The prestigious Swiss-based “Academie de Horlogere de Createurs Independants” (AHCI) has accepted its first U.S. member. Master watchmaker Steven Phillips, of Guilford, Conn., was inducted in December. Philipps has created his own automatic winding movement and a handmade series of watches, called “Guardian,” including the skeltonized and enameled “Guardian II.”

ACHI was created in 1985 to promote the tradition of handcrafted timepieces. Its 28 members and candidates produce their own timepieces and also assist well-known luxury brands in creating complicated and unique mechanical timepieces.

JCK