Primarily based in Pennsylvania, Dewey Vicknair is a revered gunsmith who has specialised in restoring rifles and shotguns for many years and has earned a revered fame within the course of. He’s now in his mid-fifties and a self-taught watchmaker who additionally carries out watch companies on the aspect. Just lately, Mr. Vicknair took the leap from repairing watches to creating a watch.
Mr. Vicknair defined the creation of his first watch: “After I noticed your tales about Atelier de Chronometrie and what they do with classic Omega actions, I used to be impressed.” His first creation is, within the truest sense of the phrase, a hand-wound wristwatch that he made himself. Though the motion began out as an Omega caliber from the Nineteen Fifties. In 266, Mr. Vicknair reworked a lot of it and made many components from scratch, such because the case, the dial and even the seal for the crown tube.
As a result of he made a lot of the components himself, Mr. Vicknair needed to fabricate the gear wanted to make the components, together with a cutter for the gasket and a screw holder for black sprucing. He even silver-plated the motion components himself. It is an surprising feat for a first-time watchmaker.
First ideas
Usually I might be skeptical of an unknown watchmaker trying to promote a brand new mission with a five-figure price ticket. However a number of issues modified my thoughts. One in every of these was Mr Vicknair’s unusually thorough documentation of his manufacturing course of, which is sort of completely handbook – even the machines are old style machines, operated by hand.
Extra importantly, I found that he is without doubt one of the most revered gunsmiths in america. Should you search his identify on-line, you may discover dozens of mentions on rifle and shotgun boards praising the standard of his work and data. Although his watch enterprise is new, Mr. Vicknair’s fame for delivering high quality work is reassuring.
Mr. Vicknair’s watch is spectacular as it’s the first creation by somebody with out formal watchmaking coaching. Take the tubular cocks for the gear practice (which are literally all built-in into the bridge) and the steadiness wheel or the black polished metal components. The openwork ratchet wheel is equally finely crafted. An equally nice testomony to his talent is the truth that Mr. Vicknair not solely made the watch, but additionally a few of the instruments required to make the watch components.
Admittedly, the design and workmanship might use some enchancment. For instance, I might alter the dial design to be much less paying homage to Petermann Bedat, whereas additionally forgoing the clear acrylic dial plate, as the fabric feels misplaced on a handcrafted and costly watch. Nonetheless, the watch definitely has much more character and craftsmanship than man-made watches that price extra. I hope that Mr. Vicknair continues to hold out his dutiesManufacturing.
Making a watch from scratch
Mr. Vicknair describes his work effectively on his web site: “Making a wristwatch from uncooked materials, completely by hand…design, making every half, sprucing, plating, every part is finished right here by me.” He has photographed nearly each step of the method, leading to an in depth photograph essay that will probably be of curiosity to these occupied with manufacturing and ending.
Some features of its manufacturing course of stand out. Ranging from a block of 304L metal, he mills the case, bezel and again, then completes every part, together with engraving the case again utilizing a operated by hand pantograph.
Drilling the pipe for the stem
Actually, Mr. Vicknair even made the silicone seal for the crown – in addition to the cutter to chop the seal to the precise dimension wanted to suit into the crown and across the stem.
The crown seal with its cutter
All palms are additionally constituted of scratch. They’re constituted of a distinct metal alloy that may be higher warmth handled and initially include a small metal rod. The rod is milled, reduce, filed, polished and eventually blued.
The uncooked hand clean after drilling the opening for the pinion
The completed hand earlier than adorning and bluing
Sharpening the totally different components of the palms
After the palms flip blue
Mr. Vicknair made the dial and chapter ring on a lathe
The motion was initially an Omega caliber. 266, a working caliber utilized in quite a lot of Omega watches from the Nineteen Forties to the Nineteen Sixties. Nonetheless, Mr. Vicknair made intensive modifications to the motion, together with skeletonizing the bottom plate. He additionally made his personal bridges for the gear practice and the steadiness wheel with rounded arms. Based on Mr. Vicknair, the steadiness wheel and hairspring are the one a part of the motion that is still unique and unchanged.
Milling openings in the primary plate for skeletonization
The openwork base plate in addition to the utterly new gear practice and barrel bridges
Even the silver plating of the bridges and base plate was finished by Mr. Vicknair
The ratchet wheel in its uncooked type
The ratchet wheel is reduce with a pantograph
And engraved with a pantograph
The present collector was used to engrave the case again and the ratchet wheel
Mr. Vicknair made the instrument for holding screws for black sprucing
The keyless operate lever is connected to a flat block for black sprucing
Key information and value
Dewey Vicknair wristwatch
diameter: 38.5mm
Top: 11mm
materials: Chrome steel
Crystal: sapphire
Water resistance: 30 m
Motion: Primarily based on Omega cal. 266
Options: Hours, minutes and seconds
Winding: Hand-wound
Frequency: 18,000 beats per hour (2.5 Hz)
Vitality reserve: 35 hours
belt: Calfskin
Restricted version: To order
Availability: Straight from Mr. Vicknair with a lead time of 1 12 months
Value: Beginning at $28,000, however varies primarily based on customization and supplies
All photographs courtesy of Dewey Vicknair. For additional data, please contact Mr. Vicknair at Vicknairrestorations.com.
Again to prime.
