Precision Mechanics Workshop

Welcome to the World of Watchmaking Tools!

Screw-cutting attachment mounted on a Schaublin 70; an exclusive device designed and manufactured by Alexander Babel. Open spindle.

"Two people labored in vain: one who accumulated wealth without using it, and one who studied science but did not apply it." /Saadi

One day, I had a bold and tempting idea: to make a watch mechanism myself. Crafting a watch is both challenging and fascinating. Over three years, I read extensively about watch mechanisms, in both Russian and German. Now I know the terminology and purpose of watch components. The main challenge remains: to make these parts and assemble them so that the watch ticks.

At first, I had a small lathe with limited precision. But after meeting professional watchmakers, it became clear that I needed a machine capable of producing parts with higher precision and quality. Schaublin was recommended, and that’s how I acquired my first professional lathe.

Later, I received expert advice from a supplier of watchmaking tools. This helped me decide which tools and manufacturers best suited my needs. I also gained experience and ideas during trips to the Swiss Jura. My workshop continues to expand, and all the machines and tools shown below are fully operational and in use.

Ultimately, the workshop uses tools and machines from various industries: precision mechanics, watchmaking, machine construction, jewelry, dentistry, and laboratory equipment.

Preparation of Blanks

Indutherm MC15 induction casting machine, Walzbachtal (Germany). General view.
Gauthier W1 gear hobbing machine, Calmbach an der Enz, Germany. Diagram/Schematic.

Further Processing

Schlenker BS2 precision mini bench drill; a chuck is installed instead of collets.
Henri Hauser jig boring machine, Type M1. General view of the machine on its cabinet.
Aciera F1 milling machine, general view with spindle in vertical position, rotary table.
Turning tools, lathe cutters, industrial diamond.
Schaublin 70 lathe, vertical slide, indexing attachment with four division discs, faceplate Ø 138 mm.
Accessory box for the Schaublin 70 screw-cutting attachment; the lid features a table of gear tooth counts relative to the thread pitch.
Digital caliper, TESA micrometer.
Precision parallel toolmaker's vise, easily transformable with a custom-designed mounting system, bench-mounted.
Shimadzu Micro Hardness Tester Type M, Japan. General view.

Finishing

JoKe ENESKA 3-2 polishing system by Joisten and Kettenbaum, control unit, foot pedal, various polishing attachments.
Harnisch+Rieth P-G 400 sandblasting unit with 4 tanks. General view.
Tin polishing (black polishing/spéculaire), tripod tool, component clamping fixture.

Special Watchmaking Tools

Jean Widmer-Steiner Type 1 apparatus for vertical drilling to poise screw balances. Close-up of a balance in the machine.
Prata Typ 11 pinion leaf polishing machine, Tavannes (Switzerland). General view. Support spindle with carbide inserts.
BOLEY staking tool on a stand, hand-setting tool, press. Two boxes with punches.
Elma watch parts cleaning machine for mechanized chemical cleaning. General view.
Steinel SR 2 pivot burnishing machine with the spindle raised.
Gear topping machine (rounding-up tool) for correcting tooth profiles. Box with a set of fine-toothed cutters.
Watchmaker's depthing tool (Eingriffszirkel). General view.

Assembly

Vintage demagnetizer.
Olympus SZ61 TR stereo microscope with 10x eyepieces. 2005.
Elma Watch-Matic mechanical watch timer (Switzerland). Timing machine.