My guests this week are watchmaker Dr. Rebecca Struthers and Lewis Heath, founder of AnOrdain. The two are friends and collaborators, so it was fun to get them both together for a conversation about watchmaking in the U.K., what they’re up to, and what’s next.Â
Lewis Heath founded AnOrdain in 2015. Since then, the Scottish brand has become known for its beautifully crafted enamel dials. He founded the company after working as a product designer and deciding he wanted to make something closer to home.Â
Dr. Rebecca Struthers is a watchmaker and co-founder of Struthers Watchmakers, along with her husband and fellow watchmaker, Craig. The two began their business as restorers, but after realizing they’d made pretty much every other component for other people’s watches, they decided to build their own. This was the beginning of Project 248, their effort to build their own in-house movement. Struthers also became the first watchmaker in the United Kingdom to complete a Ph.D program, making her the country’s first “watch doctor.”Â
I last caught up with Heath in late 2023, so he gives us an update on all things AnOrdain. Meanwhile, Struthers’ profile has continued to grow since we last spoke more than a year ago, thanks in part to her book, Hands of Time. We chat about both of their companies, the state of watchmaking and craftsmanship in the U.K., and the opportunities and challenges they face.Â
Heath and Struthers share an ethos of supporting builders and craftspeople, which I’ve always appreciated about them. They also clearly admire each other, which is charming to see throughout the conversation.Â