Finishing Techniques Course

 The first one week finishing course just ended and it was a really great experience! with six students participating we covered many of the classical finishing techniques such as frosting, straight graining, black polishing, various different types of snailing, polishing of counter sinks etc.

Summer is here

 Always hectic towards the end, especially when it’s this hot! We’re ending it all off with a lovely dinner.

Another eventful week in Le Locle, we had Sens graduation and a hefty two days of cleaning. Got the workshop looking sharp. 

We are all very proud of Sens for completing his degree! He can start his summer on a great note.

Sens and Henrik

Last thing before the break is always a deep clean. Always oddly satisfying seeing all the surfaces and benches looking brand new. No corner is left untouched.

Gary is making more progress on his case! Here he made a prototype out of aluminum, looking very nice.

What are you doing outside Nick?

Well that’s it’s for now, by the end of the weekend most of us will have left to return home.

Hope you all have a lovely summer!

Until next time!

Count down begins

 With just one week left, everyone is busy. Time is passing by faster than expected, but that’s always the case. I have started working on my school watch, making the bridges out of German silver. Having drilled the through holes for the bridge screws on the jig borer. Then on the lathe, using the base plate to spot center the jewel holes and attaching the bridge to then drill. The George Daniel’s method.

Used a ball mill to make the slots for the winding stem and a mill for the winding pinion slot. Some fun lathe work.

Michael and Henrik are doing some demonstration of ratchet wheel decorations. Amazing how many different ways there are to decorate a single wheel. Here we can see the classic triple snailing along with the method made by an old student Ivan.

Mesmerizing 

Along with these, they are also showing prime examples of Geneva stripes, a very traditional and classy finishing technique, done on the mill. 

Up close

Sharp yet curvy 

Philip and Gary took their gear train exam today! Congratulations to them both. Caio and Gui have started working on the balance staff, a daunting yet rewarding trial.

Jaewon completed another pivot, can only be seen under the microscope.

 Meanwhile Joan is working on hairsprings, the most unforgiving part of watchmaking, one slip and it’s all over.

That’s it for this week! Until next time!

Exams!

 Here we can spot a wild watchmaker in his natural habitat. 

Gui is speeding through the technician course, yesterday he took his pivot gauge exam just a few weeks into learning them. Meanwhile in the other workshop Jae won and Chris took their gear train exam. The first exam for the technician course. An exciting exam including a full barrel service, bending wheels, adjusting end-shake and divisions. 

Nick is machining his way through his brass tools, here you can see his diamond pallet fork holder. 

Jae won, still working on an ancient memovox. Been neglected for many years until Jae won came along to bring it back to life. Life to that baby pur.

This is a special weekend in Le Locle, it’s the annual festival when thousands of people come and fill our empty streets. Hopefully we’ll see you there.

Until next time!