The Making of the Dresdener Regulator, Part 4 of 4
With all the decorated parts back from plating Don continues by remounting the wheels on the pinions.
Any out-of-flatness must be corrected, which makes for much work.
Here we see the going train in place.
Add the winding train and click (the barrel and winding intermediate screws will be replaced with correctly finished ones later).
A first try at fitting in the case. The stem has not yet been cut to length and is way too long.
From the dial side. We notice that the keyless works has not enjoyed any finishing up ‘til now.
The buckle
Half of the keyless work finished, the other half waiting anxiously to be brought up to snuff.
Now it is time to mount the slate dial and ruthenium plated dial frame on the movement.
The dial frame is held on the dial itself with 3 little feet. They are then mounted on the movement as a unit.
Another fitting test in the case.
Now it is time to mount the hands...
Don had to ream the holes in the hands a bit, so the hands are going to have to be repolished and plated again in the future.
The cannon for the seconds hand. 0.8mm diameter, 1.20mm long, the hole for the seconds wheel axle is 0.25mm in diameter.
Now with the seconds hand mounted.
Before closing up the case a little hop on the timing machine. This looks acceptable.
Now cased up in the prototype case I think you will agree that the combination of gray ruthenium plating on
the movement and dial with the red gold case is magnificent.
Don’s attempt to unify the decoration on the dial and movement sides is quite successful.
The horizontal côtes-de-Genève front and back with rhodium hands and wheels works really well.
Fast-change straps, remarkable idea!
This has been a great story of the making of a one-of-a-kind watch by hand, from start to finish.
We thank Don for sharing with us the journey, processes and pictures to help us to better understand his work
and time spent from conceptualizing to the finished product.
I hope you enjoy the four posts as much as I am reporting them.
Don, we wish you all the best.
Thank you.
Kong
This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2009-03-19 16:56:11
This message has been edited by MTF on 2009-03-23 03:05:12
pictures don't show
i can't see the pictures in this topic. anyone else have the same problem?
Pictures don't show...
Most friendly and admiringly /// Christian ...Or maybe the swedish donkey (me) should check for messages on tech work...
This message has been edited by patronaget on 2009-03-19 13:47:37
Something is wrong with pics on this site
Thought it was my computer but checked on another and same thing. Cant wait to see!!
Pictures are back! For those who unable to view earlier, please revisit. Thanks. [nt]
PuristS visiting Basel 2009 can see this watch
People who might be interested to see the watch during the Baselworld 2009 can contact Don Corson by PM.
Arrange a time and place, although Don usually hangs out close to the Independents booth interviewing for PuristSPro 
Regards,
MTF
Congratulations to Don!
Don,
As great as it is to read behind-the-scenes articles about honorable watchmakers like Chopard, and the many others that have been kind enough to open their doors to PuristSPro, there's nothing more satisfying to me than to see you, one of our own members, create a beautiful timepiece from start to finish. I've derived a lot of enjoyment from this series of posts, and found it an invaluable learning experience. What so many of us can only dream of doing, you've successfully accomplished. Kudos!
Thanks to Kong also for the great articles.
Cheers,
Daos
Just Amazing!!!
I agree that the gray ruthenium and the rose gold works well together. And I also love the cotes-de-Geneve on the dial side!!!!
Fantastic!!! Thank you for sharing the process of creating such a beautiful piece
Thomas
Happy to have witnessed
...this remarkable piece of watchmaking. It is wonderful to see a great choice of materials, hard work, cool dial layout, and sweet, sweet cotes-de-geneve in a horizontal pattern. Just great. I am as a beginner in these areas of artisanry very thankful to have taken part of this show of skill and dedication. Thank you very much.
/Christian
A wonderful end...
to me "you can't MAKE a watch!", I'm going to show them your 4 posts, and then laugh. Not at them,
but at the fact that people these days, despite all the technology we have, still seem to believe no one
can make anything tangible anymore by hand. Things all appear now by "magic".
For every person I have met, even people who work as professional watchmakers, that have bluntly told
me, laughing at me, "nobody makes a watch anymore, you're crazy", your work gives me hope. It can be
done, and even before I saw your work Don, I knew of Daniels. If he could do it, given his background,
anyone with serious determination and high skill, given time, can. You are one of a handful of people in
the world who has endeavored towards this, and you've succeeded, quite handsomely at that.
Someday, hopefully soon, I will join your world Don. And look out- because with my background, and what
I know, I plan on making everything- even the ruby jewels themselves, from raw materials. It's not as hard as
it sounds- much like you, all you need is the right equipment, the skill, and the know-how (don't forget patience!)
I have nothing but patience. And as soon as I find a suitable research lab model crystal furnace at a reasonable
price, watch out Don,
Again, beautiful work.
Awesome Don and congratulations!!
Also a big thanks to Kong for detailing the step-by-step work being done.
Btw Don, what's the case size of this Dresdener Regulator?
Cheers,
Anthony
Thanks for all the kind words !
IMHO just right to not be small, but not a big watch either.
Don
