Baltimore Watch Company just acquired Maryland Watch Works, and I’m pretty excited about it because two of my favorite people in the watch game just did something that makes so much damn sense.
You see, Alan Tsao of Baltimore Watch Company (Tsao Baltimore) has been growing his microbrand in great leaps, producing some outstanding watches and securing licensing deals with Baltimore icons like Old Bay and The Baltimore Orioles. His watches are assembled in Maryland, and some even feature the homegrown (at least home-assembled) MD-1 automatic movement.
Who was doing all that assembly, you may ask? It was Maryland Watch Works, of which Eugene Stohlman was the co-owner and head watchmaker. He is a third-generation watchmaker with certifications from luxury brands like Omega. Not for nothing, but he also found an elusive gear to fix the wonky date wheel on my vintage Bulova Snorkel. Eugene will lead Baltimore Watch Company’s newly formed watchmaking division as the company consolidates its entire operation into a new 7,100 sq/ft state-of-the-art facility in Baltimore. In addition to the assembly of new Baltimore watches, the team will continue its contracted warranty work for other microbrands.
But wait, there’s more. Antonio Vespoint, former head watchmaker of Towson Watch Company, will also join the team, along with watch technicians Riley Johnson and Julie Gouldener from Smyth Jewelers, and Steve Heverley from Maryland Watch Works
“This acquisition is a milestone in our mission to make Baltimore Watch Company a leading watchmaker in the U.S.,” said Alan. “With Eugene, Antonio, and our talented team, we’re poised to create innovative, high-quality timepieces that honor Maryland’s heritage while providing world-class service to any other luxury watches or microbrands.”
As they used to say on The A-Team, “I love it when a plan comes together.” I have genuinely enjoyed watching both Tsao and Maryland Watch Works grow and I cannot wait to see what this new union will bring.
