TRIALS!

 WEEK 98

Willy, Yuriy, Alex, Michael

Origin : Singapore, Canada, Taiwan, Malaysia 

Age: n. a.

Watchmaking class: Technician & Fullskill 

Current mood: Escapement exam is coming, so for us the week is rather stable/boring. We had 2 trial exams which, to our surprise, everybody passed with flying color. Other than that, Yuriy worked on his many side projects and Willy on his 7 movements. Alex made 2 bushings on the 7001 main plate while Michael made a really cool sliding pin vise. Next week, if without accidents, should be our final exam. Fingers crossed, just kidding, we don't need luck.  : )

Pierre Aubert

Origin :Toulouse, France.

Age : 24

Watchmaking class: Fullskill

Current mood: Another busy week in the workshop: we’re getting closer to the final exam and my time is split between final exam preparation, school watch finishing and finding a job! More on that really soon :)!

I have spent most of the week learning bevelling by hand and bevel polishing by hand! The task itself is very “straightforward” but is very very subtle..! Knowing the theory is just a strong base, but doing and OBSERVING are what I found to be key. I have learned massively and will show it to you soon. I cannot afford to spend as much time as before on the school watch but this doesn’t matter to me as I am simply learning more..!
Have a good weekend everyone!

Name: Markus McDonald.
Origin: Stockholm, Sweden. 
Course: 2 years full skill course.
Current mode: This week I finished the last sections of the hairspring adjustment, specifically establishing the regulating curve and double bend. Both adjustments  where tricky and had a learning curve as the risk of damaging the hairspring was very high depending on technique and dexterity for the best result, making them challenging. However I was able to push forward and finish both adjustments making it very satisfying.

STEP 1: TOOL MAKING! (MICHAEL)

In between trial exams Michael made this cool standing sliding pin-vice to hold small watch parts with, very handy tool indeed!

STEP 2: TOTAL LOCK! (TECHNICIAN)

The total locks adjustments from the technicians are improving and getting smaller while keeping them still safe. Few more trials and then they are ready for the real exam.

STEP 3: REPAIR JOB! (ALEX)

On Alex 7001 mainplate one screw thread got stripped, which gave him a golden opportunity to re-bush it with a new threaded bushing to save the mainplate. Very good repair simulation, as for certain vintage  watches which you can no longer order or find a new mainplate for, the only way then is to repair it.

HENRIK's WORDS:

 

We had two escapement trial exams this week which went really well for everyone, looking like some of the students may do the real one next week. Pierre is doing really well and continued on his school watch, practicing flank graining and beveling of the barrel bridge. Markus got a good hang of the hairspring regulating curve forming and started to practice making the double bend. The technicians finished all the pallet adjustments on the exercise movements and did two trial exams and will most likely take the real exam next week. Michael and Alex got some time in between the trials to do some machining which was nice to see! A very solid week! Have a great weekend everyone!