Monday tips for students of horology: 3 common 'tweezer mistakes' which prevent you from progressing - but could easily be avoided.

Let’s get straight into it.

 1. Learn how to hold watchmaker’s tweezers properly.

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INCORRECT

CORRECT

2. Select the correct tweezers for a particular task

If you've bought a kit tool from us then you have received 3 different tweezers in your set. While the maker or model may vary, the set consists of general, fine and very fine tweezers. 

Make no mistake: even a general work tool ( #1 or #27) is a delicate instrument, not designed or suitable to be used as a spring bar removal tool, prying levers or hole punchers!

By general work we really mean the handling of internal watch movement parts like train gears, bridges and screws. Long tip, light tweezers like Bergeon #7026-SS is a super fine tool designed for handling the escape wheel and pallets. I also like to use them to handle watch hands. Of course there are many different models (we stock over 20!)  https://shop.clockmaker.com.au/search?controller=search&s=tweezers

3. Keep your tweezers separate from all other watchmaking tools. A small wooden box or plastic container is a must. Keep the tip cap on at all times. Chokamour chocolate wooden boxes make the perfect container for tweezers "I wish I had more time to practise!" This is a lame excuse. Practise! Don't let your precious tools remain idle. Here is a simple exercise which requires nothing more than your tweezers and some rice. The aim is to pick and transfer the lot from one container to another. Not difficult at all, and you can do it while your call is placed on hold, while listening to a boring client, or when the boss is not watching. Mastered the rice? You are ready for sugar! Keep your tweezers clean, oil and dust free, don’t drop them and practise daily. This fine manual work will keep your brain sharp for years to come.  Watchmaking sucks as a profession, but makes a wonderful stress-free hobby.  Next time, I’ll share with you a simple technique on how to polish and maintain tweezer tips. https://shop.clockmaker.com.au/search?controller=search&s=tweezers

By general work we really mean the handling of internal watch movement parts like train gears, bridges and screws. Long tip, light tweezers like Bergeon #7026-SS is a super fine tool designed for handling the escape wheel and pallets. I also like to use them to handle watch hands. Of course there are many different models (we stock over 20!)  https://shop.clockmaker.com.au/search?controller=search&s=tweezers

By general work we really mean the handling of internal watch movement parts like train gears, bridges and screws.

Long tip, light tweezers like Bergeon #7026-SS is a super fine tool designed for handling the escape wheel and pallets. I also like to use them to handle watch hands.

Of course there are many different models (we stock over 20!) 
https://shop.clockmaker.com.au/search?controller=search&s=tweezers

3. Keep your tweezers separate from all other watchmaking tools. A small wooden box or plastic container is a must. Keep the tip cap on at all times. Chokamour chocolate wooden boxes make the perfect container for tweezers "I wish I had more time to practise!" This is a lame excuse. Practise! Don't let your precious tools remain idle. Here is a simple exercise which requires nothing more than your tweezers and some rice. The aim is to pick and transfer the lot from one container to another. Not difficult at all, and you can do it while your call is placed on hold, while listening to a boring client, or when the boss is not watching. Mastered the rice? You are ready for sugar! Keep your tweezers clean, oil and dust free, don’t drop them and practise daily. This fine manual work will keep your brain sharp for years to come.  Watchmaking sucks as a profession, but makes a wonderful stress-free hobby.  Next time, I’ll share with you a simple technique on how to polish and maintain tweezer tips. https://shop.clockmaker.com.au/search?controller=search&s=tweezers

3. Keep your tweezers separate from all other watchmaking tools. A small wooden box or plastic container is a must. Keep the tip cap on at all times.

Chokamour chocolate wooden boxes make the perfect container for tweezers

"I wish I had more time to practise!"

This is a lame excuse. Practise! Don't let your precious tools remain idle. Here is a simple exercise which requires nothing more than your tweezers and some rice.

The aim is to pick and transfer the lot from one container to another. Not difficult at all, and you can do it while your call is placed on hold, while listening to a boring client, or when the boss is not watching.


Mastered the rice? You are ready for sugar!

Keep your tweezers clean, oil and dust free, don’t drop them and practise daily. This fine manual work will keep your brain sharp for years to come.  Watchmaking sucks as a profession, but makes a wonderful stress-free hobby. 

Next time, I’ll share with you a simple technique on how to polish and maintain tweezer tips.



https://shop.clockmaker.com.au/search?controller=search&s=tweezers

Chokamour chocolate wooden boxes make the perfect container for tweezers

Let's get the ball rolling

Before I even made the decision to start importing and selling Swiss Watchmaker’s tools, I also decided that my tool prices, whenever possible, will be at least equal to the prices of the largest US tool dealers. Not because I have money to burn or a big heart - being competitive means being
better, not equal to.

Enough talk: let’s get the ball rolling:

Bergeon Swiss made plastic tweezers, USD $4.50. My price: AUD $5. Plastic tweezers are used to handle watch batteries: obviously, you can't handle them with metal tweezers (shortcut!) or by hand (leaving a corrosive acid layer). Great tool for any work bench.

Bergeon 7024-1: Stainless steel, non-magnetic and anti-acid watchmaking tweezers. Length: 120mm. Ideal 'all around' tweezers for fine general work. From handling spring bars, bracelet pins down to gears, stems and screws. AUD $35 only.

Bergeon 7024-3 Stainless steel, non-magnetic and anti-acid. Finer tips, a typical professional tweezer priced at a hobbyist's level.

Bergeon 7025-SS Same as above but, my goodness: long (135mm), fine, slender and handsome! Think the Mercedes AMG of Swiss tweezers. AUD $48

AF Switzerland: the famous model #27. Another all-time watchmaker's
favourite. General work. Springy and sturdy, on the heavier side than 7025SS.
AUD $35

Finally a magnificent set of 8 Bergeon tweezers, Ref 7026. US price
converted to AUD: $398 + $30 delivery + $40 GST which totals to over AUD
$470.  My price: $395 plus $9 for next day delivery. GST already included in price! Yes, cheaper than in US!

Stay tuned for more tools soon.   

Bergeon plastic watchmaker's tweezers ref. 6460

Length: 125mm.  Flat, non-corrugated and very fine nose.

Price: $5

https://shop.clockmaker.com.au/home/167-bergeon-plastic-watchmakers-tweezers-ref-6460.html      

      

   

Bergeon anti-magnetic watchmaker's tweezers Ref. 7024-1

Length: 120mm.  Stainless steel, non-magnetic and anti-acid watchmaking tweezers.

These tweezers are for general work.

Price: $35

https://shop.clockmaker.com.au/home/164-bergeon-anti-magnetic-watchmakers-tweezers-ref-7024-1.html

Bergeon anti-magnetic watchmaker's tweezers Ref. 7024-3 Length:  120mm.  Stainless steel, non-magnetic and anti-acid watchmaking tweezers. Price: $35 https://shop.clockmaker.com.au/home/165-bergeon-anti-magnetic-watchmakers-tweezers-ref-7024-3.html AF Switzerland tweezers Ref. 164.704.27 Length: 135mm.  Weight: 0.2kg. Stainless steel, non-magnetic and anti-acid watchmaking tweezers. Swiss Made. Price: $35 https://shop.clockmaker.com.au/home/132-af-switzerland-tweezers-ref-16470427.html Bergeon anti-magnetic extra long watchmaker's tweezers Ref. 7025-SS Length:  140mm.  Stainless steel, non-magnetic and anti-acid watchmaking tweezers. Price:  $48 https://shop.clockmaker.com.au/home/166-bergeon-anti-magnetic-extra-long-watchmakers-tweezers-ref-7025-ss.html Bergeon stainless steel anti-magnetic, anti-acid tweezers Ref. 7026 A set of 8 Bergeon tweezers all resistant to corrosion, acids and alkali. Price:  $395 https://shop.clockmaker.com.au/home/134-bergeon-set-of-8-tweezers-anti-magnetic-ref-7026.html