace without any pressure. Research has shown watchmaking can be therapeutic, particularly for those suffering from PTSD. The whole thing, not liking crowds, not liking meeting new people or anything like that, sometimes nightmares, you wake up, you hear things, irritability,” LaRusso said. “After getting out is really when things set in. He was infantry, deployed to Iraq in 2005, was honorably discharged and later diagnosed with PTSD. Student Giancarlo LaRusso served four years with the Marines. Injuries and the effects of PTSD prematurely ended the majority of Cannan’s students’ military careers. From the Swiss alone, mechanical watch exports skyrocketed 181 percent from 2000 to 2016. But then there was this huge resurgence of mechanicals starting in the 90s, and demand continues to grow. Luxury watch production took a hit and so did the need for watchmakers. ![]() The shortage began in the 80s, when quartz watches first hit the market. “And each year, close to 400 of those are retiring and less than 100 are entering the profession as new watchmakers.” “Currently, there are probably around 4,000 watchmakers in the United States, down from 40,000 in the late 60s,” said Jordan Ficklin, executive director of AWCI. The more expensive luxury watches are spring-driven and require routine service and repair.Īccording to the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute (AWCI) in Ohio, the backlog on repairs for luxury timepieces runs anywhere from three months to two years because there are simply not enough watchmakers in the country. ![]() Next year, Cannan, a Swiss-trained master watchmaker, plans to start the 16-month course focused on the more complex mechanical watches. ![]() “We go into the details of how it functions, why it functions, we look at the electronics, the electromagnetism aspects, we teach them how to diagnose a movement, how to diagnose a circuit board,” Cannan said, adding eventually his students will learn how to replace watch crystals, reassemble the wheels inside and make the watch work like new again. The majority of watches sold today use quartz technology. The veterans are learning all about battery-powered quartz watches in this six-week course. You are a highly-trained professional, in a highly-professional cadre of people that amount to 1/100 of 1 percent,’” Cannan said. “I tell them sometimes I say, ‘You know when you joined the Army, you joined the Air Force, Marines, whatever, they told you, you were a highly elite professional, very small cadre of people.’ I say, ‘Well, I have news for you. Inaugural class of the Odessa Center for Horological Excellence (Students in blue lab coats Rick Aubin, instructor, and Sam Cannan, founder, both in white Michael Wipf, president of Hogs and Heroes’ Middletown chapter) (Shirley Min/WHYY) WHYY thanks our sponsors - become a WHYY sponsor ![]()
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