Skip navigation

Category Archives: watchmaking

When you have a flat tire, stop and change it.

May 3, 2012 – 7:35 pm

“Why might I be writing about automobile problems?”, you ask. Well, its an analogy. We draw incredibly incorrect analogies between cars and watches all the time when it comes to service. We do it to prove a point, your watch needs to be serviced regularly even if the reasons are in fact quite different than [...]

By J.Peter | Also posted in Rolex, watches | Comments (4)

The highest quality money can buy.

May 1, 2012 – 7:23 pm

Today I was working on a nice vintage watch made by Invicta (similar to the one on the left). It is an automatic with date. The dial is proudly marked 41 Jewels. Now, with 41 jewels you expect this to be a really nice movement jeweled all the way to the barrel. Maybe the barrel [...]

By J.Peter | Also posted in watches | Comments (6)

You broke what?

April 24, 2012 – 9:40 pm

So, as a watchmaker you get to see all kinds of strange stuff. Lots of odd stuff is the result of previous watchmakers, but this one, I think, is not. I do have to wonder how this happens. Look closely at the photo. The mainplate is broken. The pilot hole for the stem is tilted [...]

By J.Peter | Comments (4)

Gorilla Glass for a Gorilla Sized Watch

April 9, 2012 – 6:33 pm

One aspect of the modern trend towards increasingly larger wristwatches is that the availability of spare parts has yet to catch up. Particularly for brands that do not have the capacity in place or simply choose not to furnish these parts. Recently, I had a client who needed a new 44mm crystal for his watch. [...]

By J.Edwards | Comments (7)

Tuesday Tools – Screwdriver Sharperner

March 13, 2012 – 9:07 pm

I’ve talked about screwdrivers before and I’ve talked about sharpening stones. Today we’re going to put the two together. I recently received this beautiful screwdriver sharpener from a fine gentleman named John at VersaLab. This company isn’t known for their watchmaking tools but they have done a great job on this one. Before examining the [...]

By J.Peter | Also posted in Tuesday Tools | Comments (6)

How long does it take to set down your tweezers?

February 28, 2012 – 9:02 am

I’ve said it before, but every time I see this kind of stuff it really bugs me. In this particular watch this isn’t even the worst of it. I’ll have to get a new mainplate because of the spurious repair decisions made by past “watchmakers.” Any of you who work on watches will instantly recognize [...]

By J.Peter | Comments (10)

AWCI Board of Directors

February 25, 2012 – 11:01 am

For those of you who are members of AWCI you may be interested to know that I have accepted the nomination to run for their Board of Directors this coming year. A ballot should arrive in a couple of months with my name on it. You can vote for up to 3 candidates. I ask [...]

By J.Peter | Comments (0)

A Simple Fix For Improving Tool Ergonomics

February 3, 2012 – 10:41 pm

One of the stranger items on last year’s list of stocking stuffers for watchmakers was a mouldable, silicone rubber known as Sugru. I mentioned then that I’ve used it to improve the ergonomics of some the tools I use. One of those tools is a hand tool designed for installing and removing pushers in Tissot’s [...]

By J.Edwards | Comments (1)

The Real Invention of Hugo Cabret

February 1, 2012 – 11:20 am

Automatons are real things. Fantastic creations of watchmakers bygone. They absolutely fascinate me. Link to Video, “The Lost art of Automota” Anybody want to pay me a few hundred thousand dollars to figure out how to do this? Feel free to contact me or just make a really, really big donation and I’ll get to [...]

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

Tuesday Tools – What is it?

January 24, 2012 – 10:10 am

Ok, this time I didn’t put any clues in the filename, but you probably won’t need it. What is it?

By J.Peter | Also posted in Tuesday Tools | Comments (4)