Reply With QuoteHello and welcome to you :cheers:
Hi All
I am pretty new to TZ, have been scoping it out for a couple of weeks and thought it was time I introduced myself.
A little bit about me, I was up until 10 weeks ago working as an IT consultant based in the Netherlands, I then quit my job and I am now studying to be a watchmaker, I am doing the WOSTEP course here in the UK....2 years with no income....I must be nuts!
I am really enjoying the course, currently it's all about micromechanics....I am currently making stems.....when I make one that is half decent i will post a picture on the forum for you all to see.
Anyway I've rambled on for too long......would be cool to hear from anyone out there with any advise etc....
Peace out
Hello and welcome to you :cheers:
Welcome aboard :)
Good luck with the course, sounds interesting.
Welcome along by the way. You're going to need that income soon ;) :D
Welcome indeed. I would love to do what you are doing, good luck with the training. :)
Welcome to the forum!
Hi and welcome to the forum!
Mark
Cheers guys for the warm welcome, I think I am going to be on here quite a lot.
P.s. I am currently roaming the earth wearing a Seiko Pogue and loving it
hello and welcome. :)
jim.
echobase - far away in time.
Good luck everybody. Have a good one.
Welcome :) That looks like a good course and a nice lifestlye change!
Welcome to the forum :)
Welcome to the forum sir.
Welcome on boaard :wave:
Two years with no income in the UK... you must be nuts indeed :wink:
hello, welcome and good luck with the course.
Nice to have you join us.
Welcome to the mad merri-go-round.
:lol:
Welcome !
Nice to see another watchmaker in training. Iv also chosen the same path as you,*edited, see you around*
WELCOME ... WELCOME
Welcome!
Brave change of career - if you hang around here though I'm sure you'll be earning before 2 years!
Welcome :D
"I looked with pity not untinged with scorn upon these trivial-minded passers-by"
Hi :wave:
Andy
Wanted - Damasko DC57
Thanks for all the replies!
This week at school I almost finished making a stem (only a training version). I made it from a 20mm length of steel with 2mm diameter. Had to turn it down so that it had a pivot that was only 0.65mm diameter, and burnished it using a jacot tool, a square, seat, main bearing, slot and a 10mm thread....really enjoyed the process, next week I will be making a stem for a real watch.
When I figure out how to take some decent photos with my camera I will post an image for you all to see.
Later
Echobase
Hello again.....sorry I have been so lame, its been ages since I last visited TZ. Anyway just wanted to let you know I have finished the first year of the course, all exams passed so I am really pleased. I also did a short work placement with Cartier which was really interesting, I have another work placement to do in the next few weeks at Patek Philippe, really stoked to get experience at 2 prestigious companies.
The first year went so quickly but I learnt so much about myself and watches......still much to learn though!
I will try and be a bit more pro-active in future and let you know how i get on in year 2.....
Welcome, and good luck with the course.
I did a couple of BHI courses to learn the basics....I wish you well :)
Paul
It would be good if you could come back periodically and update us of your progress.
Sounds interesting :wink:
A very warm welcome to the forum!! Enormous amount of knowledge here to complement your course.Good luck!!
Hi and welcome. Enjoy the forum, we’re a really friendly and helpful bunch.:cheers:
Well, good luck with yr2 of your course and post some pics of your work! :)
Welcome from another newbie :)
Good luck with the course!
welcome! watchmakers always needed here!
ktmog6uk
marchingontogether!
Welcome.
I think it's so cool what you're doing and very brave of you to do so too.
When I was on holiday in South Africa, we came across a very quaint antique, gun and watch/clock store run by an expert watchmaker who said he was looking for an apprentice (for when he retired) and if I was willing, he would take me on. Just wasn't going to work unfortunately. :(
All the best.
If you can, please take some pictures during your work placement at PP and post them! I think that would go down very well here. I know it would with me.
Good luck with the second year of your course.
Congratulations on passing year one!
Keep us posted - we can handle more than 4 updates a year :wink:
Gray
Wow - that is fantastic! Cartier and Patek - very impressed - very few of us get to know what goes on in these places.Originally Posted by echobase
Good luck. If I had my old health and could keep a steady hand I would consider retraining myself and spending my life immersed with watches.
It's just a matter of time...
Good luck with the course, all the best.
Alex
Welcome and the very best of luck in your new venture.
Hey Guys and Gals
Thanks for the messages, I really appreciate it, I will see if I can take some pics.....although most of the watch houses are very cautious about people taking photos, I can ask though.
Currently listening to my Itunes....its on shuffle, it just played The Prodigy Serial Thrilla and followed it up the Simon and Garfunkal Scarborough Fair!
how the heck did you get a place on that course! well done
Hey Jegger
I know I am lucky to be on the course.
I took the interview tests and passed so I quit my job and I fund myself, which is not easy but I think it is worth it.
Welcome and what a lifestyle change. I'm in IT too but now way too old to change course. Youre doing something most of us dream of.......well done
Okay I have to admit that it's so cool that you're training to be a watchmaked, good luck :D
Ok.....gotta admit I forgot about this topic!
The work placements with Cartier and Patek were really great, I was fortunate enough to spend some time with some really experienced watchmakers......no photos though.
Since returning to school have have completed the final 2 intermediate exams, the first exam involved setting up the alignment between the escape wheel through the pallets and the balance wheel. We also have to shellack the pallet jewels into the pallet frame. The second exam was the dreaded hairspring exam....this involved pinning the spring to a collet and attaching it to a balance staff and finding the timing point. We also have to bend the hairspring to form the terminal curve and add two 45 degree bends to the spring and al all times try and keep the thing flat and centred.
Happy to say I passed both exams, I am now Ito the final phase of the course with just the final exams in July to complete.
Hello and welcome from Denmark :)
Good luck with the rest of it. That hairspring stuff sounds scary, I had enough trouble just disassembling and reassembling.
Gray
A very warm welcome & congratulations on a brave career move. Keep us posted on progress please.
Congrats, glad to hear it's going well.
At the age of 52, following redundancy/early retirement in 2010, I did three residential training courses at BHI (5 days each) which I really enjoyed. That taught me the basics and got me going. After spending last year doing other things I`ve now returned to it whole-heartedly and now spend most of my time immersed in watches. I decided I was too old for the full-blown WOSTEP course and didn`t really want to make the committment. However, based on the training I`ve had and plenty of practice I`m now doing OK and gaining in confidence.
Who says you can`t teach an old dog new tricks :lol:
As for hairsprings... :roll: ....that's got to be the trickiest aspect of watchmaking and it's the part that has most effect on the performance of the watch. Pinning the hairspring back in place is not easy....I`m doing one tonight and not looking forward to it. Straightening and correcting hairspring faults is most demanding and I think lots of practice is the only answer.
More frustrating than learning the practical skills is trying to obtain parts and dealing with certain suppliers :twisted: .
Paul
With hairspring manipulation the mantra has to be look at it for a long time and bend it only once!
Multiple attempts at bending it only introduces more faults and makes the spring weak.....I re-learn this lesson every day!
Great story! We don't mind seeing pics of your work; a lot of us (me included) are in awe when we can see parts and can read an explanation! So, if you have pics of your work or training, please share them!
Menno
Thanks for the updates, great to hear your story. Takes some balls to jack it all in and pursue a totally new career. :thumbright:
Hello there. :) Good watchmakers seem to be in short supply, so I wish you well in your new career.
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