Between meeting the many makers and trying on the watches on hand at IAMWATCH, there’s plenty of programs to attend and keep just about any watch enthusiast occupied. You might want to leave room for the lectures, too. Across the public days from 13 to 15 November, six talks will explore the people, ideas and pursuit of precision that have shaped watchmaking. Here’s a quick look at the lecture programs at IAMWATCH.

Friday, 13 November

The Precision Olympics: The Observatory Competitions and the Making of Horological Prestige

By Carlos Torres

10am to 11am

Those observatory prizes mentioned in watchmaking histories deserve a little explanation. Carlos Torres, Founder of The Ministry of Horological Affairs, looks at the competitions that tested chronometers between the 1860s and 1960s, how their rules differed and why the results mattered so much to a watchmaker’s reputation.

Standing on Tradition – The Historical Development of Innovation in Watchmaking

By Andreas Strehler

12pm to 1pm

Watchmaking talks a lot about tradition, but that tradition has always involved people changing things. Independent watchmaker Andreas Strehler considers how methods have been passed down, questioned and developed, and when keeping a craft alive means finding a new way to do something.

Saturday, 14 November

Régleurs: Watchmaking’s Invisible Masters of Precision

By Carlos Torres

10am to 11am

The name on a winning chronometer’s dial doesn’t tell the whole story. Torres returns to focus on the régleurs, the specialists who adjusted balances and hairsprings to get those movements running so precisely. He’ll look at their careers and why their contribution so often went unrecognized.

Life & Times of George Daniels

By Roger W. Smith

2pm to 3pm

Roger W. Smith looks at George Daniels through the watches he left behind, exploring what they reveal about his ideas and working methods. Having worked alongside Daniels, Smith brings a particularly close perspective to a career built on mastering the craft and pursuing mechanical innovation.

Sunday, 15 November

18th & 19th Century French Precision Horology

By Rémy Cools

10am to 11am

Historical watchmaking has long been a source of inspiration for young French watchmaker Rémy Cools. His lecture turns to French precision horology in the 18th and 19th centuries, looking at the watchmakers and technical advances of the period, and how their ideas continue to inform work at the bench today.

The Co-Axial – From Idea to Reality

By Roger W. Smith

12pm to 1pm

A clever idea still takes a great deal of work to reach series production. Smith traces the development of Daniels’ co-axial escapement, drawing on his time working alongside its inventor. Expect a look at the persistence and practical challenges involved in getting the idea to work at scale.

All six lectures take place in the Wonder Room at The Singapore EDITION. For registration and the full programs, visit iamwatch.com.