WALTHAM, THE WATCHMAKER THAT INSPIRED HENRY FORD, PREPARES TO UNVEIL A NEW COLLECTION THIS FALL

America's first industrial watch manufacturer, with Nikola Tesla among its inventors, will soon unveil a new collection born from the golden age of flight

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, September 2, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Waltham Watch Company, the pioneering American watch manufacturer that worked alongside ingenious inventor Nikola Tesla, equipped Charles Lindbergh's “Spirit of St. Louis” on his voyage across the Atlantic and soared to new heights with Roland Rohlfs record-breaking flight, will be releasing a new collection rooted in that same aviation legacy, deepening its connection with collectors and enthusiasts across North America.

THE ORIGINS: AMERICA'S FIRST INDUSTRIAL WATCHMAKER
Founded in Massachusetts in 1850, Waltham was the first American watch manufacturer to adopt the “American System” of watchmaking. Through fully interchangeable components, the company enabled extreme precision at large-scale production for the first time. A revolution built on the collaboration between brilliant inventors and watchmakers, including watchcase maker Charles Depollier, Charles Henri Meylan, and Nikola Tesla, in the design of wristwatches, pocket watches, aviation cockpit clocks, marine chronometers, and speedometers.

THE INDUSTRY GAME-CHANGER
The “American System of Watch Manufacturing” directly inspired Henry Ford's assembly line and reshaped the Swiss watch industry. The shock it sent through the market is comparable only to the Japanese quartz crisis a century later.

THE EXPLORER'S WATCH
Waltham watches and cockpit clocks accompanied aviation pioneers such as Charles Lindbergh, as well as historic expeditions to the North and South Poles. Governments and institutions in the United States, Canada, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom all relied on Waltham's precision timepieces to keep time in the severest field and flight conditions, and to support the safety of their railroads.

TODAY: SWISS-MADE PRODUCTION
After more than 100 years in the United States, Waltham established itself in Switzerland in 1954, becoming the new pulsing center of global watchmaking, where the production of Swiss-made luxury watches continues today.

FIELD & MARINE DUAL TIME COLLECTION: A DESIGN LEGACY
At the heart of every Waltham watch are automatic Swiss-made calibers and record-breaking engineering solutions. The Field & Marine collection carries forward the 1917 patented “double-clinched bezel,” the bayonet crown, and the compressor case-back system that gave rise to the first water-resistant wristwatch in 1918. The collection currently comprises 6 models with Dual Time and power reserve indicators.

WHAT'S NEXT: A NEW COLLECTION TAKES FLIGHT
Following the same philosophy as in 1850, Waltham will soon release a new collection inspired by its aviation pioneers: new iterations of the watches that flew with Charles Lindbergh and Sir Charles Kingsford Smith. The people behind the brand are ready to share a forgotten piece of American watchmaking history with fellow collectors, and to give proper credit to the manufacturer that set the path for every watchmaker who followed.

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE BRAND
Today, Waltham Watch Company SA has joined an established group of companies that draws on over half a century of experience in the watch manufacturing industry and the craftsmanship of more than 200 employees.

Antonio DiBenedetto, CEO of Waltham Watch Company SA and one of the entrepreneurs behind the brand, brings over two decades of fine jewelry manufacturing expertise, luxury brand management experience, and a lifelong passion for watches to the historic brand. Under DiBenedetto team’s leadership, Waltham bridges its rich American heritage with modern Swiss precision engineering.

Stan Czubernat, Waltham's Historical Director, is a watchmaker and historian who has restored over 1,000 American-made vintage timepieces. Czubernat is an award-winning researcher, author of three books, and recipient of the 2023 NAWCC Roberts-Taylor Research Award.

Elisa Vaiana, Head of Marketing, brings over 6 years of digital growth experience across many luxury brands. Vaiana blends strategic vision with expertise in e-commerce, social media, and digital storytelling.

Kaleidoscope Luxury PR & Communications also joined the brand as North American communications partner, effective August 1, 2026.
“Waltham has a genuinely fascinating history, with many ground-breaking patents and watchmaking innovations," said Thierry Chaunu, chairman of Kaleidoscope Luxury PR and Communications. "It was born from American ingenuity, and it has kept evolving ever since."

“Waltham has permission to have a little fun with its heritage,” said Katia Graytok, CEO & Brand Architect of Kaleidoscope Luxury PR & Communications.
ABOUT THE WALTHAM WATCH COMPANY

Founded in 1850 in Waltham, Massachusetts, the Waltham Watch Company pioneered the “American System of Watch Manufacturing” and became one of the most influential names in American watchmaking. Today, it continues its horological legacy through Swiss-made luxury timepieces that unite the brand's American heritage with contemporary Swiss watchmaking expertise.

ABOUT KALEIDOSCOPE LUXURY PR & COMMUNICATIONS
Kaleidoscope Luxury PR & Communications is a NY-based boutique luxury communications firm specializing in watches, jewelry, fine art, fashion, design, and high-end lifestyle.
Kaleidoscope Luxury PR & Communications is led by Katia Graytok, Founder & CEO, and Thierry Chaunu, Chairman.

MEDIA CONTACT
Kaleidoscope Luxury PR & Communications — Thierry Chaunu, Chairman — tchaunu@KaleidoscopeLuxury.com

Waltham Watch Company — Elisa Vaiana, Head of Marketing — e.vaiana@waltham.com

Thierry Chaunu
Kaleidoscope Luxury PR & Communications
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