It is planned to have the watch finished in time for Basel watch fair, but the delivery of the crystals is currently the issue as it appears that all other parts will be completed on time.
Mhvj cal 2005 movement is being used in the prototype, as it will be in the limited edition. Two movements arrived from my order, though it appears today that these are loan movements to set up the watch and will be replaced by the finish that I have ordered.
I can’t read French, so I missed that part initially and am still not 100% sure.
There was some issue about the finish I ordered as well as the Strutec ® escapement that apparently could not be included as this order was short notice at 5 months!
When the raw material arrived, it went straight into the lathe
The programming of the CNC machine was done some time back as this material we have been waiting for, for some time.
The watchmaker does not use Stainless Steel, so it needed to be ordered specially.
On the series watch we will be having engraved black numbers with a 1.6mm lume pip at the 12 o'clock triangle. Originally 28 sapphire pieces were to be used in the bezel, but in the 11th hour that did not work out.
It is still number one on my list of things to do for the future, though it will add some considerable cost to the watch, no doubt.
On this prototype watch, the bezel will be filled with lume and a clear lacquer.
It is being done to test how it works out and more so to see how the 28 sapphire inserts will work in the watch aesthetically.
Over the coming months, a few prototype bezels will produced, including a full sapphire ring insert with lumed makers underneath and a 12 hour bezel to give the watch the ability to time commercial dives.
Bezel in the CNC machine
Case back was originally planned with a dive bell engraved.
No matter how I played with this drawing, it never looked 100% right to me, so I decided to have just text on the case back instead.
Eventually the drawing will appear, but it will take a few prototypes to get it right and it’s not just the drawing of course, it’s the method used to make it.
The Omega SeaMaster case back is my bench mark, but of course, it will add cost again.
Most likely will be stamped like the Omega and Swiss tooling costs have an interesting amount of zero's on the end, so doubtful it will appear this year.
I am more focused on presenting the CD-1 as well as the CD-2, Ti models, etc.
I am at this point happy to have a nice clean, plain case back.
Of course there is a long way to go and over the coming weeks, I hope to bring you all many pictures showing the construction of this watch.
And hope that all will be ready in time to present at Basel fair.
