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Making a watch from scratch

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Re: Making a watch from scratch

#52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In case you haven't seen it before... > Shares amazing link there was a 0% chance I'd ever see in my life if not for this comment

You're one of today's lucky 10,000: https://xkcd.com/1053/

Except I don't think 10 000 people discover https://ciechanow.ski/mechanical-watch/ every day.

Re: Making a watch from scratch

#53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're one of today's lucky 10,000: https://xkcd.com/1053/

Except I don't think 10 000 people discover https://ciechanow.ski/mechanical-watch/ every day.

I'm not expecting 10 000 people to discover https://xkcd.com/1053/ every day either.

Re: Making a watch from scratch

#54
post #2

This person's build is amazing! Mostly photos, but still super cool to see how "from scratch" it is - if you're expecting "bought a few components from Swiss companies" then, yeah, it's not that! I submitted this a week ago and sadly it sank without trace (poor choice of posting time I suspect), so I'm trying again. I have no affiliation with the builder.

> bought a few components from Swiss companies I know what you're referring to and it is exactly what I thought of immediately. Thanks for pointing out that this is not that!

I didn't have anyone specific in mind - but it seemed like a reasonable default assumption. In fact I think I landed on the post originally by thinking "I wonder how hard it would be to assemble a watch from parts?" and some cursory searching around that.

I enjoy a channel called "wristwatch revival" that covers servicing and repair of watches of various types - that guy often sends off for parts so it was a natural thing to wonder I think.

Re: Making a watch from scratch

#55
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except I don't think 10 000 people discover https://ciechanow.ski/mechanical-watch/ every day.

I'm not expecting 10 000 people to discover https://xkcd.com/1053/ every day either.

Time for a longitudinal study.

Re: Making a watch from scratch

#56

In case you haven't seen it before, my absolutely favorite watch resource: https://ciechanow.ski/mechanical-watch/

One of the reasons I love mechanical watches is that I've never tried to fully understand them, and the idea that there's a purely mechanical thing, that does something seemingly so simple yet magically and reliably, gives me a sense of wonder and appreciation for engineering and art.

I'm really on the fence about whether or not I want to read this amazing looking article or just live on in ignorance :)

Re: Making a watch from scratch

#57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> bought a few components from Swiss companies I know what you're referring to and it is exactly what I thought of immediately. Thanks for pointing out that this is not that!

I didn't have anyone specific in mind - but it seemed like a reasonable default assumption. In fact I think I landed on the post originally by thinking "I wonder how hard it would be to assemble a watch from parts?" and some cursory searching around that. I enjoy a channel called "wristwatch revival" that covers servicing and repair of watches of various types - that guy often sends off for parts so it was a natural…

[deleted]

Re: Making a watch from scratch

#58
post #8
post #2

This person's build is amazing! Mostly photos, but still super cool to see how "from scratch" it is - if you're expecting "bought a few components from Swiss companies" then, yeah, it's not that! I submitted this a week ago and sadly it sank without trace (poor choice of posting time I suspect), so I'm trying again. I have no affiliation with the builder.

Almost everyone that's not already a large company is buying components. The only truly independent watchmaker I've ever heard of machining absolutely every component is Masahiro Kikuno.

I've seen a documentary (youtube video) about this guy, he spends six months to a year building a single watch from his apartment workshop. Sure, each one will sell for several grand if not millions now that he's more well known, but still, that's some serious dedication to a craft.
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