University News Last updated 07 September 2018
Several final-year BA (Hons) Horology students were awarded prestigious awards for their work as part of their end of year awards during Inspired Festival.
Taking place at the School of Jewellery, the awards evening was attended by industry designer makers, supporting organisations, and guest speaker Ellen McAdam, Director of Birmingham Museums Trust. Throughout the exhibition space there were inspirational examples of Horological mechanism that demonstrated the culmination of students’ three year degrees, along with exceptional work by students from other courses within the School.
Numerous awards given were sponsored by industry contacts and BA (Hons) Horology student Tyler Davies (pictured above) won two awards for his work. Titled ‘Equilibrium: An expression of the balance between two or more forces’, Tyler described his work as “inspired by our ultimate reality.” He explained that the main focal points of the piece are polarity, vibration and gender and that it was manufactured with both traditional and modern techniques. Tyler’s work received both the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers Award which included £500 and the Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH) Group Horology Award which comprised of a watch.
LMVH began sponsoring the Horology BA degree in 2015, which marked the first cohort of graduating students of the programme which was launched in 2013. Commenting on the partnership, BA (Hons) Horology Course Leader Jeremy Hobbins added, "Apart from being a fantastic motivational tool to recognise the best overall student achievement, it is brilliant to have the acknowledgement from such a prestigious luxury goods brand that the School of Jewellery Horology students are gaining a unique educational experience."
Fellow BA (Hons) Horology student Alex Goodwin won the Christopher Ward Prize for Technological Exploration for his work, ‘Galileo Pendulum gear train’. Alex’s clock was based on the Galileo Pendulum model from the 1600s, but he made his own modifications to it to make it tell the time. His prize was a Christopher Ward Trident Pro 600 wristwatch which was presented by a representative from the company on the evening.
British watchmakers, Christopher Ward have been working with the BA (Hons) Horology course since 2014 when they offered two summer placements based in the company’s technical and servicing department. They have been building on this link since, offering further work placements as well as mentoring opportunities by the senior team.
Following the awards, Alex has been recruited by Cartier in London and commented on how the course has helped with securing his new role:
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