Back to Geneva

Starting off with last weekend, we have a Hong Kong movie night! Chris and Phillip were kind enough to cook for everyone, making some Hong Kong themed dishes. Some old students also came by to pay a visit. A very merry day all around.

Our chefs

Later in the week it was time for EPHJ. Also fun to go on a Geneva trip. Spoke to many people and saw many cool machines. We were also lucky enough to get an invocation by The Watch Lab in Geneva to visit their wonderful workshop. 

And look at this little guy, hopefully he won’t be taking our jobs.

Back to school now, I have been making some good progress in making and plating some dials. Took a while to find a good plating method but with the help of our professor they are coming out nicely.

Turning the dial

Plated 

Bernd worked in turning a special Horia pusher for pushing the 7001 roller table. Useful little guy.

Pushing 

Chris made a custom graver for cutting screw threads. It’s a function his new lathe has, so we’re all eager to see him start playing with it.

That’s it for this week. 

Until next time!

Celebration time

 Yesterday Bernd finished his hair spring exam! This is his final exam before his final exam. Now having 5 months free to prepare and work on his own projects. A big weight lifted. 

Over in our workshop, after Bernd’s exam we started learning the final details of the technician course. Our professor taught us the theory and oiling points of the calendar and of the automatic winding. Which now leaves just the chronograph. 

While in the other workshop, Nick is making solid headway on his turning. After having learnt how to operate the lathe, he’s quickly finishing parts for his tools.

Balance bridge holder

Completing his balance bridge holder, a very useful tool in the second year. Also putting to use the milling attachment to make screw heads. 

Meanwhile Sens is preparing for his final exam, here achieving and almost perfect reading.

Jaewon, Chris, Gary and Phil are now learning the intricate winding and setting system of the watch. A part of the watch hidden behind the dial and rarely seen. This arrangement of the watch is particularly tricky to oil and involves a couple different oils.

That’s it for this week! Until next time!

Who let the dog out

 Everyone working hard over here in Le Locle. I myself finished restoring a very old pillar pocket watch. With gilded and hand engraved bridges, it is quite the handsome watch. 

Dog?

After a lot of debate, we still could not come to a conclusion as to what this animal is.

Not many parts to this watch

As for GUI, today he completed his winding stem restoration exercise. For this, he is given a caliber with no winding stem at all, from this he deduced the full dimensions of the stem then turns and tempers it. A very useful exercise.

Dimensions to be found

Restored 

Jaewon, Chris, Gary and Phillip are now learning about barrel restoration. Going through arbor end-shake and side-shake, and how to change it. 

Work arbor 

Chris laser engraved the back of Joan’s custom AliExpress build. Came out nicely.

Sense is now preparing for his final exam, touching up his skills on regulation. Attempting to reach isochronism, where the rate at low amplitudes match the rate at high amplitude, giving the watch consistency. As well as dynamic poising, to match the rates at different positions.

I’ll end it with a reminder of spring’s arrival. Until next time!