Roland Murphy founder of American Watch Brand, RGM Watches
September is going to be a busy month in the watch industry. From the US Open Tennis Championships starting next week (with many watch brands having tennis brand ambassadors) to the celebration of American horology — watch lovers have something to look forward to. It is those in America, though, and particularly East Coasters, who will get the biggest bang — especially if they travel to Mt. Joy, PA, where RGM celebrate the brand’s 25th anniversary. The American brand, founded by watchmaker Roland Murphy in 1992, will host an open house on September 15 and 16, 2017 where watch lovers can witness American watchmaking at it finest. Additionally, Murphy ties in with the nearby National Watch and Clock Museum (NAWCC) in Columbia, PA, where he will give visitors a narrated tour and will unveil several new watches created in celebration of the brand’s 25th birthday.
RGM workshops, Mt. Joy, PA, will be open to the public for the brand’s 25th anniversary.
Visitors to RGM can expect demonstrations of vintage machines and state-of-the-art technology — RGM is the only American brand to create mechanical movements in series production in the United States since the late 1960’s. Roland Murphy is known for his passion of American horological history and is dedicated to keeping hearts of hand guilloche’ and fine craftsmanship alive. He owns a host of rose engines and original equipment that he uses daily to create stunning dials and components. Not only does RGM offer quality collections, special editions and limited series watches, but also the brand creates custom timepieces of top bespoke quality inside and out.
Among the highlight collections: The Pennsylvania (801) series watches with bold but elegant vintage appeal thanks to the ribbed case sides, hand-finished architecture of the cases and American made movements. In fact, the 801 caliber is inspired by America’s watchmaking history, with bridges recalling those found in the Keystone Howard Watch Company’s “Edward Howard” model. Additionally, the brand also has mastered the art of enamel and Grand Feu glass enamel for many of its watch dials. Another important signature of RGM is the Keystone Hands — originally made by Keystone Watch Company in Lancaster, PA, from 1886 or 1891. Pennsylvania’s nickname is “The Keystone State” –giving the use of these hands even more of a double meaning.
American brand RGM watches specializes in limited edition watches, as well as in series production of American-made watches.
Want to visit the workshops for a wonderful weekend of horology? Details are below:
- Friday, September 15, 2017 : 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Open House at RGM Watch Company, 801 W. Main St., Mount Joy, PA 17552
- Saturday, September 16, 2017:
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Open House at RGM Watch Company, 801 W. Main St., Mount Joy, PA 17552
- 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Reconvene at NAWCC Museum 514 Poplar St., Columbia, PA 17512
