TechnologyApr 15, 2024
Judge Rules Jeweler’s Lawsuit Against PNC Bank Can Move ForwardJoyce’s Jewelry sued the bank after cybercriminals drained its accounts of nearly $1.6 million through a series of wire transfers.
WatchesAug 08, 2017
Veterans Watchmaker Initiative to Launch in September
Operating for now in a temporary facility in Odessa, Delaware, the school will teach watchmaking skills to disabled veterans.
The Veterans Watchmaker Initiative is kicking off its first class on Sept. 5 in Odessa, Delaware.
Odessa, Del.--It’s been five years in the making, but a program designed to offer free classes on watchmaking to disabled veterans is ready to launch.
Right after Labor Day, the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative will hold its first class.
The idea for the school started in 2012 with Sam Cannan, a retired police officer from Baltimore who trained in Switzerland and has been a watchmaker for the past 30 years. He also has served as the director of the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors School of Horology.
Cannan designed the school to mirror the one Bulova opened in 1945 to train disabled servicemen at no cost. It closed in the late 1990s.
There will be no cost to students of the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative either; all costs are and will continue to be underwritten largely by the watchmaking industry, grants and private donations.
Once their education is finished, the veterans then aim to find a job in some aspect of watchmaking. In fact, there’s a place on the Veterans Watchmaking Initiative website for retailers or watch service centers who are interested in hiring a graduate of the initiative.
The program is dedicated to honorably discharged veterans, specifically those who have been disabled. The watchmaking skills they gain from the school give them a chance to provide for themselves and their families, Cannan said.
“For the first time in a long time, they have control over their lives,” he said, adding that the actual work of watchmaking also is therapeutic for many of them, as it is a skill that can be worked in the quiet and at their own pace.
Right now, the school is operating out of a facility in Odessa, Delaware called The Odessa Center for Horological Excellence. Cannan cut a deal to rent the space, the former county paramedic station, from the New Castle County government for $1 per year after learning they were going to tear it down.
Fittingly, the town has a long history in the clock-making business, according to the Historic Odessa Foundation. The organization told the Middletown Transcript the craftsmen who made clocks and clock cases in the area date back to the 1700s.
A CAD rendering of what the final facility housing the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative in Middletown, Delaware will look like
The classroom in the Odessa facility
But four acres have been donated to the initiative in nearby Middletown, which will be the permanent site of the school once enough money is raised to fund construction.
It will be a 28,000-square-foot facility, serving
54 students at a time and include not only classrooms but also administrative offices, a gym, a dining hall and more.
The Odessa facility then will become a full-time service center for those veterans who have finished their training but did not want to work in the public arena. Cannan said the building would be able to hold about 20 employees doing service and repairs for customers like a “for profit” business.
The first class to kick off the initiative is a watch technician course, starting Sept. 5. It will have six students.
Currently, there are more than 300 people waiting to join the program, Cannan said. Instructors will all be volunteering their time.
Its curriculum includes a full Professional Veterans Watchmaker Training Program, which requires students to take a total of 1,840 class hours (about 14 months). There also will be a six-week (260 hours) watch technician option.
On Wednesday, Sept. 13, there will be a grand opening event at the center in Odessa, celebrating the launch of a project that took five years to build but which will benefit many.
“When people ask me, ‘What’s in it for you?’ I tell them: If you don’t understand when you see that change that comes over them when they’ve learned something like this, you’ll never understand,” Cannan said.
The Odessa facility then will become a full-time service center for those veterans who have finished their training but did not want to work in the public arena. Cannan said the building would be able to hold about 20 employees doing service and repairs for customers like a “for profit” business.
The first class to kick off the initiative is a watch technician course, starting Sept. 5. It will have six students.
Currently, there are more than 300 people waiting to join the program, Cannan said. Instructors will all be volunteering their time.
Its curriculum includes a full Professional Veterans Watchmaker Training Program, which requires students to take a total of 1,840 class hours (about 14 months). There also will be a six-week (260 hours) watch technician option.
On Wednesday, Sept. 13, there will be a grand opening event at the center in Odessa, celebrating the launch of a project that took five years to build but which will benefit many.
“When people ask me, ‘What’s in it for you?’ I tell them: If you don’t understand when you see that change that comes over them when they’ve learned something like this, you’ll never understand,” Cannan said.
More on Watches
The Latest
IndependentsApr 15, 2024
Alfred W. DeScenza of DeScenza Diamonds Dies at 95He is remembered by loved ones for his loyalty, integrity, and kindness.
AuctionsApr 15, 2024
Madeleine K. Albright Jewelry, Pins Coming to AuctionHosted by Freeman’s | Hindman, the sale will take place May 7-8.
Brought to you by
The Blueprint for Success in Scalable, Personalized Jewelry RetailWith Ho Brothers, you can unlock your brand's true potential and offer customers the personalized jewelry experiences they desire.
AuctionsApr 15, 2024
All of Sotheby’s ‘Rough Diamonds’ Sold in Less Than an HourThe auction house said all 24 timepieces offered in its underground sale of rare and avant-garde watches quickly found buyers.
Weekly QuizApr 11, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge with this seven-question quiz.
Events & AwardsApr 15, 2024
10 Can’t-Miss Sessions at AGS Conclave 2024From lab-grown diamonds and AI to the inevitable Taylor Swift mention, here are some of Conclave’s most intriguing educational offerings.
Recorded WebinarsApr 12, 2024
Watch: What Jewelers Need to Know About InsuranceFrom cybersecurity liability to trade show coverage, insurance experts share tips on how to build the right policy.
Brought to you by
How Jewelers of America Represents Your BusinessFor over 30 years, JA has advocated for the industry, fought against harmful legislation and backed measures that help jewelry businesses.
CollectionsApr 12, 2024
Piece of the Week: Lionheart’s Evil Eye Gemstone CharmThe charm is a modern rendition of the evil eye amulet that has been worn for thousands of years.
Events & AwardsApr 12, 2024
The Jewelry Symposium Announces 4 Scholarship WinnersAhead of its trade show next month, TJS awarded free registration and accommodations to one jewelry professional and three students.
Policies & IssuesApr 11, 2024
SRK Exports’ Journey Toward Net Zero Impact By the end of this year, SRK’s diamond manufacturing complexes will achieve net zero emissions, one of an impressive array of achievements.
Lab-GrownApr 11, 2024
AGTA Bans Lab-Grown Diamonds, Gemstones at GemFairMembers can still sell lab-grown stones, it said, but only natural gems are allowed on the show floor.
IndependentsApr 11, 2024
Steven Rosdal, Co-Founder of Hyde Park Jewelers, Dies at 77He is remembered for his charisma, passion, integrity, kindness, and wit.
MajorsApr 11, 2024
Macy’s Opens Books for Possible BuyoutThe retailer also appointed two new board members, avoiding a proxy fight from a potential buyer.
CollectionsApr 10, 2024
Sylvie Launches New Nature-Inspired Collection, ‘Tulira’The bridal collection consists of 35 engagement rings and seven wedding bands.
IndependentsApr 10, 2024
Levy's Fine Jewelry Explores Diamond History The family-owned jeweler has a new education section on its website dedicated to the history of diamond cutting.
CollectionsApr 10, 2024
With Clarity Partners With NFL on Wedding Bands The limited-edition men’s rings can be customized with one of 12 team logos.
SourcingApr 10, 2024
Compliance, Caution, and Concern: The Current Outlook of Indian Diamantaires There is a willingness to comply with new government-mandated regulations, with an insistence that they should be practical and realistic.
AuctionsApr 09, 2024
Phillips to Offer 6.21-Carat Vivid Pink DiamondColored gemstones and signed jewels are the focus of its upcoming Geneva sale.
SourcingApr 09, 2024
Former De Beers Exec Appointed to Lucapa Board Stuart Brown, who was De Beers’ CFO and interim CEO, is now Lucapa’s independent non-executive chairman.
MajorsApr 09, 2024
Jewel360 Announces New POS Integration, JFC PartnershipThe point-of-sale software can now prompt customers to round up their credit card purchases as a donation to Jewelers for Children.
SourcingApr 09, 2024
Reinvigorating SEEPZ, the Epicenter of India’s Studded Jewelry Exports The zone’s modernization will enhance and increase India’s jewelry manufacturing capabilities while aiding small and mid-sized businesses.
SourcingApr 08, 2024
Charles & Colvard Debuts B2B Portal for MoissaniteSelect independent jewelers and retailers can now purchase moissanite through Charles & Colvard Direct.
Events & AwardsApr 08, 2024
AGS Announces First Recipient of ‘Women in Leadership’ ScholarshipAmber Rank of Exclusively Diamonds will receive mentorship, registration to AGS’s 2024 Conclave, and $500.
AuctionsApr 08, 2024
Sotheby’s ‘Rough Diamonds’ Sale Is All About … WatchesThe auction will take place Thursday and is underground, literally.
Events & AwardsApr 08, 2024
JOGS Show Returns to Las Vegas for a Second YearThe trade show is moving downtown to the Expo at World Market Center.
Lab-GrownApr 08, 2024
Indian Lab-Grown Diamond Manufacturers Keep Growing A combination of factors is driving growth in the industry despite the precipitous drop in prices across the board.
