LAST WEEK OF QUARANTINE!

WEEK 55

Pierre Aubert, James Punshon, Jayne Zhuo

Origin : Sydney, Australia. Toulouse, France. Singapore.

Age : 38

Watchmaking class: Technician Course

Current mood: James here! Our final days of Quarantine. I’d like to say the month of quarantine went quickly, but I can safely say everyone is excited to be returning to school! The weather has been amazing here this month, spring came early and with force! It was a life saver to be able to take great hikes during our study breaks, really kept the mind balanced. Us technicians have just now completed the escapement module. Keep us in your prayers as we enter the hairspring module next week 😊

Markus McDonald 

Origin : Stockholm Sweden 

Age : 21

Watchmaking class: 2 years Fullskill Program

Current mood: This week I cracked on with the burnishing trying out different speeds and momentum too gain a feel for how much would be taken off whilst burnishing, this was helped a lot thanks too WhatsApp. As I was able too checkin with hendrik and gain advice. Thankfully although working from home was an important and necessary experience we are going back too school next week granted maintaining the distance and taking advantage of the flexibility that is provided by the school such as space and altering the hours for break. This will be good as it will keep us healthy whilst allowing for more hands on help with some of the modules which will help greatly in preparation for the exams.

Michael

Origin : Malaysia

Age : 28

Watchmaking class : 2 years Fullskill Program

Current Mood: Started to practice with a few shapes for hand turning. Shapes includes 90 degree cone, 90 degree corner, semi circles, Female cone, and the most challenging conical pivot! It turns out really well. Finished the exercise and started with winding stem squares. Make two cones on both ends of a cyclinder to start with, and then turn down to the given diameter before hand filing down to the square. Will be doing five different diameters and squares. Very fun because you are the one who controls your work. Looking forward to next Monday! 

Alex

Origin : Kaohsiung, Taiwan 

Age : 27

Watchmaking : 2Y Fullskill Program

Current mood: Nothing exiting happened this week really. Finished the winding stem exam and is moving back to school next week. Enough said, I am gonna enjoy the very last moment of working from home. No more pajama turning. Well, it has been fun, hope to do it again soon, in a good way, somehow.

STEP 1: BASIC CUTS ON THE 8 MM LATHE (MICHAEL)

ONE OF THE BASIC CUTS IS TO TURN INTERNAL CONES WITH A HAND GRAVER.

HENRIK's WORDS:

So it became clear this week that now we are for sure going back to our little paradise of amazing machines and watchmaking tools again!! As next Monday the fun will continue again in the school. Hopefully it will stay this way for some time as well, and since we now have one experience of this, we now also know perfectly well what to do next time in case there is a repeat, crossing my fingers it will work out! The students seem very eager to get back as well! Otherwise they have been doing much more beyond my expectations in a situation like this, and have stayed so positive throughout this process! Could not be prouder of all of them!! Oh! I almost forgot to mention we also launched a very nice short interview on YouTube of Harman who graduated last year, check it out here;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_TapKnfQnI 

Enjoy the weekend and see you next week for new adventures!

CROSSING FINGERS

WEEK 54

Pierre Aubert, James Punshon, Jayne Zhuo

Origin : Sydney, Australia. Toulouse, France. Singapore.

Age : 23

Watchmaking class: Technician Course

Current mood: Hi, Jayne here. Coming back from a good Easter break. Watched 'Knives Out' online, it's a pretty awesome mystery movie. Anyway, continued with Escapement work this week and took the final exam. All went really fantastic. Great to be studying at home with the liberty to decide what works best for you. The virus seems to be under control. Hope everything gets a little closer to the norm soon. Meanwhile, take advantage of the lovely weather, find an adventure over the weekend. =) 

Markus McDonald 

Origin : Stockholm Sweden 

Age : 21

Watchmaking class: 2 years Fullskill Program

Current mood: This week was a continuation of the last few weeks being focused entirely on the burnish. Being focused on accuracy and finish, too ensure quality I was on the right track I was able to correspond with Henrik about the quality over messaging which helped greatly.

Thanks too the extended Easter weekend I was able to feel a lot more refreshed and focused going into the new week and the weeks to come.

Michael

Origin : Malaysia

Age : 28

Watchmaking class : 2 years Fullskill Program

Current Mood: Another interesting week! Done sharpening gravers! Had an introduction about hand turning with a 8mm lathe. Started with the hand turning of some exercise given by Henrik. Totally love this hand turning experience. Looking forward to more hand turning.

Alex

Origin : Kaohsiung, Taiwan 

Age : 27

Watchmaking : 2Y Fullskill Program

Current mood: My journey of winding stem, like quarantine in Switzerland, may be coming to an end. Just finished the final exam and I think it is looking pretty good. I am not sure which one I will miss more once things get back to normal, working in my pajama or being able to visit shops. Anyway, this is it for me. Looking forward to working on side projects next week.

see ya~~~

STEP 1: GRAVER SHARPENING (MICHAEL)

READY FOR BATTLE!!

BATTLE COMPLETE; CHECK MATE!!

STEP 2: ESCAPEMENT WORK (JAYNE)

CHECKING GUARD PIN IS PARALLEL WITH UPPER SURFACE OF LEVER.

STEP 3: HAND TURNED WINDING STEM (ALEX)

HENRIK's WORDS:

I heard that we might soon be allowed to get back to more or less normal life, that would also be nice. Not that I don’t like the distance teaching, but it will be easier and more fluid the transmission of knowledge ones we are back again, we will also ones again be able to use the amazing machines in the school! Very much looking forward to the day when we are all back! Crossing my fingers! 

Otherwise the students are doing great! No one is behind and everyone seems very positive! Michael sharpened some gravers that came out very nice! And is now learning hand turning in the 8 mm watchmakers’ lathe. Jayne and James had their escapement final exams and Alex had his winding stem final exam as well. Markus continue with practicing burnishing. And Pierre finished all but one of his pivot gauges. Have a great weekend everyone!!

EASTER ARRIVED!

WEEK 53

Pierre Aubert, James Punshon, Jayne Zhuo

Origin : Sydney, Australia. Toulouse, France. Singapore.

Age : 23

Watchmaking class: Technician Course

Current mood: Pierre here :)  Efficient week. Took my SLE (Swiss Lever Escapement) final exam last week, which allowed me to focus on micro mechanics: I have spent the week turning all my pivot gauges before I can grind them and proceed to the burnishing. I look forward to doing this next week. Also enjoyed the great weather, which is just great for my running regimen. Stay safe everyone and see you next week. Happy Easter!

Markus McDonald 

Origin : Stockholm Sweden 

Age : 21

Watchmaking class: 2 years Fullskill Program

Current mood: This week was primarily focused on the burnishing being aimed to refine the technique. This included improving feel and approach and modifying the degussit stone. The result was that the overall quality improved in finish making my next step too  improve  the accuracy.

Thankfully the week comes to a close with an extended weekend in celebration of Easter that will be much appreciated in refreshing our minds as these prior weeks have been quiet stressful.

Michael

Origin : Malaysia

Age : 28

Watchmaking class : 2 years Fullskill Program

Current Mood: Finally done with my first ever exam in the school. Did not meet my own expectations, however, the best result I ever done. More room to improve the finishing and estimating tolerances after micro finishing gaps. Starting a new chapter, preparing hand sharpened gravers for turning on the lathe. Looking forward to next week after Easter holidays!

Alex

Origin : Kaohsiung, Taiwan 

Age : 27

Watchmaking : 2Y Fullskill Program

Current mood: woooooooooooooooooh I broke my winding stem in half!!!!!!! What a way to start the holiday!!!! Just beautiful!!!!!! 

STEP 1: TURNING PIVOT GAUGES (PIERRE)

STEP 2: WINDING STEM MADE, THEN BROKE (ALEX)

HENRIK's WORDS:

Easter already arrived! Since we all have been busy working on keeping the courses on track, two exams are now out of the way and the courses are still going strong. This is thanks to the students keeping themselves motivated and happy despite the homeworking situation, I could not be more proud of them! 

I am sure it is easy to slip into negative thinking during these trying times, but so far, they are showing good spirit, working hard at home even keeping the results on par with the program! This comes naturally with a cost such as having to be more disciplined which I am sure is harder at home. Keeping to the regular daily habits I find is important and helpful to maintain discipline and a basic sense of content.

Also, as we are naturally social beings, not seeing people on a daily basis must affect us to some degree negatively, having that knowledge, however, we can still stay positive despite this fact, using today’s technology I find it myself much easier as so many things can be done digitally now! I feel we all need some good rest to get some more energy to the next stage after the Easter break! Hopefully people will also stay at home so the spread does not go out of hand after the Easter break. Happy Easter everyone!!

HABITS

WEEK 52

Pierre Aubert, James Punshon, Jayne Zhuo

Origin : Sydney, Australia. Toulouse, France. Singapore.

Age : 23

Watchmaking class: Technician Course

Current mood: Bonjour Jayne here. This 2nd week of home schooling has been great thus far! It lets you experience what it feels like to run your own workshop at home. Man, I must say, it aint easy at all! So much discipline involve. Other than that, intense week of trial exams yet so fulfilling because you know you can do it when you put your heart and soul to it. Stay safe everyone. Ciao~ 

Markus McDonald 

Origin : Stockholm Sweden 

Age : 21

Watchmaking class: 2 years Fullskill Program

Current mood: This week I focused on three different things making the week both intense and highly productive.

Firstly much like last week I focused on the pivot gauge being to improve them in accuracy and consistency not being perfect but making substantial progress especially with integrating the new techniques that I developed.

Secondly I worked on one of three winding stems, specifically a winding stem in the style of a keyless pocket watch that I based off of measurements that I took from a real pocket watch which when I make will be able to directly slot it into the watch. The reasoning for choosing a practical model to work off is that it would be incredibly satisfying but an important learning experience, that applies to any personal and professional restoration.

Thirdly and last and the most difficult that I started this week was burnishing.

Michael

Origin : Malaysia

Age : 28

Watchmaking class : 2 years Fullskill Program

Current Mood: This has been a very challenging week for me. All filing on hands. Finished the ‘omega’ piece. (I think I will consider doing it again. It’s really fun!). Also had my trial exam today. Filing has really taught me to be patience in every way. By the way, It’s Henrik’s Birthday this Friday as our usual blog day! Done for the week. 

Alex

Origin : Kaohsiung, Taiwan 

Age : 27

Watchmaking : 2Y Fullskill Program

Current mood: It was a rather intense week with 2 trial exams done. The result from the first one is far from ideal to say the least. Multiple mistakes were made in the process. But I don't dislike the situation to be honest, on the contrary, I think this is exactly what I need from time to time. It is disappointing moment like this that reminds me to keep the feet on the ground. It's not pleasant but I cherish it. Hope the second trial piece receives a better review. 

 STEP 1: PREPPING SHELLAC BEFORE EXAM (PIERRE)

 STEP 2: ESCAPEMENT WORK (JAYNE)

 STEP 3: WINDING STEMS (ALEX)

PREPARING THE POLISHING AND CLEANING FOAM

WIND STEM PRACTICING

 STEP 4: HAND FILING (MICHAEL)

HENRIK's WORDS:

We continue the same way as last week, trying to be as close to our normal habits as possible but from home. It has been a busy week as the students are getting ready for exams, for which I had to find a suitable way for them to do at home, so far everything is going seamlessly. I also adjusted my camera setup and can now very easily make live video streaming from what I see in my microscope, very handy indeed! To do it even easier Jayne was kind to donate a very nice tripod to the school! I am learning a lot about distance teaching I feel! Its very interesting and I think it could be a nice supplemental part of future education even for learning certain parts of watchmaking! Peter Speake-Marin of The Naked Watchmaker did an amazing nice work on the school which I saw the draft page and the videos already. Will let you know ones its out. Stay healthy and try to find and focus on the positive things in life no matter how small they are! We will get out of this one stronger than ever before! Enjoy the weekend!