The second, equally critical phase is colouring: the anodizing process which makes the dull, greyish titanium blossom into fireworks of colour. All this work is done in Brookvale, and the main plate and bridges are then delivered to my workbench for assembly. Assembly is sequential: ruby jewels are inserted by hand, of course, each individually finely adjusted to height using a 60 year old high precision tool. Steel locating and banking pins are pressed into Timascus, slowly but firmly. NH2 is a hybrid watch: it still contains a number of Swiss made parts (gear train and escapement). Making those parts work in harmony with parts we make in our workshop is a serious engineering challenge in itself.
The watch mechanism comes to life after a series of 'assemblings and dissassemblings', readjustments, and tuning procedures. Timascus is not an easy material to deal with because of its natural tendency to warp and bend out of shape. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful metal on so many levels: light, anti-magnetic, highly corrosion resistant - and above all: it blooms in colours like no other metal. Actually, the more you look at it, the less it looks like a metal and more like an organic living thing.
Coming to life is a moment of truth: a mere ‘ticking’ is not what makes a watch a timepiece. Watchmakers are striving for perfection in timekeeping. Usually, an hour after the first heartbeat, the mechanism will reach a level where it “becomes a regulator” keeping time within a few seconds in various positions. And at that point, officially, the watch is born.
Unfortunately, there is no time to celebrate. The next phase is disassembly – entirely and completely. Each component is cleaned, re-lubricated; from the mainspring down to the cap jewel, each requiring a precise amount of very specific lubricant. Three hours later, the watch is back on the timing machine for another run of adjustments.
The next phase: the watch mechanism is left to run for a week- alone, undisturbed, wound daily. In this phase I am looking for any potential problems which will only become obvious once every gear has rotated a number of times, repeatedly.
Assembling the dial and hands, inserting and securing the watch mechanism inside the titanium case, adjusting the winding stem and crown to fit, and pressing in crystals, is the next phase of assembly. Again, and quite often, there is still something to be filed, or tightened, greased or tested, but by the end of that day, the watch is ready to be strapped onto a watch winder. While NH2 is a manual wind watch, having it ‘in motion’ that imitates a wearer’s wrist is a practical test of it’s performance.
By the end of the second month, the watch is fully tested and almost ready to go- but not until it undertakes yet one more disassembly: the main plate is now ready to be engraved with a serial number and our logo, which is done in Brookvale.
In total, it takes three months to make a watch. During that period, we never consider the watch as a sum of its parts, but as a creature- and in the case of Timascus, we give the watch a name based on its character, its colours, and its behaviour throughout the making process. NH2 No. 11, Papagena, is no exception.
There is not the slightest doubt in my mind that one day, Timascus NH2 pieces will be recognised for what they really are. Unique pieces created with passion stemming from the roots of historical horology, manufactured in Australia, carved out of an incredibly exciting material, showcasing impeccable workmanship. Watches that will never be thrown away, but passed on, cherished, and looked after for generations to come.
You can watch a short clip of Papagena coming to life here: https://www.instagram.com/p/B7Sm4nyJFdf/
