I just wanted to say thank you for making this series! I actually don't know much about watchmaking but I've been binge-watching your videos because I'm very much into precision manufacturing and metrology, and this really hits both notes. Also, your watches are gorgeous. If I'm ever in a position to buy myself an heirloom quality piece, it will be one of yours!
Every video is capturing some aspect of watchmaking that a layperson like myself would never have considered. I knew how clean the inner parts of a watch had to be kept, but I never really knew how involved it was. 👏🔥🤙
rodico on the finger cots - thanks!! ill use this in class. i have my final written exam and start my final bench test ETA 955.112 build tomorrow for my quartz class. thank you for the videos!!
Happy to help, and good luck on the test! I learned this from a veteran A. Lange & Söhne watchmaker who was a trainer at Vacheron Constantin in Geneva. A very good way to work even cleaner.
When you worked at Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin, did they allow the use of Rodico or other watchmaker's putty? There's talk on the internet that Rodico leaves a residue so some manufacturers like Omega prohibit its use.
AP and VC both use Rodico. The clean, new Rodico itself does not leave a residue. Dirty Rodico will transfer oil residue though. Some workshops don't use Rodico for that reason. A watchmaker should be able to work without Rodico, but it definitely comes in handy and is not a problem when used correctly. You should always be using fresh Rodico to avoid transferring contamination. Best practice is to work so cleanly that you don't ever need to use Rodico.
On this topic all I know is this... due to Weiss' long lead time for service orders, I took a chance and took my 38mm standard issue (I foolishly dropped it on a tile floor, but that's not important right now) to a swanky local watch shop that sells a ton of luxury Swiss and purportedly services them. When I got it back and looked at the movement with my loupe, it looked like the tech sneezed saltwater into it. Just atrocious. I bit the bullet and sent it in to Cam for a redo. It was worth the wait. It looked brand friggin new all over again. When this man talks about emphasizing cleanliness, take it to the bank.
To keep your shop itself clean, do you have to pay any special attention to the heating/ventilating/air conditioning, like extra fine filters and positive pressure? I figure your media blasting machine doesn't vent to the room! Do you tell your friends not to prank you with an old full vacuum cleaner bag with a large firecracker in it?
Yes, It's ideal to have positive airflow in the assembly room or a laminar flow hood over the assembly bench. Any HVAC system should have hepa filtration in place and any machines with fans and filters should have a second stage hepa filtration in place too. My abrasive cabinets all have hepa filtration. And those "friends" you speak of sound more like enemies than friends haha!
One of the best watchmaking channels I've come across. Fantastic work!
I just wanted to say thank you for making this series! I actually don't know much about watchmaking but I've been binge-watching your videos because I'm very much into precision manufacturing and metrology, and this really hits both notes. Also, your watches are gorgeous. If I'm ever in a position to buy myself an heirloom quality piece, it will be one of yours!
Before I became an engineer I was a chef. This holds true for both disciplines. Cleanliness is truly akin to godliness.
Every video is capturing some aspect of watchmaking that a layperson like myself would never have considered.
I knew how clean the inner parts of a watch had to be kept, but I never really knew how involved it was.
👏🔥🤙
Thank You! This is exactly what I'm trying to shine a light on.
rodico on the finger cots - thanks!! ill use this in class. i have my final written exam and start my final bench test ETA 955.112 build tomorrow for my quartz class. thank you for the videos!!
Happy to help, and good luck on the test! I learned this from a veteran A. Lange & Söhne watchmaker who was a trainer at Vacheron Constantin in Geneva. A very good way to work even cleaner.
The way the glass refracted the light at 2:50 made me do a double take on that wheel lol.
The Vacuum-Air Compressor machine you are using what’s it called, I need this for my bench
When you worked at Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin, did they allow the use of Rodico or other watchmaker's putty? There's talk on the internet that Rodico leaves a residue so some manufacturers like Omega prohibit its use.
AP and VC both use Rodico. The clean, new Rodico itself does not leave a residue. Dirty Rodico will transfer oil residue though. Some workshops don't use Rodico for that reason. A watchmaker should be able to work without Rodico, but it definitely comes in handy and is not a problem when used correctly. You should always be using fresh Rodico to avoid transferring contamination. Best practice is to work so cleanly that you don't ever need to use Rodico.
On this topic all I know is this... due to Weiss' long lead time for service orders, I took a chance and took my 38mm standard issue (I foolishly dropped it on a tile floor, but that's not important right now) to a swanky local watch shop that sells a ton of luxury Swiss and purportedly services them. When I got it back and looked at the movement with my loupe, it looked like the tech sneezed saltwater into it. Just atrocious. I bit the bullet and sent it in to Cam for a redo. It was worth the wait. It looked brand friggin new all over again. When this man talks about emphasizing cleanliness, take it to the bank.
To keep your shop itself clean, do you have to pay any special attention to the heating/ventilating/air conditioning, like extra fine filters and positive pressure? I figure your media blasting machine doesn't vent to the room! Do you tell your friends not to prank you with an old full vacuum cleaner bag with a large firecracker in it?
Yes, It's ideal to have positive airflow in the assembly room or a laminar flow hood over the assembly bench. Any HVAC system should have hepa filtration in place and any machines with fans and filters should have a second stage hepa filtration in place too. My abrasive cabinets all have hepa filtration. And those "friends" you speak of sound more like enemies than friends haha!