Random stuff...

Students are practicing enlarging holes with the jig-borer

Brass anvil made by a student

Hand turning exercices, these will later be filed square

Charle's birthday

One of the students experimenting with cooking Moby Dick (whale)

Hand making

One of the boys in Henrik's class, Brad, decided to try out handmaking on his free time. This was his first attempt

This is a close up of his first attempt.

It didn't really work out the first time so he tried it again. This was the 2nd attempt.

And this is his 3rd attempt.

Its actually quite good considering how no one taught him how to do it. He experimented and persevered and this is the end result. Its really quite good for a first attempt. It just needs a little bit more polishing and finishing and it will be super. 

Photos taken by the students while working :-

Year of the Snake

To all our chinese friends,

We wish you all a Happy Chinese New Year ! 

Bad weather.

Its snowing badly in Le Locle this week and temperatures are set to possibly hit -15 this weekend. Best condition to do watchmaking since there is pretty much nothing else one can do.

Kevin on his Horia.

Henrik deep in concentration.

Kevin taking a short break.

This is what we see everyday when we peer out of the window.

Joseph Bentley, Sheffield. Go England ! 

Hand turning this week ...

So it begins.

Joseph Bentley of Sheffield on his Horia.

Dufour.

Hello everyone. Sorry for the radio and internet silence. We have been rather busy before we left for our Christmas breaks. A 4 week long holiday did us all very good. Watchmaking is a tedious and rewarding activity but we need our break. Henrik went home to Sweden and all the boys went home to their countries. 

Some have said to us a 4 week holiday is too long but hey, it was a good decision. Plane tickets tend to be expensive nearing to christmas and they are horribly expensive again after the New Year's. We all worked very hard before we took our break and an ample rest always benefits the mind and body. Eliminating the rush hour plane rushes, a long enough break and lower expenses, we are now back ! 

This was our visit to Mr Dufour before the Christmas break. He was charming and welcoming as usual. He also taught us a few tricks ! 

Henrik and the boys talking to the Mr Dufour

His Simplicite

The crew.

The very last Simplicite to leave the Le Sentier workshop.

Mr Dufour's geneva wave device.

Joseph admiring the work of Mr Dufour. 

Henrik on a happy note.

Nimble fingers of the living god of watchmaking.