Happenings: The National Association Of Watch And Clock Collectors National Convention Comes To York, Pennsylvania On June 19-22, 2025
From June 19 to 22, some of the deepest scholars and most passionate collectors of watches and clocks will converge on the small town of York, Pennsylvania, for the 2025 National Convention of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (the NAWCC). Founded in 1943 as a club for horology enthusiasts called The Watch Collectors Club, the NAWCC now has over 10,000 members. Their “National” offers an opportunity to both shop a wide variety of dealers for some of the deepest-cut rarities for true horological fans, visit the NAWCC museum in nearby Lancaster, PA, and attend a variety of talks and panels, including a keynote presentation from independent watchmaker Roger Smith.
The convention kicks off on Thursday, June 19, with an open house at the NAWCC museum featuring exhibits, lectures, a presentation by Bulova, food trucks, and more. On Friday, June 20, early bird members gain access to the Mart to hunt for rarities at 10:00 a.m., while general entry opens at 1:00 p.m. There are also a number of workshops held throughout the weekend, an exhibition and competition of horological crafts, and an auction at 7pm on Friday. At the same time, the museum will host a takeover by Bulova for a special celebration of their 150th anniversary and a screening of their latest film, “America Telling Time: 150 Years of Bulova.”
The public day of the convention is on Saturday, June 21, from noon to 4:00 p.m., with tickets available at the door for only $10. Throughout the weekend there will be a number of talks on a variety of topics from the more esoteric (like “The Inventive Genius of John Harrison”) to “Emerging Trends in Wristwatch Collecting” hosted by James Lamdin, “The Unsung Heroines of Watchmaking'” by Rhonda Riche, and a panel called “The Future of Watchmaking and Collecting” led by Roger Smith, Roland Murphy, James Lamdin, John Cote. Smith’s final talk – “The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of British Watchmaking” – will be the keynote address of the Saturday night banquet.
A Roger W. Smith Series 1.
For more information, including how to secure tickets, a full schedule of events, and recommended hotels, visit the convention’s website. And if you attend, please look for me and say hello, as I’ll be wandering the floor in search of treasures (and great wrist shots).
Hodinkee
