We sat down with our founder & master watchmaker, Cameron Weiss, to learn more about why he selected California and more specifically the Los Angeles area to launch Weiss Watch Company back in 2013.

Q: What made you decide to launch your business in California?

A: As a California native, I wanted to launch my business in my home state. I want to honor the history of pioneering manufacturing and major aerospace development.

Q: What is the benefit to being located in California?

A: The access to high technology manufacturing helped us to launch our USA made components. This is one of the only places in the U.S. where modern American watchmaking can be realized using the latest manufacturing technologies. There are a lot of highly skilled workers that have been working in aerospace and electronics manufacturing, and all kinds of advanced machining and engineering takes place in Los Angeles. It’s a perfect place to have a rebirth of watchmaking in the U.S.

Q: What is your favorite thing about California?

A: California businesses are leading an exciting growth period right now, and I also enjoy a sunrise surf before I go into the studio.

Q: What made you start the company in Los Angeles?

A: LA is the largest manufacturing center the US, but 58% of factories in LA county are sitting idle and unused part of the time. The infrastructure is there to build a true modern watchmaking industry here in America. In addition, Los Angeles is also experiencing a fashion boom (How Los Angeles Is Changing the Way Men Dress - WSJ), and it is incredible to be a part of that community that is striving to make America's fashion capital become more bi-coastal. Did you know that California is the 6th largest economy in the world?

Q: Where is your favorite place in California, aside from Los Angeles?

A: I love camping up north in Big Sur and Sequoia National Park.

If you have any questions you would like to ask Cameron for the next Q&A series regarding entrepreneurship, please email them to info@weisswatchcompany.com.