Ron DeCorte is an Independent Watchmaker who has conceived and created his own unique watches, and worked extensively with other distinguished watchmakers in Switzerland. He was president of the American Watchmakers Institute (AWI) in 2000 and 2001, and was awarded the AWI Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. He specializes in the restoration of mechanical watches, writes extensively regarding horological issues, and lends advice to the micro-mechanical arts. All photographs contained in his articles, unless otherwise noted, are made by him on location and without the use of studio techniques.