Adventures in case-making.

[Dimman]

So I've decided to try to put some of my knowledge and opinions on watch manufacturing to the test. Starting with a case.

The intention is to eventually produce all of the major, non-movement, components of a small dress watch. Case, crown, dial, hands, strap, and buckle/clasp. As equipment is aquired, I eventually plan to 'Nomos' a Peseux 7001 (cosmetic upper plate, bridge, cock replacement), in a different style. But that's getting a bit ahead of myself, the CNC is still in the design/prototype phase.

So the case then. I'll be using outside contractors to lost-wax cast blanks of my design, then finish machine and polish them myself. I did some preliminary design work and sent the CAD files to a casting specialist in New York. They produced the wax, mold, and cast the part. This is something that I will eventually be doing myself as equipment allows.

The prototype is in classical Tin-based bronze alloy (90% copper, 10% tin), and is to test sizing on the wrist, but more importantly to measure the difference between the cast part and the CAD dimensions due to shrinkage. It also identified a design error of having a separate bezel, which is too small and warped.

Anyway, here are some designs and pics of the finished casting. More later.