New Member, now part time

[remadepreacher]

Hi. I worked in Rolex dealers a couple of decades and got a bit bored with repair. I decided I wanted to either make watches or teach watchmaking. I attended WOSTEP Refresher Course in Switzerland in 2004 and received the diploma. During this time, my wife did not want to remain in the States, so went to work for the U.S. Army in Heidelberg, Germany. We continued to live in Germany for 9 years and now 3 in S. Korea. I spent a lot of time finding and buying used tools, rebuilding tools, and making tools from scratch. I also spent a lot of time learning hand finishing of parts. Now I spend most of my time in Christian ministry (which is what I started out doing). I am writing a book and I give a couple of different seminars to chapels and churches. I still work some on finishing up my first watch, a pocket watch whose case is jade. I am nearly through making a machine for cutting inside curves in jade and other stones for a more comfortable wristwatch and have a couple of unique designs.

[dadistic]

Welcome! Very happy to see someone come on board who has such a wealth of experience and creativity.

As far as boredom, I'm not there yet, I've barely started doing repairs. It's still quite nerve wracking at times, but I am enjoying it.

Cheers!

[bobm12]

Welcome from me to! A jade watch! That's got to be really something. Please show us!!!

Cheers,

Bob

[oldhippy]

Welcome from me. Fancy being able to travel around like that. There should be plenty here to keep you going.

[Cad101]

Hello and welcome to a spectacular place.

[Folkvisor]

I'd love to see the jade case!

[remadepreacher]

OK, you asked for it. Here is a picture before a lot of the hand finishing and a new design regulator I'm trying to finish. Case has a scalloped edge, 14K hardware and chain with jade bullets on t bar, inverted 1/4 carat diamond in crown, matching fob and pure silver chapter ring. It took something like a thousand hours to make.

[clockboy]

Welcome to the forum & a stunning watch. Lots of knowledgeable & friendly members here. Enjoy

[bobm12]

Quite a stunner of a watch, remadepreacher! I love particularly the details in the dial and jade accents in the t bar! Of course that jade case is really something! If I understood you well, you built the movement too, so I'm interested to know if there is a particular solution for shock protection that you chose...or being a jade case, you simply went "the old fashioned" way...no shock protection...since if it falls the jade might not survive anyway...a practical thought considering.

Also, the dial, being silver, how did you do it? I apologize for my curiosity but this watch deserve all my attention! It is very cool! (for lack of another word, i.e. special, interesting....wow!).

In my mind your watch would make quite a jewel to have: a useful and true jewel, -- hand made, precious materials and time telling (a primordial function) -- not just decorative and then, also quite a feast to the eye and mind. It could be worn, displayed and/or simply collected! Beautiful!

Thank you for showing us the picture!

Cheers,

Bob

[Cad101]

That's a nice watch and 1000 hours wow that's what about 41 / 42 days work working 24 hours a day I'm well impressed.

[jeffc83]

Wow, what an entrance you made here!  Welcome, glad to see you here as well:)  Beautiful watch there, amazing work!!!!  I am truly at a loss of words about it though, which must be a good sign!  (we also envy your travels....we will be stuck here in the US for life, haha)

Edited May 18, 2016 by jeffc83

[Geo]

Great introduction! Wishing you a warm welcome to a very friendly and helpful forum.

[SangKim]

It is a pleasure to see you WRT users living in Korea. I am an amateur who has watch repair as a hobby.

I usually get a vintave watch(Bulova, Seiko and so on) from JongRo, and fix it. and I get advice from the masters of Yeji-Dong. I hope you to visit Yeji-Dong for looking around old vintage style Watch workplace