HSNY Gala Channels $450,000 Into Watchmaking Schools and Student Aid
The Horological Society of New York closed its 160th-anniversary gala on 21 March 2026 with a dual result: $1.2 million raised for the organisation’s education mission, and $450,000 already earmarked for students, schools and independent workshops. According to HSNY, the aid package covered 55 scholarships, five watchmaking schools and three independent-watchmaker awards — nearly four times the 2025 total, as reported by WatchPro.
The black-tie dinner at The Plaza Hotel drew more than 500 guests. A Sotheby’s live auction supplied a large share of the evening’s proceeds. A signed F.P. Journe Octa Réserve de Marche wall clock sold for $200,000; a unique C by Romain Gauthier titanium wristwatch sold for $130,000; and a 2026 lifetime membership card made by Joshua Shapiro and Artur Akmaev sold for $42,000. Those lots sit beside a quieter figure: the $450,000 check presented on stage to Eliza Kurtz, a student at the Rolex Watchmaking Training Center in Dallas.
Where the 2026 aid actually went
HSNY opened applications globally for the first time in 2026 after the Vogt Foundation tripled the scholarship budget. According to the Society’s January announcement, last year’s awards totalled $160,000 across 28 students and four schools. The March gala therefore marks a step-change in volume as well as geography.
| Programme | 2026 outcome | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Henry B. Fried Scholarship | 17 students | Dallas, Paris (Texas), Quincy, Espoo and contingent students |
| Charles London Scholarship | 9 students | North Seattle College and Paris Junior College featured heavily |
| Charles Sauter Scholarship | 10 students | Innovation awards, including NAIOSW Fort Worth |
| Grace Fryer Scholarship | 6 students | Women enrolled at Rolex WTC, Finnish School, Gem City and NAIOSW |
| André Bibeau Scholarship | 6 veterans | Includes the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative in Delaware |
| Independent Watchmaker Grant | 3 workshops | New 2026 line, awards of up to $50,000 |
| Howard Robbins Award | 5 schools | Direct institutional support |
The new Independent Watchmaker Grant went to Hazemann & Monnin in La Grande Béroche, Bradley Taylor in Vancouver and Annelinde Dunselman in Zwolle. According to HSNY, selection weighted originality, finishing quality and work on complications or new mechanical layouts — a different brief from student tuition aid.
Schools that absorbed the Robbins awards
- Veterans Watchmaker Initiative, Odessa, Delaware
- Finnish School of Watchmaking, Espoo
- Paris Junior College Watchmaking Program, Paris, Texas
- North Seattle College Watch Technology Institute, Seattle
- Gem City College School of Horology, Quincy, Illinois
Those campuses sit at the service end of the trade: complete overhauls, timing, and the movement literacy that later shows up in aftermarket work. Readers comparing Japanese workhorse calibres can start with our notes on Miyota 9015 versus NH35 and the 3 Hz versus 4 Hz beat-rate split that still frames bench training.
François-Paul Journe received the Howard Fass Award for Lifetime Achievement; London Jewelers took a centennial recognition award. Executive director Nicholas Manousos said the $1 million-plus haul would “preserve, educate, and inspire the next generation of horologists.” Co-chairs included Roger Smith OBE, Kevin O’Leary and Romain Gauthier.
FAQ
Is the $1.2 million the same as the $450,000 in aid?
No. According to HSNY, $1.2 million is the gala fundraising total. The $450,000 is the aid already awarded for the 2026 cycle.
Can students outside the United States apply?
Yes. The 2026 cycle opened applications globally. Recipients included students in Finland as well as U.S. programmes.
What is new versus 2025?
The Independent Watchmaker Grant is new. School and student awards also rose from $160,000 last year to $450,000 this year, according to HSNY.