Joshua Nathan Shapiro, the founder of the renowned watch brand J.N. Shapiro, proudly claims that his Resurgence watch is the first timepiece manufactured entirely in the United States in over 50 years. According to Shapiro, the last watch made entirely in the US was by Hamilton Watches, which closed its operations in 1969 and relocated to Switzerland.
Based in Torrance, California, J.N. Shapiro produces 148 out of the 180 components of the Resurgence watch, with the majority of the remaining parts supplied by US-based companies. This meets the regulations set by the Federal Trade Commission, which require “all or virtually all” components of a product to be made in the country in order for it to be labeled “Made in the U.S.A.” The label is proudly displayed on the Resurgence’s movement.
For Shapiro, creating a watch entirely from scratch has been a long-standing dream since he started his journey into watchmaking twelve years ago. The Resurgence watch was unveiled on the brand’s website in May and has already sold 52 units. The company aims to produce 36 Resurgence watches annually, made possible in part by the discontinuation of their previous Infinity line after five years and 100 units sold.
The Resurgence watch offers customization options, although the website showcases six pre-designed variations. These include an 18-karat rose gold case with either a frosted silver-white dial or a dark gray zirconium dial priced at $85,000, an 18-karat palladium white gold case with a frosted silver dial or a tantalum case with white gold accents and a navy dial priced at $80,000, and a stainless steel case with blued numerals and a frosted silver dial or a dark zirconium case with purple accents priced at $70,000. Additionally, customers can choose from three bridge designs for the movement, purely for aesthetic reasons.
One notable feature of the Resurgence watch is the guilloché pattern on all of its dials, a rare engraving technique in American watchmaking. Shapiro himself fell in love with this technique while studying the works of renowned British watch master, George Daniels, who was famous for his guilloché work. The Resurgence watch is described by Shapiro as a classic, timeless dress watch with unique patterns, designs, and colors.
The history of watchmaking in the United States has experienced its ups and downs. From humble beginnings in the 1850s to competing with and influencing the Swiss by the end of the 19th century, US watchmaking suffered a decline after World War II due to the strain of producing timepieces for the war effort. Established brands such as Waltham, Hamilton, and Elgin faced bankruptcy, leading to a decline and eventual sale in the late 1960s. However, in recent years, there has been a resurgence in American watchmaking, with new companies like RGM Watch Company and watchmakers like Keaton Myrick, David Walter, and Cameron Weiss emerging. This is thanks to a global rise in the popularity of mechanical watches and a thriving community of American watchmakers eager to restore the country’s watchmaking legacy.
Marc André Deschoux, founder of Watches TV and Horopedia, an online watchmaking encyclopedia, recognizes that young watchmakers are emerging worldwide, not just in the US. He believes that the Resurgence watch is a testament to the dedication and skill of American watchmakers and their ability to compete on a global scale.
Shapiro’s passion for watchmaking stems from his paternal grandfather’s machine shop, where he spent countless hours exploring and learning. Despite graduating with a history degree, Shapiro’s interest in watches was sparked when his wife gifted him a Bulova timepiece. This rekindled his passion for working with his hands, leading him to study horology and enroll in the British Horological Institute’s distance learning course. Shapiro chose to invest his exam travel funds into his first engine-turning machine, which is essential for the guilloché work he wanted to incorporate into his watches.
In 2015, Shapiro began professionally making watch dials for David Walter, an acclaimed clock and watchmaker, who also mentored him along the way. This collaboration marked Shapiro’s first foray into commercial dials and received praise from Walter himself. Inspired by this success, Shapiro launched his own watch collection under his name, starting with the Infinity series in June 2018, which sold for $30,000 each. The positive response prompted Shapiro to expand his team, which now consists of seven members, including three watchmakers, a master engraver, a CNC machine operator, and two business-side workers.
Shapiro takes pride in the fact that the Resurgence watch is a collaborative effort, as the initials of all the watchmakers involved are inscribed on the movement. He acknowledges that the company’s growth has necessitated moving from their original facility in Inglewood to a larger space in Torrance. With complete control over the quality and production of all components, J.N. Shapiro is proud to be contributing to the revitalization of American watchmaking.
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