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Category Archives: Watchmaking School

Watchmaking is Monotonous

July 28, 2008 – 11:04 am

When I was preparing for graduation from watchmaking school I interviewed for an internship with Rolex. I remember one of the questions they asked me was why I wanted to be a watchmaker. I said something like, “I like the creativity involved and getting to see so many different watches and how they accomplish the [...]

By J.Peter | Also posted in watchmaking | Comments (7)

Apprenticeship?

June 16, 2008 – 8:19 pm

I’ve spent quite a bit of time talking about my watchmaking school experience but is it the only way to become a watchmaker? Well, no. If you can find a master watchmaker in your area you could apprentice (assuming he is willing.) In today’s world this may be a great opportunity because the master watchmaker [...]

By J.Peter | Also posted in watchmaking | Comments (2)

Articles on LWT

June 13, 2008 – 11:05 am

There have been several articles written on LWT here are links to several I know about: Business Week – Dec 2006 Bloomberg News – Feb 2005 Professional Jeweler – May 2003 National Jeweler – July 2001 Professional Jeweler – Oct 2003

By J.Peter | Also posted in watchmaking | Comments (0)

Tuesday Tools – Pin Vises

May 27, 2008 – 8:36 pm

One of the things about watches is they are tiny. When you need to hold a component firmly (more firmly than you can with tweezers) you often use a pin vise. The most common thing I use pin vises for is to hold a stem when I remove or install a crown, or for shortening [...]

By J.Peter | Also posted in Tuesday Tools, watchmaking | Comments (1)

Magnification

May 6, 2008 – 12:51 pm

For the most part watches and their components are fairly small machines. I would never be able to work on them and properly examine the condition of parts without using some magnification. I don’t really use the loupe pictured at top (it is a presentation piece made in sterling silver, it weighs a ton, and [...]

By J.Peter | Also posted in watchmaking | Comments (8)

Watchmakers Wanted

May 4, 2008 – 6:53 am

Not sure where this ad is running, or who it is supposed to appeal to, but it looks like Swatch Group is in need of experienced watchmakers. I guess the six per year they are graduating from the Nicholas G. Hayek School of Watchmaking isn’t enough. I saw the ad on the Swiss Watch Boutique

By J.Peter | Also posted in watches, watchmaking | Comments (3)

Horological Finishing and decoration

April 14, 2008 – 12:22 pm

I recently received a fantastic book in the mail from Prem Chainani, who has posted some great comments here on Tick Talk. The book is titled High-end horological finishing and decoration. As you can see bug, my three year old, enjoyed the book too. When I was in school we learned a few basics about [...]

By J.Peter | Also posted in watches, watchmaking | Comments (1)

Barrel Opener and Closer

April 9, 2008 – 2:49 am

There are many ways to open and close barrels. These two ways are the ones I use. On the left is my standard barrel closer. For those of you who don’t know the barrel is the first wheel (gear) in the gear train and it houses the mainspring. It needs to be opened when serviced [...]

By J.Peter | Also posted in watchmaking | Comments (5)

Tick Talk has moved

March 31, 2008 – 4:37 am

Thanks to the generous contributions of my readers I am able to move my blog to a self-hosted domain. Why am I doing this? It gives me more control over my blog content and it allows me to put some advertising on my blog – creating more revenue to improve content. Your generous contributions have [...]

By J.Peter | Also posted in Tuesday Tools, Uncategorized, monday myths, watches, watchmaking | Comments (0)

Alcohol Lamp & Pallet Warmer

March 18, 2008 – 8:29 pm

This is one of those tools that when my co-workers (not watchmakers) see me using it they always ask what I am doing. It’s an alcohol lamp and a pallet warmer. So, what do I do with it? Burn alcohol and warm pallets, duh! Just kidding. Many adjustable parts in watches (like most jewels) are [...]

By J.Peter | Also posted in Tuesday Tools, watchmaking | Comments (3)