Independents

Showing a watchmaker at Philippe Dufour's atelier polishing a countersink by hand.  I've removed the audio as it was a lot of background chatter.  I thought some might appreciate seeing the hand work that goes into the Simplicity (or at least a part of it). 

http://media.putfile.com/P-Dufour-atelier

 This is a wide photo of the same work.

 

 And photos of the actual part being polished.

 

 

 When the watchmaker was questioned regarding the process, he stated that knowing when the job was completed was as much by the feel as it was by the look of that part. 

 I can say that visiting this atelier really changed my perspective on watches.

He is the master IMO.

 Cheers, Al

 

 

I can't believe the watch maker is using a bow for the polishing!    Can the hand finishing be as good as hand assisted finishing with some type of electric tool?  I know DuFour is the master,  but I almost think that this type of finish work can lead to inconsistent quality.  On the other hand, I suppose that's what makes each watch genuinely unique.

I would, however, claim that using a bow would improve the quality.
For polishing the pressure used is an important variable, not too little and not too much.
As the polishing progresses the friction between the tool and the part changes too.
An electric tool will hardly be effected by the differing pressure and friction, using a bow you will
feel this very directly.
As the watchmaker said "when the job was completed was as much by the feel as it was by the look of that part"
Don

This was exactly the point the watchmaker was making.  The bow allowed him to feel that the finish was right, even though the difference could not be seen.

Cheers, Al

Always fun to see how Dufour and assistants do what they do.