Today marks one month that I have been privileged to be a part of the Rebelde project. I have to say it has been one of the most exciting months of my life. Seeing mechanical oscillators pulled apart as if in surgery, pulling them apart myself, drawing up the 6497 movement, learning the ebbs and flows of peak hour Spit and Harbour Bridge traffic, and seeing the expensive tools and machinery that have been acquired so far. Speaking of expensive tools, I have now been gifted my first set of tweezers on the condition that I complete my apprenticeship. These may actually be more expensive per gram than the Kern. I did not dare do the math to find out as Nick may have kept them for himself. Let's hope he isn't a subscriber. It has been a dream to learn from such experienced craftspeople. I am slowly realising that I will never again "work" a day in my life.
It might seem easy work-wise but it’s not a walk in the park. There is so much to learn in both workshops (watch assembly in the CBD and drawing up and building in Brookvale) and now from March I will be learning from another Master watchmaker at Tafe.
Here’s a tip. If you are ever after professional watchmaking tweezers the Dumont Number 3 Carbon is the way to go.
Andrew
