Watchmaking: Machining the Heart of a Watch

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In this video, Mike and Alastair work together to build a working model of the Chronometer escapement mechanism.
About Chronova Engineering Ltd:
We're a small team of scientists and engineers who love making cool things! If you'd like to see what else we get up to, please subscribe to our channel and visit our other sites: linktr.ee/chronovaengineering

[@Serbokrat]

I was searching KZbin a few days ago to find someone actually machining a watch from scratch and was surprised at how few results I got. A lot of people calling themselves watchmakers that only clean and reassemble watches, never making them. And now more videos from you, awesome.

[@robertbrowne7880]

Repairing or restoration makes you money. Manufacturing removes that money.

[@Serbokrat]

@@robertbrowne7880 well yeah of course. I'm just wondering how many watchmakers on KZbin could actually make a watch.

[@_Agent_86]

Unfortunately watchmaker is the correct word to use for those that repair watches, especially in modern times when most watches are factory made. Makes it hard to use as a search term to get the result you’re looking for.

[@andrewzaborowski3832]

​ As @_Agent_86 mentions, they are correct to call themselves watchmakers. It is also true that almost no one in history actually does or did "machine watches from scratch". Even before modern factory production, traditional watchmaking was done by over a dozen individual trades making various parts. If you restrict to only the watch movement, it is a bit more common, but still has only been true in luxury watches since well before KZbin, because it isn't economical for large-scale production. Smaller high-end watchmakers like Roger Smith do essentially make whole watches from scratch, producing no more than about 10 a year from a small workshop staffed with a handful of watchmakers, with years-long waiting lists and 5-digit prices. He has posted some videos, and channels like Clickspring, DeanDK and others have content that covers some of this, because it is a passion project. The reality is that even for those of us with experience and know-how, it requires a shop full of thousands of dollars in tooling and a ton of time to do something like this. This is also assuming that you are working from a pre-existing design.

[@user-wv1pj6wh4h]

He said it hadnt precison so he just built amachine not a watch.. now shut up please.

[@reganlittlewood]

Regardless of being inefficient, that's still a beautiful piece of engineering!

[@user-wv1pj6wh4h]

ineficient menas its an unusefull machine, in this case ,, if it havnt precison is not a watch

[@rwes61]

What fascinates me is the amount of handwork that is involved in the making of many of your mechanisms!

[@martinpanev6651]

You guys are filling in the Clickspring-Shaped hole in my heart :) Wonderful work and beautiful camera shots, as always! Gorgeous mechanism and video!

[@MikkelHojbak]

I just wanted to commend you on this video. The audio levels are perfect both for speech and background music throughout, the focus of the camera is spot on, and the pace is fantastic for the type of content. Thank you for sharing! 👍

[@Chicken_Butt_Farms]

This is the perfect comment.

[@WindmillChef]

agreed!

[@SedatedandRestrained]

It's fascinating to see the other end of the spectrum of precision machine work. I manually machine stuff that is in the tens to hundreds of pounds that require 0.005" accuracy usually and it boggles my mind that people such as yourself have the steadiness and patience to craft such tiny and precise parts. Truly awesome in the original sense of the word, extremely well documented and presented craftsmanship.

[@michaelmacdonald2907]

Patience . . no matter how much you start with, you always run out

[@theselectiveluddite]

That was 38 mins well spent. Thanks for an informative and soothing dive into the spring detent escapement :) Cheers

[@chronovaengineering]

Fantastic to hear you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!

[@rusemers]

As someone who started their working life as a Scientific Instrument Maker, your work is a joy to behold. Thank you for sharing your creative journey.

[@Mars-zgblbl]

Cool! I’m guessing your expertise is rare. My dad’s former colleague in defence research was a scientific instrument maker and some of his tools found their way to me. The boxes include gravers, small files, a parallelogram-section burnisher, graver sharpening guide, brass quadrant calipers, tiny taps and dies but no holder, squares, tiny mallet. Tools with purposes unknown to me include couple of sharp edged polished burnishers about 4” x 1/4” x 1/16” with teardrop sections, and a couple of steel rods about 6” long x 3/16” dia. shaped like a cane with the handle turned out and sharpened to a point. I couldn’t begin to guess what he would have made

[@rusemers]

People in this trade usually were employed to apply their skills to the needs of a particular industry. In my case it was working for ICIANZ for a decade in relation to developing and maintaining instrumentation in relation to chemical process control. I then moved on to work in theatre, film and advertising providing design and manufacture of special effects, set design and puppetry. I eventually settled on working at a university for thirty years across a range of activities. I n each case I was able to employ all of the experience and knowledge that I had gained initially while learning about whole new range of opportunities where my skills could be applied. The tools with unknown purpose that you described are not familiar to me but could be intended to help in the calibration of a mechanism by locking it place or providing a dimensional reference. The burnisher could be used to restore an edge or bearing surface. Anything is possible? @@Mars-zgblbl

[@perrylc8812]

I’m amazed at people who can work with such small items making even smaller items.

[@JD_Mortal]

Use a big tool to make a small tool. Then use the small tools to make micro tools. Then use micro tools to make nano tools! Now, we are doing the inverse... nano tools being used to make big tools!

[@2tonNe]

This channel is very reminiscent of Clickspring, except with a relaxing English voice instead of a relaxing Australian voice

[@kahlzun]

I miss clickspring, he's been afk for a while now

[@chrisstephens6673]

And unlike clickspring there is none of that dreadful squeaky noise when he overlays the finished and unfinish item.

[@peternixon7167]

1😂❤😂😂😂😂​@@kahlzun

[@624Dudley]

@@chrisstephens6673 You’re not the only one who finds that synthetic Geiger counter sound effect irritating. Apart from that, I have much admiration for Clickspring.

[@leovalenzuela8368]

@@chrisstephens6673I always liked it.

[@Rod-bp8ow]

Premium, detailed, impeccable standards of a premier.

[@marekant7776]

Ooh, I didnt know I'd be learning about escapement mechanisms today 😊 Thank you for taking the time, and explaining everything in such detail

[@Laggyness]

This channel deserves more subs. People with skills like this with this level of attention to detail are extremely rare these days.

[@expoers]

Sir, the meticulousness of your manual adjustment is extraordinary, the quality of the tool equipment that you operate is good, complete and, most importantly, carefully chosen. The treatment of the edges of each tool individually are so precise that I really only have to tell you that I admire your masterful hand in turning, filing and cutting, your final result and suitability to do so. I am a mechanical adjuster but I have never practiced the profession. I was extremely pleased to be able to appreciate someone who honors the profession and, although I do not practice it, I totally love it. Thanks for posting.

[@daskraut]

36:34 the moment its heart beat for the first time - it lives! i request an asmr video of this thing running. just the thing. running. nothing else.

[@y5mgisi]

I recently read the book, longitude, which is roughly about the making of the first accurate time keeper for use in ship navigation. It was fascinating. As is this video. Just incredible to imagine the people of long ago making these.

[@marka.schlueter9918]

The patience and meticulousness of this process is astounding. I was mesmerized by the techniques, craftmanship, and knowledge of these guys. Amazed. I'll never look at my wristwatch the same again. Perhaps he said in the vid, but how many hours was this from beginning to end?

[@TheLetsboogiedown]

The mastery of the technical language is remarkable! Hats off your excellent work 👏

[@michaellabrador2549]

The amount the weight drops each tick is directly related to the distance your escape wheel travels. It does not necessarily relate to the power required to run the mechanism, for example if the weight was smaller it would still travel the same distance, thus using less power. So while the spring surely does use more than it could, I feel that a smaller escape wheel / more teeth on the escape wheel would be the easiest way to increase the efficiency. Or making the barrel for the weight smaller. I wish I could make stuff like this, I've always liked watches and would like to make miniature steam engines and stuff too. Really fun watching people doing these things, especially largely by hand. Awesome video, thanks!

[@sky173]

Glad to see this was re-uploaded. Thanks for sharing.

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

Oh my. The end result is indeed a thing of beauty. Enthralling to watch from beginning to end. Thank you for sharing your fantastic work. 👏👏👍😀

[@RoryK]

Spent 3 months following your instructions, bought all the specialized tools, had a lathe installed & made all these impossibly tiny parts only to find out you "weren't trying to make an accurate timekeeper.." Now I'm running late for work so thanks 😤. Seriously though, beautiful work. The level of precision you achieve by hand is incredible

[@624Dudley]

This video is superbly narrated! Cadence, pitch, diction, and technical vocabulary are spot on. Well done! Subscribed 👍

[@shanemeyer9224]

I have been not patiently waiting for another video of yours for so long it seems like, I absolutely love your content as a fellow horology enthusiast and watchmaker I love getting to see the fun and amazing work you do, puts a smile on my face every time. I gotta say I bet you love using that Knew Concepts piercing saw! I have one and can’t believe I used a standard one before that, it’s such a night and day difference with the amount of control and precision you can get with those saws, great video and I can’t wait to see what you do next.

[@Obsidian369]

I wish you put more time into showing how the parts work together. It was an extremely interesting video. Very well done. Awesome craftsmanship!

[@alanhillis2774]

I'm fascinated by your comment on energy used. A couple others commented on this question. For the sake of discussion, let's increase the driving weight a little thus increasing the energy used. Presumably the timing of the motion remains the same. So, if things are running at the same speed, where does the extra energy go? 1) The clicking. I imagine a heavier weight will produce a louder click, which represents more energy. 2) More weight will put more force on the various pivot points and bearings, as well as at the sliding contact point between the escape wheel tooth and the impulse wheel. This extra force increases friction. Presumably parts will wear out faster using a heavier weight. 3) I suppose, perhaps, that the balance wheel will swing a wider arc, moving faster as well. That means more air resistance. All these things seem so miniscule, but at this small energy level they are significant. One comment mentioned reducing the weight to the minimum that will keep the clock going. I agree with him that this would be a better analysis of the energy that this clock requires to run. Another comment mentioned reducing the mass of various elements. That would reduce the vertical forces of the various axles on their supporting surfaces, thus reducing friction. (Though would holes in the balance wheel add air resistance?) Another miniscule contribution, but possibly significant. Thanks for the invitation to think about this question and to comment on it. I enjoyed doing so, and also very much enjoyed watching your work.

[@sipa2123]

Very nice video, especially liked how the escape wheel was machined. The weight drop is determined by the dimensions of the parts, and gear ratios etc. The minimum energy required could be determined by decreasing the weight mass, until the mechanic wouldn't tick over any more. Not sure if the experiment was conducted in this fashion. Though what was shown in the video it seems that a some one weight was hooked to the mechanism and then the change in potential energy was calculated, this would show the energy budget for the mechanism, with the given weight.

[@sjb3460]

I watched all of this video and I see that you have asked for some suggestions. To reduce the weight of the assembly, drill a series of small holes in the escape wheel rotating and moving components. That would reduce the weight and would not seriously compromise the strength. I think your poise weights are too long. My suggestion is mainly to reduce the length, diameter, and weight of your moving components by drilling holes, reducing thicknesses, and carefully removing mass from your components. I am a retired tool and die maker and I admire your work.

[@nathanweese3812]

Ive spent a fair amount of time watching similar content, but this is the first time Ive really felt that I had a clue how the escapement worked. An excellent model/display, and great camera work too! Thanks.

[@markuk7935]

Beautiful work, but also, Beautiful machine tools! 👏

[@rheabelltower84]

Y'all bring so much motivation and joy. You're one of the very few who can explain how something is made without completely going off topic. Thank you. Going to be making my mechanical wall clock here soon. Currently designing the dial. This definitely helps with my escapement problem. Always good to see masters at work.

[@UngaBunga-nr7sb]

I became interested in mechanical principles a few years ago. Back then I didnt appreciate the engineering know how that goes into mechanical watches. Marvellous to see how you achieve what you do. Many thanks for the high quality videos. :)

[@mvirts]

Amazing! I would love to see a follow-up using an infrared camera to see where heat is lost!

[@jameswyatt631]

Beautiful craftmanship. Thank you.

[@rodrigograss3580]

I was just thinking about making a similar size chronometer escapement! Gorgeous work!

[@nigelbeaumont1109]

Absolutely beautiful precision Tools… and phenomenal skill of you Guys. I could “Watch” this kind of Video all day. This is tantamount to Brain surgery. Thanks. Nigel.

[@glengrimm4075]

Wow about time.. lol. I've been watching < watchmaking videos now on KZbin for about a year. Not searching just when I see one and I'm in the mood I'll watch it. This Chanel so far is the best. There is another guy I won't mention by name but he... um.. I wanna be respectful so I'll leave it there. My dad was a watchmaker for almost 60 years and he taught me everything he could lol which by his library of knowledge was about 10%, I remember sitting and watching him make balance staff for a lady Rolex watch, it was mesmerising. His attention to detail was amazing in everything he did. I bet spending a day with you would bring back a lot of memories. Sadly he passed away before he could teach me watches but he did teach me everything I know about clock repairs I worked side by side with dad for 20 years and even right up to the end he amazed me with the skills he wielded. Some of these KZbin watchmakers Make me cringe. Well done and thank you for actually being a true pleasure to watch right to the end. It really is a shame that we are a dying breed.

[@rickmason11]

I greatly enjoy seeing good workmanship and precision. Thank for providing this video.

[@jdmccorful]

New, but willing learner for craft being shown here. Thanks for your time!

[@abdurrahmanpatel6380]

Amazing to see such skill still exists. Keep doing what you're doing.

[@halfnelson6115]

I find it amazing people were able to produce these in miniature hundreds of years ago.

[@pinchasbirnbaum6519]

So very beautiful. As a watchmaker who has worked on countless watches over many years, I applaud your workmanship and thank you most sincerely for making these videos.

[@ronaldroberts9556]

I started my engineering career as a scientific instrument maker some 55 years ago. Your fine work brought back happy memories.

[@infinitelyexplosive4131]

These videos are so relaxing. I would love to one day be able to machine something of this precision and quality

[@killphil9119]

I get a real pleasure seeing this type of precise hand made work. Although as you say so, much is now done with CNC machines et cetera but it’s so nice to see the true art is still being used and the skill maintained. Hopefully the next generation will still find enjoyment and keep it going , thanks for posting this

[@PhalosSouthpawsBastelstube]

As a clockmaker I can tell you why it may be so inefficient. The pivots of the balancewheel, resp. the bearings, create way too much friction. The pivots of a sea chronometer balancewheel have ruby bearings and have only a diameter of about 5-9 hundreth of a millimeter (0.05-0.09mm). Try making them thinner, and the clock will run with less power. Also the chronometer escapement itself is quite powerhungry and not made for a vertical positioning. That's also why all the ship's chronometer clocks are mounted in some kind of gyroscope bracket. Try using a graham lever escapement with pivots as thin as possible.

[@ericwilliams538]

I have always been fascinated with the designing, and building of watches!!!

[@PatJamesRicketts]

Just finding the channel, instant sub, like, bell:) I got into watchmaking when this video came out, I dug out my grandfather's 1920 Elgin pocket watch, wound down the main spring, reset the balance, and got it ticking for the first time in my lifetime. A couple George Daniels documentaries later, a former train hopping past, and I have recently started my collection of railroad grade watches. My father was a sailor, and I sailed as well, so naturally I am now down the path of the Harrison clocks and other maritime chronometers. This content is invaluable to me, and so many others. Thank you for sharing the knowledge!

[@watertech011]

Mesmerizing from start to finish. Amazing knowledge and skill required to make every individual part and the finished product didnt disappoint me at least. Thank you for sharing with us.

[@abraogontergon4623]

Amazing content! To solve the problem of the drop i would suggest to add more teeth to the driving wheel . Because with less space between each tooth you will have a lower drop i think. I might be wrong , although i think it would be worth trying. Thank you for the amazing content. I am a very passionate Watchmaker based in London and i believe that videos like these are extremely important for the Art of Watchmaking to continue expanding and to inspire the future generations.

[@mitchilito99]

One video and I'm completely addicted! Consider me subscribed. As for the inefficiency, friction and any spring that is being deflected require energy to overcome. That energy must be subtracted from the gravitational energy available.

[@grahamshedd9225]

Absolutely staggering. I'm almost speechless at the ease with winch you work. you've made a beautiful thing between you, thanks for sharing.

[@ganpatraogole7896]

Super machining work !! Kudos to the patience.

[@philstone4277]

This was incredibly inspiring to watch. Truly amazing to see such high skill levels. It must have taken many years to get to that level.

[@kadampavan]

I can watch videos like this for entire day

[@302ci1968]

At last I found you! I could not find a video explaining watch making. And , oh boy, your video is wonderful. And your work is just art to me. I love watches. I will look at my automatic watchess with even more love. The sound your watch makes reminds me of the old clock in my grandfather's house (he was born in 1887 and had it since 1910). Sadly, the clock was lost between all the things when he passed away.

[@melvinshew5127]

Thats so awesome thanks for the video

[@campbellmorrison8540]

Love it, I would struggle to make this, and its 3 times actual size! superb demo thank you

[@WayneMcNab]

Absolutely beautiful. The precision is wonderful!

[@user-tm9pp1vy8i]

Watched from start to finish. Very soothing. Awesome craftsmenship.

[@BIGWIGGLE223]

Wow. I was captivated the entire time much in the same way when I watch Clickspring's content. You guys are killing it!! Keep bringing us more videos.

[@trstquint7114]

Mesmerizing and fantastic handcrafts. Thank you for this video.

[@bigrod0069]

What a beautiful piece, Awesome to see someone doing this kind of work, very neat!

[@CameronMcCreary]

I am watching the filing and this man is an expert at it. I file and make things with files but I do take my hat off to you.

[@sailwesterly5444]

I don't care if it's not commercially viable - it's outstanding, beautiful work.

[@HouseholdDog]

A calming voice and patience seem to go hand in hand.

[@bkoholliston]

Lovely to see all the Geo. Thomas gear in the video! The pillar tool, the dividing head, etc. And wasn't that a Quorn making the fly cutter for teeth? Nice job guys! You didn't mention any rarified watch oil for the pivots--perhaps a source of energy loss?

[@mattcarafa210]

Awesome Video, always wanted to see how watch makers hand craft (no CNC) inner workings ,very good resolution on the various metal removals.... that's art just incredible

[@spidersinspace1099]

Wow, thank you so much. I really enjoy watching skilled people producing projects like this.

[@allanrichards3752]

Years ago I made a detent chronometer escapement wall clock. I initially used a flat "hairspring" made from an old watch spring and it didn't really work as good as your escapement. In the end I made a vertically coiled spring from flat section plastic (3mm X 0.1mm). With this spring the movement works quite well and does not take so much energy to power it. The only other thing I noticed is that the clock is very noisy compared to an anchor or grasshopper escapement. Superb video though - keep them coming.

[@phildxyz]

Fascinating, amazing and relaxing all at the same time!

[@divyajnana]

A beautifully created video, thank you. This is one of those videos, that while watching it, I find myself not breathing. Great explanation of the 'Heart of a Watch'.

[@532bluepeter1]

Thank you so much for making this video. It is beautifully shot. I appreciate the difficulty of doing this when filming such small things and also the camera being in the way whilst you are trying to work. Thank you also for taking the time to make this explanatory model. It was also very interesting to me as someone who also machines parts for various purposes to spot almost train spotter fashion the George Thomas universal pillar tool and dividing head, the Quorn tool and cutter grinder, The Myford Super7 and the Dore Westbury milling machine which lastg I also use though subjecting it to greater stresses. Thank you again for your efforts.

[@theosky7162]

Form + Function = Elegant. Thanks and Regards !

[@frostrime1419]

Speaking as a novice, I do believe the spring is your primary culprit as the weight is holding tension as its intended. A lighter weight may help though as vibration was occurring when the weight would drop. It may be impacting the mechanism as a whole by adding excess strain to the mechanism. A lighter weight would change the stroke, but may also help stabilize the system. I enjoyed this video way too much lol

[@jshet]

Would love to see a long video of just the mechanism ticking.

[@aca2410]

I would kill to be able to go watch this process from start to finish!! Truly master craftsmanship. Great video!!

[@skivvy3565]

Clickspring made me open to channels like this, you have a new subscriber. Keep up the wonderful work

[@wailingalen]

Making these beautiful pieces of engineering is fascinating, but something needs to be said about making the small TOOLS that are used too!!!

[@kaunas888]

This and the music is very relaxing. Thank you.

[@Onefractalsparkofcreation]

Thank you for this I thoroughly enjoyed it

[@yuglesstube]

Absolutely wonderful. Thanks.

[@Algorhythm027]

Surely the displacement of the weight per tick is entirely dependent on the tooth counts of the gear train rather than directly on the efficiency of the system as a whole? I suspect as the drive wheel gets geared up more and more, reducing torque to the escapement, there will be a point where it no longer has enough torque to overcome the friction in the system and drive the escapement properly anymore, and just shy of that point it will be running at maximum efficiency (presuming it wasn't already adjusted to this stage). As the mechanism wears and friction increases this could cause the mechanism to fail and require maintenance to get it running again

[@johnrose7491]

Amazing skill and patience

[@LOCKSMITHH]

Amazing job! Thank you!

[@JB-yp6bd]

always amazing to watch you guys work!!

[@campparsonssundayschool7844]

So I found and bought a Franz Hermle German mantle clock in a thrift store (2nd hand) for around $35. I noticed that it wasn’t synchronized with WWV in Fort Collins CO. I’ve been fiddling with the hair spring adjustment screw in the escapement mechanism for months but it just won’t keep time; either too fast or too slow. I found a cheap Korean pendulum wall clock in another thrift store and by adjusting the length of the pendulum, it keeps way more accurate time.

[@markfisher7962]

As another clock-level fiddler, one suggestion is that if the part of the mechanism you're attending to doesn't have the effect you want, you may need to attend to something different. Hermle makes good clocks.

[@xgozulx]

this is such a great explanation, I loved it

[@vishesh.jindal]

Masterpiece! thanks for sharing this video!

[@WatchRestorationCottage]

This is on another level altogether! Thank you for the awesome video!

[@ImolaS3]

Beautiful!

[@skinnwalk3r586]

i love the sound it makes, wish i could have one of these to listen to when i falling asleep

[@Americal1970]

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL...! BRAVO...!

[@valentinrusu8844]

This video put me in a trance. And it makes me believe that humanity still has a chance. So beautiful.

[@_edgodd]

was lovely to watch, thank you

[@bbigboy01]

A suggestion. In place of the screw to secure the escape wheel, you may want to try a grub screw. Its shorter length may offer a smaller moment of inertia, that may improve efficiency.

[@realdbcooper3423]

I think theres inefficiency in how the watch is placed, forces by gravity effects vertical rotating circles, this can dramatically effect the power input, maybe putting it flat down and having the weight fall off the table will you get better results. and the spring , for the issue that it how its configured may give you a varied spring constant with unwanted variation and dampening forces. I do think you can do a spinning top design where it balances on a ruby a spinning top and then it controls the frequency of the clock. Reduced friction, there are also things like screws that attaching the escapement mechanism, tolerance of the gears might introduce dynamic friction but i don't think theres much too look into there, is friction where the pole is held where the axle is place. Hanging the weight at the end of the gear might be able to put stress on the gear may increase friction and binding in the gears. I do think the hairspring is an issue yes. So there you go laying the timing mechanism flat instead of vertical, might be little wastage in escapement and the spring used, screw that mounts the escapement mechanism and that the at axle doesn't have a bearing. Don't get me wrong im not the critical type, i was just commenting on why the clock needed such big power input and I was thinking what are the many issues could result in increasing power output. I love the video, love the work, you work hard and keep up the great work man its lovely stuff, I always had an appeal for craftsmanship like this.

[@jeffreyyoung4104]

I have been wanting to build a watch the size of an 18 inch wall clock and have the entire thing in a glass case so it can be seen working. This video is encouraging me to go for it!

[@chronovaengineering]

That sounds like an excellent idea! Best of luck with the project if you decide to give it a go.

[@patrik5123]

This is becoming my new favourite channel.

[@Verbose_Mode]

The scale of these pieces is consistently mindblowing. The camera makes them look like hefty, substantial pieces of metal... until I see them sitting on a fingertip and realize they're the side of a kernel of corn and the measurements are in micrometers. And these are _two to three times bigger._