The Single Men – a film on the AHCI

In 2015 the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI) celebrates its 30th anniversary. To mark the occasion, Selkirk Pictures & Enterprises has completed the documentary film “The Single Men – Masters of the Incredible and the Beautiful”.

The AHCI is a prestigious and discreet community of independent watchmakers, who work in the shadows of big business, far from the lights that shine on their name-brand competitors. It is a coalition of 32 watch- and clockmakers bound by a fierce commitment to artisanal watchmaking.

Philip Selkirk’s documentary offers a visual account of the watchmaking process, from the first idea and the craftsmanship to the finished “pièce de résistance”. The “Single Men” speak with conviction about their common goal: ensuring that the mechanical watch continues to thrive. The film features works by, among others, Svend Andersen, Vincent Calabrese, Philippe Dufour, Paul Gerber, Vianney Halter and François-Paul Journe.

Interviews with these watchmakers and with leading figures of the industry – Jean-Claude Biver (CEO of TAG Heuer), Nicolas Bos (CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels), Marie Vallanet-Delhom (President of L’École Van Cleef & Arpels) and top retailers such as Laurent Picciotto (Chronopassion, Paris), Michael Tay (The Hour Glass, Singapore) and Abdulhamied Ahmed Seddiqi (Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, Dubai) – bring the individuals behind the timepieces closer to the audience, and may inspire future collectors. Michael Clerizo of the Wall Street Journal, known for his analysis of bespoke luxury watches, also shares his thoughts.