I love those moments in life where you unexpectedly put two and two together

realizing those chance connections between things often weeks months or years after they've happened.

Honestly, it's no small part of why I ended up a journalist.

Back in January, I was preparing for an interview at S.I.H.

With a designer who I'd been told was working with Ermez on a totally new watch collection.

His name was Eni Archibong, and I just couldn't figure out why that name sounded so familiar.

I mean, Eni Archibong isn't a name you soon forget, right?

A quick Google search later, and I realized that I'd seen and loved some of his furniture and

lighting designs at Milan's Salona Dellebele Fair back in 2016.

The work had left a strong impression in the back of my mind and suddenly I knew what one of my highlights of S.I.H. was going to be.

Sure enough, chatting with any about his watch, the Gallup-Dermez, was a breath of fresh air during the show.

Before I left the booth, we decided that a longer conversation right here on Hodinky radio was a no-brainer.

Despite hailing from Pasadena, California, Eni lives in New Shat Hill, Switzerland,

so it took some time for the stars to align.

But while in town for New York Design Week,

Ini swung by the Houdincki offices

just before hopping on his flight back to Switzerland.

We talked about how his love of watches led him to attend

design school in Switzerland, what it's like to learn about watchmaking from

inside Ermez, and the challenges of being innovative in a tradition-minded

industry. He is an awesome guy and if he hadn't had that flight to catch I think you'd be looking at a two or three hour episode here

I'm your host Stephen Pulverin and this is Hodincki radio

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