Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from KHWCC!

Nicolas cheering on his teammate

Last week we had a bowling night for celebrating the end of the year.  We split into 2 teams and had a friendly match.  It was the first time the students visited the XL Bowling establishment in La Chaux-de-Fonds.  It is a great place to hang out and bowl, play old school arcades, billiards and ping pong.  They also had a great restaurant, which we had dinner at.  For sure the school will be back for more fun.

Tomas muscling away

Double cheeseburgers for all 

On Saturday the students took a trip to Dombresson, the city where Mr. Simonin's bookstore is located.  This is the first time some students visited the store and they were psyched to see so many watchmaking books and tools.  Mr. Simonin even showed the students some of his hidden gems, such as some rare tools and some super rare, first edition, leatherback, ancient, collector's edition books.

The students browsing the wide variety of watchmaking books

Mr. Simonin showing how some tools work

New tools for the school

Le Locle has just become a megacity due to the opening of a brand new supermarket, Aldi.  The new Aldi has opened right beside the school and will most likely be where the students hang out for lunch from now on.  This is the best thing that has happened in Le Locle for some time.  We are super excited for the grand opening.

The new main attraction of Le Locle

Today marks the last day of the calendar year that the students will be attending school.  Tomorrow they start their winter holidays!  Check back on January 4th where we will be back and fully recharged for some more epic watchmaking!

Final push to Xmas...and endshakes

Theren making the correct endshake on the Peseux 7001

Simone checking if the correct endshake is done

Tomas pressing in the jewel on the Horia tool

Continuing on with the last subject before the test next week, the students started on the topic of jeweling.  They learned how to press jewels into the mainplate and bridges using the Horia tool.  Specific heights should be obtained from the pressing to arrive with the correct endshake for the wheels in the gear train.

Simone enlarging the broken thread hole readying it for bushing insertion

Turning the bushing on the 70 lathe

Some movements had damaged threads, therefore, Simone decided to make a new bushing for the mainplate.  Using the jigborer to first enlarge the damaged threads then friction fitting a bushing with the correct threads into the hole.

Nicolas using the milling machine to create curvatures on his pointed nose vise

Testing out the milling attachment for the first time

Nicolas continues to make his tools, learning the milling attachment of the 70 lathe this week.  Soon we will have some very original tools to show off!

Eddie continues to prepare for his upcoming winding stem exam

Happy St. Nicolas' Day! 

We celebrated St. Nicolas day yesterday where Svenja brought the boys holiday treats.  Svenja also explained the story behind St. Nicolas to our wide range of international students.

Because the students won't be here for Christmas, the school decided to have an outing together tonight at the local bowling alley.  We will post pictures of this later!  Have a great weekend everyone! We're off to bowl!