Last Wednesday, just ahead of a long-planned visit to Venice for my wife’s birthday, Jenny announced that the bracelet on her much loved Cartier needed repair. In the same moment as asking whether she could borrow a watch in the neantime she picked up my Speedy. ‘Oooh, I like this one. Thank you.’ ‘Ummm. Ok’ (I had to say.) Now, regular viewers of my Insta feed, and attendees of T4aP gtgs, will know of the Pîêčé Úñiqüé, a watch that I (ahem) made back in November. Until now only the movement side had been revealed. A strict Press Embargo and NDA arrangement had been enforced and legal action threatened worldwide against any toe-rag that published photos and spoiled the surprise for Mrs F. (Not that there was a huge risk, tbh. Zero online presence.) Movement, 1/1 You can imagine that I was a little ‘tense’ at the prospect of ‘losing’ the Speedy. But confident that the PÜ would win her over on her birthday. Phew. It did the trick. I made the watch last November under the guidance and auspices of the International Watch Seminar at The Clockworks, London. It was a brilliant weekend. As a total numpty with spanners, drills and all tools, and no clue as to how a watch actually works, I banged this beauty together in a couple of days. It even works. I got to spend the weekend at a properly kitted out watchmaker’s bench. I am told that I can now join a Watchmaker’s Guild. With robes and everything, if I want. Mrs F. loves the watch. I am still unsure whether I am getting the Speedy back. But hey. Long story short... you can do this too. And if you can, do. Courses are booking now for watch making weekends in 2018 where you create your own Pîēçé Ùńìqûę... decorating and finishing and assembling your own special watch. Or one for someone else. Check it out. Insta: @internationalwatchseminar Love to all, N
Did that '__afting devine beer' cap fit into the watch? And for what function? Or was it merely used as 'numpty watchmaker lubrication'? Sounds like total fun! Thanks for the headsup...
And unless the movement was lubricated with vaporiser liquid, that bit of kit is also unnecessary, except to stop the assembler going postal with frustration Nice work btw
Phew at last the embargo is over! Would make a good T4AP episode I think Neil. Now I can officially say - “ top skills, well crafted” - I just knew she’d love it!
Nice watch! I had to translate "total numpty" into English, but now that I know what it means I intend to use it routinely