Trial Exam Week

Next Friday will be the Escapement Exam, before that we'll have four trials to make us more familiar with the whole process of servicing the Swiss lever escapement. During our four hour exam we have to deal with all the divisions and enshakes from balance to escape wheel. We also have to adjust the pallet jewel penetrations and make sure they are at the right depth to ensure the escapement achieves function, safety and optimum performance. There are a lot of detail we need to take care of during the exam. Before the real one coming we just have to keep practicing, that's the best way to learn.

Besides the trial exam we keep working on our own projects.

CJ modifing his tweezer to hold pallet fork in a better way.

Yi Ting's productive way of cooking away shellac. :)

This is not for BBQ, Yi Ting is trying to find the heater which could reach the highest temperature.

CJ try to make Geneva Stripes.

He got a better result with using white 3M paper (hard) (Left).
Pattern on the right is using green 3M paper (soft).

Creating Geneva Stripes without damaging bevel.

CJ finished the ratchet wheel for his restoration project with sunray finish. 

Trying out finishing with the Aciera F1

This week Henrik modified Acira F1 , so we can try to make Geneva Stripe decoration. Besides we also had a chance to look at Geneva Stripe in old pocket watches (from Henrik's personal colletion) and compare with the modern one. We will keep you updated on the result in future posts.

Sif's first trial of Geneva Stripe

Sif refresh her escapement meter bought from fleat market.

Spring is coming!

Before the Easter we visited Baselworld, even though the exhibition size was smaller this year, we still enjoyed it very much. We met some nice independent watchmakers there, and they are willing to share their own experience to us which is really helpful. We also saw lots of high quality finishing watches.

After the Easter break, there is a coming exam soon. After recharging ourselves during the break, we now have to push ourselves to pass the coming exam. We only have less than one year in the school, and we have to utilize the left time properly to learn as much as we could.

BTW, the spring is coming,its sunny, hope everyone enjoy it. 

Last week of Felix in school, we give him a welfare party and wish him all the best in the future.

Sif is bonding pallet jewel with shellac.

Sometimes we make or modify our tools during daily work. Micromechanics really helped a lot.

CJ adjusting the depth of pallet jewel on a heated escapemeter.

Stan checking the horn and guard pin clearance between pallet fork and balance.

This is what Henrik needs for hiking.