That’s a wrap

 

Always a special week, we say goodbye to our new watchmaker and clean the workshop to begin again. Art graduated with flying colours and we’ve said our farewells. 

Starting chronologically, we celebrated the birthday of two of our students. Cesar(myself) and Chris have their birthdays on the same day, unfortunately the flu got to Chris on the day.

Then came the big day, the graduation!

We’re all proud of this watchmaker 

Friends and family came to attend ceremony. The school took a trip to visit the mines of Le Locle and learn some of the history of this ancient town. Thank you for Svenja for organising the event.

After some nice words and drinks we all went out for dinner.

Eating well

Today, on the last day we all clean the workshop throughly leaving every surface spotless, ready to be made dirty again next year. 

Now some words from each of us, looking back through the year.

Art:

Just proud to finish the course successfully, learned a lot, achieved good results and learned some discipline at the professional workplace

Joan:

Despite a rough start, the passion for watchmaking has allowed me to keep up with the demands for a successful first year. I'm proud of having learned multiple hand crafts that now enable me to make any part of a watch, and so push me one step closer to the goal of becoming a fully trained watchmaker. Really excited for the second year awaiting, and starting the firsts drafts for my own piece.

Louis:

This year I learned many watchmaking techniques and actually made some. After a year of study at school, I'm one step closer to becoming a watchmaker.

Cesar:

Completed the first year, a year of micro mechanics. Learned priceless skills from truly great teachers. I have made great headway on a project of making a series of dials for an independent company which will be done next year. Super excited to start the technician course and start restoring some beautiful watches.

Bernd:

I got the very first Open Movement Academy Watch. I‘m looking forward to assembling and regulating it next year.

Jae won:

It has been 3 month and a half and I achieved how to work with machine, with my hand and learned how to plan a project in watchmaking ways. Finished every tools except the brass anvil. Got enough filling skill to escape from the any jail.

Craig:

This year I am proud of bringing my watch from initial concept to fabrication. And I still managed to complete the technician course curriculum several months ahead of schedule.

A beauty

Nine:

This year has been incredible, and it’s hard to believe it’s my last year of school. I’m proud of myself for making it to the end—surrounded by all the watchmakers who somehow helped shape me into a better and a stronger person.Time to say goodbye. Xoxo 💋

Sens:

Looking back from my first day at KHWCC to the end of 2025, I can clearly see how much I’ve grown. I’ve developed stronger hand skills, improved my precision, and learned to use essential watchmaking tools with more confidence. Step by step, I’ve built a better understanding of mechanical principles, which helps me work more independently and tackle new tasks with a clearer mindset.

I’m also proud of my personal growth. I’ve learned patience, discipline, and the importance of steady practice—qualities that are just as valuable as technical skills. These experiences have shaped my foundation as an aspiring watchmaker, and I look forward to continuing my progress in the year ahead.

Phil:

 My accomplishments

1. Passed the first exam on filing;

2. Completed the tripod;

3. Completed the Pointed head nose vise;

4. Completed the press fit pieces; and

5. Brass turning exercise.

Those exercises were challenging, but I really have fun making these pieces.

Gary:

This year, I got case machining down to under 50 hours and got better at enameling.

Chris:

Last year I used to break watches, this year I break watches....but now I know why

The final week has come

And we celebrated with rum

Another year of horological ventures

All prepared for the next adventures 

Some of us are departing 

Now it’s the future they are charting 

Though time never halts

Through it we’ll fix our faults

Together we built an isthmus

I’d like to wish you all a Merry Christmas 

  

  

Thanksgiving! (or close enough)

 

   Week 49

This week Craig continued his tradition of organizing a school-wide potluck to celebrate the U.S. holiday of Thanksgiving. The feast had to be delayed a week due to Art's final exam, but there was enough delicious food that no one cared too much about such details. Nearly everyone in the school brought something, from Craig's staple Chicken Pot Pie and Michael's Malaysian chicken skewers, to Christiaan's cheese rolls made with Vegemite and Joan's Tortilla de Patatas. Even Henrik made traditional Swedish Gubbröra.

STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS

Workshop A

Students:
    Art, Bernd, Cesar, Joan, Louis Lu, Mun, Nine

     Bernd, Cesar, Joan, and Louis Lu are working through maintenance of the gear train, learning how to inspect and true the wheels to perfect flatness.

Workshop B

Students:
    Christiaan, Craig, Gary, Jaewon, Philippe, Sense    

 

Christiaan, Gary, and Philippe were busy this week, learning both how to use the boring attachment of the jig borer and how to cut gear teeth on the lathe.

 

 

Christiaan lining up the gear tooth cutter to the correct height

 Jaewon also had a productive week, finishing both his pointed nose vise and polishing tripod base, both with a sparkling sandblasted finish.

Pointed nose vise

Tripod base

Thank you for reading!

Hope to see you again next week

The end is near

 This Friday Artemiy has finished his final exam. 5 movements in 5 days, so this weekend is time for celebration.

Hard at work

Craig has also managed to finished manufacturing all the parts for his school watch. When assembled it beats soundly! It is a lovely manual wound calibre, now what is left for him is adjustments and the finishing. 

Jaewon learnt this week how to operate ours school’s jig borer, so he can finish making the tools in the micro mechanics course. Although it is not a very dangerous machine compared to the others, it is the most complicated to use. 

Gary always experimenting, is now trying some enamel dial variations with different layers of powder. They are coming out very lovely!

Blue like the ocean

A few of our students drove up the mountain last night in the snow to attend an event in the watchmaking museum. The event was the 179 years anniversary of Ulysse Nardin. A talk was given on the history of marine chronometers and their technical development. Afterwards we were given the opportunity to see some lovely pieces produced by them.

Until next time!

Milling Time

   Week 47

Is it hot chocolate weather? It's hot chocolate weather.

STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS

Workshop A

Students:
    Art, Bernd, Cesar, Joan, Louis Lu, Mun, Nine

     Art spent the week preparing for his Final Exam. It's crunch time!

 

Cesar worked together with Christiaan to try laser engraving as an approach for drilling holes for dial indices. Very flashy, but don't look directly at it.

 

Workshop B

Students:
    Christiaan, Craig, Gary, Jaewon, Philippe, Sense    

 

Gary has been hard at work on the milling machine, creating prototypes for several case designs.

  

 Jaewon and Philippe also spent some time on the milling machine this week, using the angled vise to make the the wedge shape of the polishing tripod. Jaewon started the milling process for the tripod, while Philippe finished his.

 

Jaewon starting the tripod

Philippe's finished product

Thank you for reading!

Hope to see you again next week

It’s alive!

 The milestone Craig achieved with his watch is that it runs for a full day after being wound. His watch is based on the ETA 7001. He re-designed the mainplate and all bridges, and machined them all by hand. This was done in addition to all regular course work.

The next steps are an improved custom barrel arbor and custom crown wheel, followed by finishing and plating.

Our newest student, Jae won, is trying out some finishing techniques. Here he used grattage on his posing plate, came out looking lovely.

Lovely 

Chris is doing some hand turning exercises before he moves on to pivot gauges and balance staff. He made a cute stand for all his work on the lathe.

Look at those boys on display 

Likewise, Phillip spent a few days mastering the slot graver. Practicing for the winding stem slot. He made a cute stand for his finished pierces.

Lil guys lined up

The senior students who have recently started their technician course are getting classes from their professor on the intricacies of oiling the keyless and motion works. Having 7 different calibres of varying sizes and types to practice on. Recently they also learned how to service and restore a barbell, fixing end and side shakes. In addition they are also practicing how to fix bent wheels! A useful skill of restoring an ancient watch with no spare parts.

Until next time!

Mun Graduates

 

   Week 44

Congratulations to Daniel Sai Mun Lam! This Friday he graduated after finishing the technician course. And he's moving quickly; he will have a full weekend of rest before heading straight to work on Monday.

 

Cheers!

STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS

Workshop A

Students:
    Art, Bernd, Cesar, Joan, Louis Lu, Mun, Nine

     Bernd, Cesar, Joan, and Louis turned a corner in their coursework this week. First, they finished the hour wheel exam, bringing the first year of micromechanics to a close. 

 

Machining the teeth to the right profile

 

They now move on to year two technician work, starting with oiling Incablock jewels.

A LOT of Incablock jewels

Workshop B

Students:
    Christiaan, Craig, Gary, Jaewon, Philippe, Sense    

 

Craig ended the week by passing the hairspring exam, and did so significantly ahead of schedule. This will give him plenty of time to work on his own projects and hone his skills before he takes the final next year.

 

 Jaewon has progressed to another machine in the shop: the milling machine. This tool will be instrumental in several of his projects to come.

 

Thank you for reading!

Hope to see you again next week

Break comes with a storm

 With school coming to an end before a 4 day break, what better send off than a large storm that just arrived and will be staying until the end of the break.

This week was a shorter one but eventful nonetheless. Starting with the most important, Mun took his final exam!

In the last few days he took his written and oral exam, as well as two practical exams, best of luck!

Some students have reached the final hurdle of their first year in micro mechanics. The final task being to complete an hour wheel. Teeth cutting is a time consuming but enjoyable. 

Teeth

More teeth

Teeth aside, the new students have started making progress on their winding stems. This week, playing with fire, they have started to learn to process of hardening and tempering steel bars. 

Burn baby burn 

Ending with Art and Craig who have now started to dive into the intricacies of the chronograph. Their brain powers quickly depleting after a few hours of theory.

Well that’s it for now, until next week!