For over two decades, Towson Watch Company has pioneered American watchmaking with a specialized approach to the craft. Offering premium horological craftsmanship at a fair and accessible price. Our timepieces are designed and built in Towson, Maryland by the hands of our Co-Founder, Hartwig Balke, and his apprentices. Strictly using the highest-grade German and Swiss components that have been made exclusively for Towson watches.
ICKLER GMBH - CASEMAKER
Every part of a Towson-Ickler steel case is developed in Towson and manufactured in Germany. Collaboration and communication occurs at each step. This includes - design, construction, prototyping, parts, production, surface finishing/treatment, laser engraving, assembly, and quality control. Ickler’s experienced craftsmen use the latest high-tech CNC machinery, guaranteeing ultimate precision. When it comes to polishing the surfaces, assembling parts, completing watches, and thorough quality control, the watchmakers in Towson set the highest priority in human touch and intuition. The cases are crafted in-house, from solid blocks of stainless steel, pure titanium, 18 carat gold or platinum. We rely on a hardening process that involves the chemical incorporation of carbon into stainless steel. Generally speaking, the great advantage of such techniques is the fact that no layer is applied onto the steel that could possibly spall at a later point.
Towson watch dials and hands are made with Cador GmbH in Switzerland. Mechanical production, electroplating, painting and printing all occur in-house at our collaborative workshops. Mechanical production includes stamping, embossing, welding, turning, diamond cutting, grinding and polishing. Then the CNC machine is used for drilling, milling, engraving and guilloche. We also have a CNC-measuring machine to deliver high accuracy. The electroplating stage includes the manifold surface treatments, like brushing and sandblasting. As for the paint shop, we use different types of paint and coatings. Transparent lacquers protect galvanic surfaces from oxidation and we create completely new possibilities through the addition of pigments. Full tones are mixed according to Pantone. The tampon printing and screen printing process are put into effect in air-conditioned and under clean room conditions.
JOCHEN BENZINGER - ENGRAVING SPECIALIST
One of Hartwig's close friends going back to his early professional years as an engineer in Germany. Now known as one of the best dial-makers and guilloche artists in the world. During their early years of working in the craft, Hartwig would focus on the engineering of the case, George would obtain that COSC accuracy, and Jochen would apply his decorative mastery. We use Benzinger today largely for the Master’s Collection when working with sterling silver dials and skeleton movements.
PROPRIETARY SWISS MOVEMENTS
We work with our movement-maker in Switzerland to offer COSC-grade accuracy and highest-grade decoration. We design and assemble each component based on the standard ETA caliber. We then modify the structure and layout to fit our cases and intended utilities. All decoration, assembly, quality-control and testing occurs in-house.
