Crafting Excellence: Pembroke Alumnus Receives Top Watchmaking Award

Though millions of people wear watches worldwide, few will ever truly understand the art and intricacies of the industry. However, for one Pembroke alumnus, Stephen McDonnell (1993, Theology), mechanical watches have been a lifelong fascination that have led him on an extraordinary journey of innovation.

From the age of four, Stephen was captivated by mechanics. "I never chose watchmaking, it chose me," he recalls during our conversation. Growing up in Northern Ireland, where watchmaking was a virtually unknown profession compared to horological hubs like Switzerland, he found himself fascinated by the intricate gears and mechanisms within timekeeping devices. Despite this early passion, at this point Stephen hadn’t considered horology as a career. Rather, he initially pursued engineering, and later switched to theology while studying at Pembroke.  

After graduating, Stephen began repairing clocks at home for local antique dealers and jewellers. What started as a hobby soon grew into a deep fascination with timepieces. Driven by his passion, Stephen applied to an international watchmaking school in Switzerland. Though the course was only 6 months long, he found himself extending his stay to thirteen and a half years.

Stephen immersed himself in the world of watchmaking, delving into the design and creation of intricate watch components. He learned the art of conceiving new mechanisms: "Watchmaking is a wonderful, bizarre meeting place between mechanics and art," he shares. “Each timepiece, especially those of higher-end bespoke watches, evolves into a complex interplay of hundreds of individual components, hidden from view to all but the watchmaker.”

With his passion for pushing boundaries, Stephen recently designed a watch incorporating five newly-patented mechanical innovations: the Legacy Machine Sequential. Notably, his concept for the LM Sequential earned him the top accolade in the field of Watchmaking last November at the GPHG (Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève) – the Watchmaking Industry’s equivalent of the Oscars.

Stephen’s approach to watchmaking appears to have revolutionised horological technology of the last decade. He takes pride in the limitless combinations he can create through his skill with mechanics, likening himself to an artist with access to an infinite palette of colours.

There is no doubt that Stephen has left an indelible mark on the watchmaking world. His journey after graduating from Pembroke College exemplifies the value of pursuing one's passion and turning it into a lifelong dedication.

You can check out more about Stephen’s work on the LM Sequential in this New York Times article.