Specialized Programs
Coming up soon:
One Week Restoration Course
more news in December 2016, stay tuned...
Part Fabrication Course
Duration: 3 weeks. (120 hours)
Date: Only on group request
Type of course: Full time practical hands on course
Number of students: 2 - 6
Price of course: CHF 1500.- per modul (excluding accommodation)
CHF 4200.- for all moduls
Instructor: Henrik Korpela
Introduction
If you are a passionate and ambitious watchmaker that believes micromechanics and finishing of components are the founding pillars of modern high end watchmaking and restoration, this is the course for you. In this specialized fabrication course you will experience making some of the vital parts of a mechanical watch that are commonly found broken, rusted, botched or missing in vintage and antique watches, having the capacity to make parts by hand whenever required, will increase your confidence as a more complete watchmaker.
Prerequisites:
This course is for already competent watchmakers that would like to improve their knowledge and skills; therefore good skills in turning, burnishing, filing, balance spring manipulation, escapement adjustments, gear-train repairing and barrel repairing are important to master to get the most out of this course. The school will provide the necessary tools, machines, movements and training material, but it is expected of the student to bring some of his own hand tools such as eyeglasses, tweezers, screwdrivers etc.
Content:
Study of the winding and setting mechanism parts and their design; practical approach how to make components, includes making of at least one yoke and one setting lever spring, utilizing different machines and tools such as the drilling machine, various big and small lathes, various files and grinding machines, Aciera F1 manual milling machine etc. If the time allows more parts will be made practicing different techniques; such as making of the Maltese cross found commonly broken or removed in high-end pocket watches.
Study of a vintage mechanical chronograph, including but not limited to;
1. Complete overhaul.
2. Making of one setting lever
3. Making of one minute recording runner jumper or blocking lever.
4. Making of other various missing or broken parts.
- Making of various small parts such as screws and bushings.
- Tool and machine knowledge.
- Finishing techniques; flat polishing, bluing, graining, spotting, electroplating etc.
- Heat treatment of steel components.
- Practice and demonstrations.
-Theory for each subject studied.
This 3 week course covers the basics on how to restore mechanical movements and cannot be considered as complete watchmaking training or as a complete restoration course, which would be much longer. If there is a wish after this course to learn more about restoration or perfecting a specific skill; a continuation course can be tailored for specific needs or preferences.
Attestation or Certification
When a student has completed the course and attended the course at least 80% of the time and passed the final examination he or she will receive the K&HWCC certificate on introduction to watch part fabrication. If the student does not pass the examination or cannot attend the examination for one reason or the other he or she will receive an attestation of participation if he or she attended the course at least 80%. The separate modules (see below) come with an attestation of participation when a minimum of 80% attendance has been reached.
Modules
If the student wishes to learn a subject not covered in the 3 week course, the school offers 3 modules that can be added to the course which would normally follow when the 3 week course has been completed, each module is 5 days full time (40 hours). These modules can also be taken separately from the 3 week course.
Module 1 Balance Springs, 5 days
How to practically fit and vibrate flat balance springs in a watch, includes two techniques; with the C.G.S. system and trial and error method for steel balance springs. If time allows the forming of Phillips over-coils (Breguet hairsprings will be studied).
Date: group request only
Type of course: Full time practical hands on course
Module 2 Bridge Making, 5 days
Making of various bridges, including designing, making, finishing and finally electroplating the bridges.
Date: group request only
Type of course: Full time practical hands on course
Number of students: 2- 6
Module 3 Wheels and Pinions, 5 days
Making of wheels and pinions, including designing, making the necessary calculations, and finishing of the wheels and pinions.
Date: group request only
Type of course: Full time practical hands on course
One Week Restoration Course
more news in December 2016, stay tuned...
Part Fabrication Course
Duration: 3 weeks. (120 hours)
Date: Only on group request
Type of course: Full time practical hands on course
Number of students: 2 - 6
Price of course: CHF 1500.- per modul (excluding accommodation)
CHF 4200.- for all moduls
Instructor: Henrik Korpela
Introduction
If you are a passionate and ambitious watchmaker that believes micromechanics and finishing of components are the founding pillars of modern high end watchmaking and restoration, this is the course for you. In this specialized fabrication course you will experience making some of the vital parts of a mechanical watch that are commonly found broken, rusted, botched or missing in vintage and antique watches, having the capacity to make parts by hand whenever required, will increase your confidence as a more complete watchmaker.
Prerequisites:
This course is for already competent watchmakers that would like to improve their knowledge and skills; therefore good skills in turning, burnishing, filing, balance spring manipulation, escapement adjustments, gear-train repairing and barrel repairing are important to master to get the most out of this course. The school will provide the necessary tools, machines, movements and training material, but it is expected of the student to bring some of his own hand tools such as eyeglasses, tweezers, screwdrivers etc.
Content:
Study of the winding and setting mechanism parts and their design; practical approach how to make components, includes making of at least one yoke and one setting lever spring, utilizing different machines and tools such as the drilling machine, various big and small lathes, various files and grinding machines, Aciera F1 manual milling machine etc. If the time allows more parts will be made practicing different techniques; such as making of the Maltese cross found commonly broken or removed in high-end pocket watches.
Study of a vintage mechanical chronograph, including but not limited to;
1. Complete overhaul.
2. Making of one setting lever
3. Making of one minute recording runner jumper or blocking lever.
4. Making of other various missing or broken parts.
- Making of various small parts such as screws and bushings.
- Tool and machine knowledge.
- Finishing techniques; flat polishing, bluing, graining, spotting, electroplating etc.
- Heat treatment of steel components.
- Practice and demonstrations.
-Theory for each subject studied.
This 3 week course covers the basics on how to restore mechanical movements and cannot be considered as complete watchmaking training or as a complete restoration course, which would be much longer. If there is a wish after this course to learn more about restoration or perfecting a specific skill; a continuation course can be tailored for specific needs or preferences.
Attestation or Certification
When a student has completed the course and attended the course at least 80% of the time and passed the final examination he or she will receive the K&HWCC certificate on introduction to watch part fabrication. If the student does not pass the examination or cannot attend the examination for one reason or the other he or she will receive an attestation of participation if he or she attended the course at least 80%. The separate modules (see below) come with an attestation of participation when a minimum of 80% attendance has been reached.
Modules
If the student wishes to learn a subject not covered in the 3 week course, the school offers 3 modules that can be added to the course which would normally follow when the 3 week course has been completed, each module is 5 days full time (40 hours). These modules can also be taken separately from the 3 week course.
Module 1 Balance Springs, 5 days
How to practically fit and vibrate flat balance springs in a watch, includes two techniques; with the C.G.S. system and trial and error method for steel balance springs. If time allows the forming of Phillips over-coils (Breguet hairsprings will be studied).
Date: group request only
Type of course: Full time practical hands on course
Module 2 Bridge Making, 5 days
Making of various bridges, including designing, making, finishing and finally electroplating the bridges.
Date: group request only
Type of course: Full time practical hands on course
Number of students: 2- 6
Module 3 Wheels and Pinions, 5 days
Making of wheels and pinions, including designing, making the necessary calculations, and finishing of the wheels and pinions.
Date: group request only
Type of course: Full time practical hands on course