Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants

The Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI, English: "Academy of Independent Creators in Watchmaking") is a non-profit association, founded in 1985 by Svend Andersen and Vincent Calabrese under Swiss civil law. Its mission was to perpetuate the art of independent watch- and clock-making. The AHCI is based in Zürich.[1]

The AHCI is an international institution with 33 Members, 7 honorary members and 6 candidates from over 12 countries.

Goal, membership and elements

Goal of the association
  • Promote innovation and skills in watchmaking
  • Union of talents to get more presence in the public
  • Create recognition for the members

The AHCI also gives the members and the candidates the chance to participate in joint exhibitions.

Membership

The following conditions are needed to become a member:

  • Skills in watchmaking
  • Independently develops and produces their creations
  • The support of two fellow members
  • The candidate has to show his pieces in at least 3 public shows
  • The duration of the candidature is at least two years
  • The general assembly of the AHCI has to approve the new member unanimously

The candidate doesn't need to be a watchmaker by profession. Many famous historical watchmakers has been autodidact (like John Harrison or George Daniels). For this reason the AHCI has members which are scientists or engineers. Only the skills count.

Elements

The central element is the general assembly. The members meets twice a year, in spring at BaselWorld and in autumn at a central meeting location.

Members

The most famous members are the founders and the honorary members George Daniels, Jean Kazes und Peter Schmid. The following members are part of the executive board: Becsei, Aaron, Bray, Robert, Calabrese, Vincent, Chaykin, Konstantin (President) and Eleta, Miki;

Members

Andersen, Svend; Andersen, Søren; Baumgartner, Felix; Becsei, Aaron; Bray, Robert; Calabrese, Vincent; Chaykin, Konstantin; Valerii Danevych; Delaloye, Nicolas; Dufour, Philippe; Eleta, Miki; Paul Gerber; Haldimann, Beat; Halter, Vianney; Jenni, Marc; Journe, François-Paul; Jutzi, Frank; Kikuno, Masahiro; Klings, Christian; Lang, Marco; Lederer, Bernhard; Ma, Xushu; McGonigle, John; Naeschke, Sebastian; Nienaber, Rainer; Pita, Aniceto; Prescher, Thomas; Preziuso, Antoine; Speake-Marin, Peter; Strehler, Andreas; Voutilainen, Kari; Vyskocil, Volker; Wurtz, Philippe

Honorary members

Daniels, George; Kazes, Jean; Naeschke, Matthias; Schmid, Peter; Snétivy, Joseph; Tai Yu, Kiu; Van der Klaauw, Christian; Wibmer, Peter;

References
  1. http://www.ahci.ch/
  • Chronos Spezial – AHCI-Trends – Die Kreativen von Basel..Basel / Genf 2000..S. 115 ff.
  • 20 years / 1985–2005 / AHCI – Académie Horlogères Créateurs Indépendants
  • Auszüge aus den Statuten der AHCI
  • Uhren-Magazin Juni-Ausgabe (Heft 6-2006) S. 34 ff.
  • Klassik Uhren – Die Einzelkämpfer – Juni/Juli 2004 S. 28 ff.
  • Chronos – Die Unabhängigen – Die AHCI auf der Baselworld – 4/2005 S. 44 ff.
  • iW – Chrono Anachronists – Ausstellung in Dresden – Februar 2008 S. 56 ff.
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