SIHH

Trivial Pursuit for watchmaking lovers

Simone enters another world

It was the first time the SIHH was open to the public last Friday, so even though the students are all swamped with their personal projects, they had to go check it out.  SIHH, sort of like Basel World is a platform where brands introduce their new products of the year and allows visitors to get a closer look at them.  It is much smaller than Basel World, thus wasn't overwhelming.  The students really enjoyed their trip, being able to see some of their favorite brands such as Lange & Sohne, Vacheron, and of course Voutilainen.

Theren marking the cuts for his jumping second wheel

Simone checking the measurements to his axle

Shuai making pallet jewel adjustments

Tomas reaming open jewel holes for the perfect fit

Theren learns how to use the topping tool to remove burrs from his freshly cut 4th wheel

A different kind of gear cutting setup

After SIHH the students came back home refreshed and continued with their separate projects.  Theren finished his pinions and started working on his jumping second mechanism for his school watch.  Tomas finished all his bridges and is now making adjustments on the wheels and pinions.  Simone finished turning a new pallet fork axle for his school watch.  Eddie finished his first personal repair, which was a vintage pocket watch.  Shuai worked all week on a client's chronograph restoration, having to reshape a pallet jewel in the process.

Chiming time!

Simone following the steps to check the minute repeater

The single most complex classical complication is no doubt the Minute repeater, and this week the students had the chance to get some hands-on experience on understanding how the mechanisms function and how to check that everything is as they should, within their tolerances.  There was a lot of bings and bongs going around the classroom this week, and the students utterly enjoyed it.

Eddie working on his personal pocket watch

Tomas finishing his repairs

Shuai doing fine adjustments on his school repairs

Theren burnishing some pivots for his pinion

The students continued to work on their respective projects.  Tomas finished his tourbillion bridge for his school watch and will now start working on the tourbillion cage!  Simone is working on his school watch chronograph, making the final adjustments so that he can start decorating the movement.  Theren is working on his school watch gear train, making pinions and the barrel arbor.  Eddie and Shuai are working on their personal repairs at the moment, and simultaneously finishing their timing exercises.  

Theren checking the engagement on his pinion with the depthing tool

Completed center pinion

The school will be travelling to the SIHH in a few and hope to see a lot of interesting watches and people, possibly you! 

School's in session

Lauri showing the students his company's products

Hope everyone had a great winter holiday, cause we sure did!  The students all went home to their respective countries for the holidays to enjoy some time with family and friends along with some much needed rest.  After three short weeks, the students are back for the final push until graduation in March.  They still have a lot of work and different projects to finish before final exams (looks like they have to power through a lot of work in the coming months).

Theren back to pinion cutting

Theren trying out a new macro lens

Tomas finishing up his watch repairs

Eddie taking measurements for his repairs

Shuai beveling a pocket watch bridge

Simone adjusting his chronograph

We had a product presentation from Rataspari, a relatively new Finnish company making high tech horological machines.  Lauri showed the students their newest product, the digital hairspring vibration counter, which is basically a digital version of the vibrating tool the students used during their hairspring course.  It is great to see an innovative company making new generation watch tools.

Lauri demonstrating how the digital vibrating tool is used

Very sleek design for a vibrating tool

Another product is the precision heat plate