From the case to the balance wheel, each pinion and wheel is hand made by ONE man...my dream watch is to have one such watch.
a 95% or more HANDMADE by one man watch....by the same man that the watch bears his name!
Volker Makes everything except the screws(highly polished and of extreme quality bar none), the crystal, mainspring, balance spring, and the escapement.
Utterly German in execution and design.
Precision taken to the Nth degree.
Those of you who know me here, know I collect only the EXTREME watches...jaded palate of mine after 20 years.
I did not understand Volker's work until Curtis informed me that at IGOTT, he (Curtis) may need help with the AHCI members travelling to Singapore.
I spent 5 days with Volker.
He is a very quiet and humble man...but also very friendly. A man that is very involved in the details ....the small things.
I was not able to understand his powerpoint presentation of his ingenious device for his really extreme watch...
The watch lookes remarkably simple and elegant, no appearance of anything extraordinary at all....except for a discreet "power reserve".
UNTIL....I realised that the crown could singularly control the HOURS, MINUTES and SECONDS....individually at different positions!
And on flipping the watch around...The balance wheel was larger than entire tourbillon cages ! It was a huge balance wheel that was so beautifully crafted!!!
This message has been edited by bernardcheong on Sep 7, 2004 7:31 PM
Hi bernardcheong
Wow those are very nice photos and many thanks to both you and Volker for providing us this glimpse into his watch. I whish my shop was that orderly and had all that great equipment.
I hope that Volker is doing well and whish him all the best on his endevor.
Extreme watchmaking will take the watchmaker to the ends of making the entire case himself....a nightmare of finishing to the highest order.
Then again, it gives the owner the FINAL tactile pleasure that he is holding the work of a craftsman that he can put a face on...not a case made by a faceless corporation/factory.
Note that Volker has taken on an extra challenge by the concave caseband ( sides of case)....
I am in total agreement that Volker's watch is really fascinating. It is clear that he is totally committed in his craft. It was a real pleasure to meet him during his trip to Singapore recently.
Bernard, I look forward to seeing the completion of your ordered watch. Do keep us informed once it has been received.
At Tempus was where I first got to know Volker....those of you who know me would be surprised that I am going for a more "conservative" watch.
This watch really brings back my memories to the early days when I first got to know about the Lange and especially Lange 1, years ago when I also first met JAW, and way back when Dr Frank Muller( present GO chief) used to work at Lange....my initial gut feelings were the same...there is something very, very good about this watch.
This post I hope brings to the world a glimpse of the very secluded world of the true one man watchmakers....they have no advertisement or media coverage whatsoever.
