AHCI 30 Year Celebration Exhibition at MIH

DonCorson · 2015-06-07T08:14:24Z

Explore the AHCI 30 Year Celebration Exhibition at MIH, featuring independent watchmakers like Vianney Halter, Kari Voutilainen, and Vincent Calabrese.

DonCorson

WPS member · Independents forum

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DonCorson's comprehensive report on the AHCI 30 Year Celebration Exhibition at the Musée international d’horlogerie (MIH) in La Chaux-de-Fonds provides a unique historical perspective on independent watchmaking. This article captures the essence of the AHCI's enduring legacy, showcasing the works and presence of numerous esteemed members. It offers readers a rare glimpse into the community and craft that define the pinnacle of horological artistry.

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Let's take a visit to the opening of the exhibition celebrating the 30th anniversery of the AHCI at the MIH (Musée international d’horlogerie) in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The exhibition includes the works of 20 AHCI members, 2 AHCI candidates, 1 AHCI honorific member and 2 AHCI friends. The exhibition is open to the public from June 6th, yesterday, to Septemer 27th 2015 as we see on this poster outside the museum.

For the opening celebration many AHCI members were present and it is planned that at least one AHCI member will be present at the museum each Saturday through the length of the exhibition. The exhibition was officially opened with short speaches by the curator of the museum and a representative of the town of LaChaux-de-Fonds. Then Vincent Calabrese took the podium to relate the story of the founding of the AHCI and its very first exhibition at the Museum Le Mont in Le Locle in 1985.

Below we see, from the right, Vianney Halter, Svend Andersen, Kari Voutilainen, an AHCI sponsor, the curator of the museum and Aniceto Jimenez Pita.

Vincent Calabrese

Frank Jutzi, Aaron Becsei, Andreas Strehler, Konstantin Chaykin, Paul Gerber

Paul Gerber

Vianney Halter

Konsantin Chaykin and Andreas Strehler

Raúl Pagès

Raúls automation

Vianney in a typical pose

Aaron Becsei

Miki Eleta

Aniceto Jimenez Pita

Peter Wibmer

Andreas Strehler with Ruth Gerber

Vianney in deep discussion with young watchmakers

I will now present some pieces from the exhibition, in no particular order. Please excuse the quality of the images, museum lighting is even more problematic than that at BaselWorld. This should just be to get you excited to make the visit to the MIH in La Chaux-de-Fonds yourself this summer.

Kari Voutilainen

Konstantin Chaykin

Frank Jutzi

Aaron Becsei

Aniceto Jimenez Pita

Andreas Fritsch

Peter Wibmer

Miki Eleta

Svend Andersen

Paul Gerber

Vincent Calabrese

Vianney Halter

The restauration workshop of the MIH

Greubel & Forsey

Christophe Claret

Philippe Wurtz

Beat Haldimann

Thomas Prescher

Andreas Strehler

Antoine Preziuso

Rainer Nienaber

Xushu Ma

Christiaan van der Klaauw

Felix Baumgartner

I hope that you will be able to visit the museum yurself to see the watch and clocks. But be sure that you plan enough time. The museum is a trove of treasures. Watches and clocks of all epochs, well worth a visit.
Don

Key Points from the Discussion

The discussion touches on the criteria for AHCI membership, specifically whether a watchmaker must physically build a watch by hand, rather than just design it with computer assistance, to qualify.
A contributor noted Kari Voutilainen wearing a Pita watch instead of his own, sparking a lighthearted observation about watchmaker preferences.
The post is recognized for its detailed coverage of the event and the presence of many prominent AHCI members.

The Discussion

4Js

Jun 7, 2015

Don, was Gauthier not exhibited? [nt]

amerix

Jun 7, 2015

He is not a member nor one of the candidates.

Check out the site. One of the reasons may be that he can't qualify as a watchmaker, that is one who can build a watch with his own bare hands, and not just design one with help from a computer - no matter how impressive his ideas and ultrafine the finishing of visual parts. He is a brand with financial support and some friendly assistance from Ph. Dufour. That does not detract in the least from his accomplishments - such as they may be. amerix

amerix

Jun 7, 2015

Some great watchmaking personalities here

as best displayed through their clocks (!) and watches. amerix

foversta

Jun 7, 2015

Thanks Don for the report!

By the way, I will come back soon about Pita. Fx

Mark in Paris

Jun 7, 2015

The AHCI "club" is really something special in the watchmaking world

Thanks a lot for sharing the event Don :) Cheers, Mark

TheMadDruid

Jun 7, 2015

Great report.

So many fascinating time pieces. And you hit 3000 posts. Congratulations!

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