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Seminars & Conventions
2026 Annual Meeting and Convention
April 24 — 26th
Hotel Madison & Shenandoah Valley Conference Center
710 S. Main Street, Harrisonburg, VA
Visit hotel website or view location on Google Maps
Reservations may be made by calling (833) 564-0200 and mention you’re attending the Horological Association of Virginia’s annual convention or click the button reserve your room online.
We have a room rate of $119. This rate expires on March 23, 2026.
The convention will start with a Reception on Friday night, both the watch class and the clock class on Saturday. There will be a Spouse’s program on Saturday. Saturday night will be our Banquet and Auction. Sunday will start with a short board meeting and then a presentation Horological interest.
This year’s event promises to be a learning experience.
Our watch class will be conducted by AWCI Instructor Jason Ziegenbein CW21. The clock program will conducted by David Lindow. Past President of AWCI.
Guest Speakers
David Lindow
David Lindow started his career in horology in 1990 apprenticing under Gerhard Hartwigs, owner of Hartwigs Clock Company. Gerhard was the last apprentice at J.E. Caldwell, Jewelers in downtown Philadephia in the early 1960’s. David’s apprenticeship lasted 5 years after which he worked at Kyden Machine in Salt Lake City, UT learning better machining techniques and gaining a deeper knowledge of machinery. After this “journey” to UT David returned to Pennsylvania under Hartwigs’ employ and began applying his newly learned techniques to the production of period style tall clocks and Patent Timepieces. In 1997 Gerhard Hartwigs passed on, and David officially took ownership of the business in 1998 and expanded the production of clocks and horological tooling. In 2006 David developed and began producing rose engines which made available a newly manufactured engine turning machine for the first time in over 60 years. Since then over 125 of these machines have been produced and are represented all over the world. He was also instrumental in the production of the MADE Lathe an exquisite Victorian style machine of the highest grade. In his career David has produced over 1500 clock movements and restored countless period antique clocks, and has become known for his ability to handle difficult jobs where many components are missing and restore these clocks sympathetically. His restoration work can be seen in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. He has also worked for the Detroit Museum of Art and has kept the clocks at the University of Pennsylvania. His period reproduction work can be seen at Monticello, Colonial Williamsburg, Clinton Library in Arkansas, Bush Library in Texas, and the Indiana State Museum just to name a few. David has also been a frequent lecturer and teacher for both horology and engine turning throughout the United States and has won awards for building both clock movements and horological tools.
Watch Instructor Jason Ziegenbein
Jason Ziegenbein is the Watchmaking Instructor for the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute (AWCI) located in Harrison Ohio. Jason previously served as the Lead Instructor for the School of Watchmaking at Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. He holds an AAS degree from OSUIT in Watchmaking including WOSTEP and CW21 certifications, a BS in Career and Technical Education OSU Stillwater. He is also Rolex Level 50 and OWME 1120 certified. Jason has instructed individuals from all over the world in horological classes working on luxury time pieces. His work experience includes university instruction, instruction with AWCI and on their state-of-the-art Archie Perkins Mobile Horology Classroom. He has worked as a retail watchmaker for several high-end jewelers in Houston, TX and both Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Ok on a variety of luxury brands. Jason also had a private business working on vintage and high-end luxury watches for the wholesale market. These experiences aid in teaching students how to repair watches and develop customer relations skills.
Jason Ziegenbein Watch Class
The morning session will include:
Maximizing Amplitude: Follow the Power Flow
Ensuring maximum amplitude starts before disassembly and can be hindered or improved at every step of the process. We will take a step-by-step deep dive through service procedures and conditions and what their cumulative effects are including practical discussions on “good enough” and how to make those judgement calls in a sea of diminishing returns. In addition to relevant theory, we will have a practical barrel exercise.
Precision Timing: Saving Time by Setting Up an Oscillator from A to Z.
Covering vintage bi-metallic and modern mono-metallic balances. We go over not only the theory that they operate on but the practical nuts and bolts of rebuilding an oscillator and the traps that often go unseen. On-Screen, live demonstrations go hand in hand with discussion.
For these two courses, course materials will be supplied.
Bringing your own loop and tweezers is encouraged.
The Afternoon session will include:
The Swiss Lever Escapement: It’s Effects on the Watch and How to Adjust it
Cutting through a lot of misinformation, we look at the Swiss lever escapement from the ground up covering the necessary theory and culminating in practical adjustment exercises. We’ll also look at the application of escapement fundamental principles in other modern escapements.
Chronographs Made Easy: Ready, Set, Go.
As a group, we will “design” a chronograph mechanism from the ground up in function block form and apply that to executions both modern and vintage, horizontal and vertical. With this understanding, we will then take a deeper dive into how to set up and adjust various examples, noting the ideal operational outcomes.
For these two courses, course materials will be supplied.
Bringing your own loop and tweezers is encouraged
David Lindow Clock Class
Topics for the morning session
The Topic for the afternoon session
Saturday’s Plus One Program
9:30 AM to 3 PM and Includes Lunch
Rocktown History Historical Museum
Virginia Quilt Museum
traditional quilts are featured.
Sunday Morning Presentation by
Dean Sarnelle will be giving a presentation on Marine Chronometers. He has many examples to show and also parts to show how they work.
AGENDA
FRIDAY – April 24
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Registration and President’s Reception Cash Bar and Hors d’Oeuvres
SATURDAY – April 25
8:30 AM to 9:00 PM Morning Registration
9:30 AM to 3:30 PM Spouses Program
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Jason Ziegenbein, CW21 Watch Program
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Stephen Franke’s Clock Class
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Lunch Provided
1:00 PM to 4:30 PM Jason Ziegenbein, CW21 Watch Program
Stephen Franke’s Clock Class
SATURDAY EVENING – APRIL 25 TH
4:30 PM to 5:30 PM Auction Set-Up
5:00 PM to 6:00 PM Reception and Social Hour Cash Bar
6:00 PM to 7:30 PM Annual Banquet and Awards Ceremony
7:30 PM to 10:30 PM Annual Horological Auction
SUNDAY — April 26 th
9:00 AM to 10:00 AM HAV Annual Meeting (Open to All)
Business Meeting, Swearing in of Officers
10:30 AM to 12:00 PM Steven Franke “Original Works” – His own creations.
12:00 PM to 1:30 PM Lunch (provided)
1:30 PM Convention Adjourns – See you again next year!
2025 Annual Convention
March 28 — 30th
Holiday Inn & Suites
515 Bypass Road, Williamsburg, VA
Visit hotel website or view location on Google Maps
Reservations may be made by calling the hotel directly at 757-229-9990 or 1 888 HOLIDAY (1 888 465 4329) and mention you’re attending the Horological Association of Virginia’s annual convention. We have a group rate for $149.95. The reservation must be made by 2/28/25 to obtain this special rate.
The convention will start with a Reception on Friday night, both the watch class and the clock class on Saturday. There will be a Spouse’s program on Saturday. Saturday night will be our Banquet and Auction. Sunday will start with a short board meeting and then a presentation by Jerry Faier on the Business of Horology.
Guest Speakers
Tom Schomaker
Thomas Schomaker, CMW21 Watchmaker, Watchmaking Instructor and Consultant. Best known for being the lead Watchmaking Instructor for the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute (AWCI) until 2020, Tom’s background consists of brand specific trainings from major watch brands including: Rolex, Breitling, Maurice Lacroix, Eterna, Omega, ETA and others in the US and Switzerland. Tom has given many watch presentations at state associations and at national conventions. He has worked in conjunction with Bergeon, Witschi and Jules Borel at the JCK trade show for the past ten years. He has provided watchmaking education and consulting for three of the largest independent service centers in the U.S. Tom is currently employed by a large jewelry facility since 2020. The watch department has expanded to a total of six employees since its inception. Even with his busy schedule as the manager, he still finds the time to teach private lessons to individual watchmakers across the country.
Jerry Faier
Jerry Faier, CMC21/AWCI; FAWCI Jerry started The Clock Makers in 1978 as a clock and watch restoration/fabrication service that seemed to be missing in the Mid-West. By adding consumer education as a major component, the business grew quickly. After working with a number and variety of craftsmen to learn as many facets of the trade as possible, Jerry turned his efforts towards developing a staff to help with all the work. Jerry earned AWI’s CMC title in 1982. By 1983, when the shop became mostly retail, he began building a staff to help with the load. Teaching apprentices and case finish workers and having them certify helped build the quality of the business and increased the complexity and diversity of the work received. The staff totaled 9 people: 4-benchmen, 2-artists (dials and case finish work), 1-cabinet maker for cabinet repair and restoration, 2-receptionists (they would alternate days). All this talent was trained by Jerry keyed to our horological products and led to the development of the “Apprentice Notebook of Outlines for Training”). In 2001, he moved to Glendale, AZ where he continues to run his business but this time solo with his wife, Susan, as the case finisher and receptionist. Even after suffering a short struggle with cancer, he came back and is still active with bench work, both repair and restorative, and continues to teach professional subjects about a variety of horological subjects all over the United States. For his work with the education programs of AWCI, he was honored with the organization’s highest award: the AWCI Fellow. A certified educator (B.S.in ED, UNL), Jerry has taught a variety of classes for AWCI for many years. Included is an escapement course (which was taught all over the USA), as well as other courses in basic clock skills such as escapement adjusting, metallurgy, bushing practices, burnishing and burnishers, electric clock repair, clock restoration practices, floor clock set-ups and house calls, business, etc., etc. He has also published many articles on clock repair, escapement work, clockmaker education, Atmos clock work and business success discussions as well. He continues all this work today and tries to help those who wish to make themselves better professionals in our skilled trade.
Tom Schomaker’s Watch Class
Troubleshooting, Evaluating Comebacks, and Standard Operating Procedures
This custom-designed course will cover practical troubleshooting from the past and how it has evolved into modern-day practices. This course interacts with both hands-on and theoretical studies. We will cover additional topics such as how to handle and diagnose comebacks using methodical and logical means to elevate the associated problem(s). Attendees will experience different levels of problem solving starting from strong basics through more challenging problems. We will associate symptoms with problems and reverse it, by associating problems with symptoms. Amplitude issues will be addressed and helpful ideas will be presented. The use of modern diagnostic equipment will be demonstrated to help identify problems and allow attendees to utilize their equipment in a more productive way. New techniques and SOP’s will be offered, in an effort, to refine precise processes and repair methods.
Attendees will experience detailed PowerPoint presentations, receive a folder with troubleshooting charts, diagrams, and theoretical information that will serve as a useful reference for the future. This program concentrates mostly on mechanical watches, however, some quartz troubleshooting and evaluations will be included as well. General group discussions will also be part of the program. Watchmakers are welcome to bring their current equipment to help them understand if it capable of detecting certain faults.
Jerry Faier’s Clock Class
Beyond Clock Repair Basics
A brief review and practice for skill development
- Principles of solid clock repair – a review of the CC21 program.
- Pivot work – basic and advanced
- An in-depth study of depthings
- Advanced pivot work
- Mainspring work
- Miscellaneous work
- A brief review of escapement adjusting.
- Q and A of the day’s work.
Click here for the expanded items under each number above.
Click here for the list of the items you should bring to the class
Saturday’s Plus One Program
9:30 AM to 3 PM and Includes Lunch
The New American Revolution Museum
at Yorktown, VA
Take in the Revolution through dynamic gallery exhibits, films and outdoor living history
The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown tells the story of the nation’s founding, from the twilight of the colonial period to the dawn of the Constitution and beyond. Exciting indoor galleries feature period artifacts, immersive environments and films, including “The Siege of Yorktown,” with a 180-degree surround screen and dramatic special effects.
AGENDA
FRIDAY – MARCH 28
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Registration and President’s Reception Cash Bar and Hors d’Oeuvres
SATURDAY – MARCH 29
8:30 AM to 9:00 PM Morning Registration
9:30 AM to 3:30 PM Spouses Program A trip to a new historic museum in Yorktown, VA
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Tom Schomaker’s Watch Class
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Jerry Faier’s Clock Class
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Lunch Provided
1:00 PM to 4:30 PM Tom Schomaker’s Watch Class
Jerry Faier’s Clock Class
SATURDAY EVENING – MARCH 29 TH
4:30 PM to 5:30 PM Auction Set-Up
5:00 PM to 6:00 PM Reception and Social Hour Cash Bar
6:00 PM to 7:30 PM Annual Banquet and Awards Ceremony
7:30 PM to 10:30 PM Annual Horological Auction
SUNDAY — MARCH 30th
9:00 AM to 10:00 AM HAV Board of Directors Meeting (Open to All)
Business Meeting, Swearing in of Officers
10:30 AM to 12:00 PM Jerry Faier on the Business of Horology
12:00 PM to 1:30 PM Lunch (provided)
1:30 PM Convention Adjourns – See you again nest year!
2024 Annual Convention
March 15 — 17th
Hotel Madison & Shenandoah Valley Conference Center
710 S. Main Street, Harrisonburg, VA
Visit hotel website or view location on Google Maps
Reservations may be made by calling (833) 564-0200 and mention you’re attending the Horological Association of Virginia’s annual convention or click the button reserve your room online.
This year’s event promises to be a captivating experience and we’re particularly excited to announce our confirmed speakers: the renowned watchmaker Roland Murphy of RGM Watch Co. alongside precision manufacturer Zach Smith, and esteemed clockmakers Patrick Mont and Bob Ockenden. Their vast expertise and insights promise to captivate and educate attendees. Stay tuned for exciting updates as we finalize the full speaker lineup!
Guest Speakers
Patrick Mont
Patrick Mont is a clockmaker at the Chelsea Clock Company in Boston. He serves as vice president of the Massachusetts Watchmakers-Clockmakers Association, and serves on the board of directors of the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute as chairman of the Industry Advisory Board. When not at the bench, he enjoys spending time behind the ground glass and in the darkroom. He is a passionate fan of music and the arts and is a frequent concertgoer.
Roland Murphy
Roland attended Bowman Technical School in Lancaster, PA in the early 1980s. In 1986 he furthered his watchmaking training in Switzerland at the Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Program (WOSTEP). He has also trained at Audemars Piguet, ETA, and Girard Perregaux. After WOSTEP he was hired by SMH to work in product development as technical manager for the Hamilton Watch Co. He remained there until he started RGM Watch Co. in 1992. Many of his ideas come from his vast knowledge and love of watchmaking, watch history, and from his many years of restoring watches which he still enjoys doing to this day.
Bob Ockenden
Robert Ockenden is a nationally known, well-respected voice in the clock making industry. An AWCI-certified master clockmaker, he has been a frequent lecturer at both local and national AWCI conferences. Additionally, he has served in various capacities on the education, strategic planning, and certification committees of the AWCI and has been a consultant to the editorial staff of Horological Times. He is also a member of the British Horological Institute.
Zach Smith
A WOSTEP graduate of the Nicholas G Hayek watchmaking school, CNC Machinist and constantly pursuing the journey of precision manufacturing.
Agenda
| Friday, March 15, 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 PM | Registration and President's Reception | |
| Saturday, March 16, 2024 | ||
| 9:00 AM | Program - Bob Ockenden on Demystifying the Fusee Movement | |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch - on your own | |
| 1:30 PM | Program - Zach Smith on modern manufacturing methods for the watchmaker | |
| 3:00 PM | Program - Patrick Mont on Chelsea Clock: a 144 year tradition of Boston clockmaking | |
| 5:00 PM | Social Hour | |
| 6:00 PM | Banquet | |
| Auction | ||
| Sunday, March 17, 2024 | ||
| 9:30 AM | HAV Board Meeting | |
| 10:30 AM | Speakers Forum - Roland Murphy: “RGM Watch Co. Inspirations from Americas Great Watchmaking Past” | |
| 12:00 PM | Luncheon | |