Maybe next time I'm in Japan, I'll pick up some rocks at a beach in Kanagawa...
Printable View
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What do you do when you want a proprietary movement? Well, you make one yourself. Sort of.
I mentioned decoration, and skeletonization is far beyond my ability. So my vision for a proprietary movement will be a 'normal' 7001 main plate that I will apply pearlage to quite thoroughly, then have rhodium plated. Then using the now 'in-house' decorated main plate, have the movement serviced and reassembled (professionally, not by me) with the skeletonized gold parts. So yellow gold plated open-worked over white rhodium plated pearlage. Should look unique.
Cool!
So the automatic polishing test results:
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It kind of looks like antique pewter that's been well cared for. A bit of wabi or patina look from the artificial pitting that is caused by the 3d printing laser melting. I can either design a vintage-y watch around the resulting finish, and/or continue polishing it by hand (ugh...).
Also thinking it could make for some cool titanium belt buckles.
And heat patina on bronze Hokusai proto-dials.
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Dials look great. I'm thinking the case needs at least one layer of good polish.
Well, starting a new project. Big bronze Unitas design. Waiting to hear if it is castable.
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The reason to switch to the big Unitas? Well I managed to convince one of my co-worker engineering design buddies to help me do some real CAD, so I can join the Proprietary Modded Unitas Club. He's got a 6497 (9h seconds) dissected and working on the geartrain. Need this foundation to create our own mainplate and top bridges and cocks.
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Once we know where everything needs to be it's "just" a matter of creating new plates and bridges to support everything. Initially we will simply be cutting out copies of the original parts to test if they interchange, verifying the locations.
Once that's done we'll work on our own cosmetic structure parts with factory ETA guts. Maybe do our own click as that doesn't look difficult.
Early sketch of bridge design for 6498 (6h seconds).
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However work hasn't been cooperative, being slammed with overtime (result being some of my new purchased acquisitions).
Well this is all rather exciting