The Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (French.: Akademy of independent creators in watchmaking, AHCI) is an non-profit association, founded 1985 by Svend Andersen and Vincent Calabrese under Swiss civil law with the mission to perpetuate the art of independent watch and clock-making. The AHCI is based in Zürich.
Contents
The AHCI is an international institution with 33 Members, 7 honorary members and 6 candidates from over 12 countries.
Goal of the association
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:
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;