NYer Of The Week: Watchmaker Teaches Brooklynites The Gift Of Time
The latest New Yorker of the Week teaches the study of timekeeping and watchmaking to the residents of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.
By Roma Torre - NY-1 News

Local watchmaker Steven Richardson wants to teach people in his neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn the joys of horology, the study of timekeeping, and the history, mechanics and art of watchmaking.

"Time is one of the most precious things that we have and to study it, to study horology is just a great thing," says Richardson. "It's a great passion of mine and I thought I could just share it with the community."

Last year at the Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA, Richardson started a free watchmaking class called the "Art of Horology Project."

"He is a reflection of the people who live here in Bedford-Stuyvesant and is a role model for the youth and gives them a chance to know that there's other jobs, other opportunities that are out there," says YMCA communications director Sharlene Brown.

Ten years ago, Richardson started learning gemology, the study of jewels, and soon after he became interested in making pocket watches.

"I think I always had the mechanics instilled into me, because my father was an auto mechanic and my uncle was an auto mechanic and they specialized in transmissions," says Richardson. "So at a young age, I would always be hanging around the shop."

Richardson owns a watchmaking company called Nkiru America Watches, which he believes is the only one in the country owned by an African-American. He hopes to inspire people like 13-year-old participant Amadeus Fiazier.

"There is not a lot of people doing this and we need a lot of people to get involved in this," says Fiazier.

Constance Jackson signed her whole family up for the class.

"I often wondered why there were watchmakers in Europe but not in the Americas," says Jackson.

Richardson estimates that 5,000 watchmakers are needed in the United States to keep up with the demand.

"I see hopefully building a school of watchmakers, where they can come and take a one-, two-, or three-year course. learning every area," says Richardson.

So, for giving his time to his community, Steven Richardson is the latest New Yorker of the Week.