The Dingwall-Beloe Horological Lecture: Precision and Polemic

Justin Koullapis is taking the stage at the British Museum on Thursday 29 October for the Dingwall Beloe Horological Lecture, titled Precision and Polemic. Koullapis is the editor of the Horological Journal, and the talk centres on the journal itself — founded in 1858 and in unbroken print for nearly 170 years, it's the world's oldest journal about clocks and watches.

Over those years, the journal has chronicled a world in constant change. It's tracked the shift from industrialisation to electrification, the quartz crisis that shook the industry, and the more recent return to high craft. Its pages hold the first appearances of works that became standard references, the earliest writings of the people who transformed the craft, fierce industry feuds, forgotten controversies, and even the occasional jewel heist. Koullapis will be joined by the journal's former technical editor (2006–25) to dig into the discoveries, disputes, and personalities that come out of that history.

The lecture is part of an annual series founded with funds left to the British Museum by Dr Eric Dingwall, former Assistant Keeper of Printed Books in the British Library, and to the Clockmakers' Company by the collector Reginald Beloe. It runs in partnership with the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, with the aim of making new contributions to the understanding of horology on an international level.

It's held in the Great Court of the British Museum on Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG, from 19:00 to 20:00, and entry is free.