It takes two

 As a long-time follower of our project, you’ve heard this countless times: it takes two to make a watch — a watchmaker and a machinist. In our fifth generation, we’ve got them both, in one go.

Let me make myself clear: this world needs more watchmakers. And starting early is a must.

Here’s an amazing fact — children can start to learn to count as early as six months by recognizing quantities. Most can recite numbers up to ten by the age of two. However, the ability to truly connect numbers to objects — known as one-to-one correspondence — develops a bit later, typically around the age of three.

Counting is fundamental to measuring, and measuring is essential to visualizing concepts — which leads to making. From then on, it’s just a matter of commitment and practice. It is well documented that in 19th-century England, children as young as five were helping assemble pocket watch fusee chains. By the age of ten, many worked full-time in watch production, while others were apprentices to master watchmakers.

The two sets of Bergeon tweezers have been sitting quietly for a number of years to mark the occasion. And on the day the babies open their eyes, I’ve ordered two Mitutoyo calipers — not the digital readout ones, but old-fashioned verniers.

For now, it’s all going to be about love, food, and shelter. But in no time, a new chapter will be written — with the help of the Almighty and our unquenchable determination.

A life worth living.

Nick Hacko