Horological Meandering

‘Master Watchmaker’ Magnus

 

As you surely know, trained watchmakers are a rare commodity these days. Thus, watch manufacturers use different and sometimes quite innovative way to address the shortage and hunt for talents. Some establish their own watch schools; others attract promising candidates from their competitors. DeWitt indeed developed a very unique way…

So, at the end of my visit, ready to leave for the airport I was summoned to a remote room where an assessment was prepared:





The task was to assemble the movement of the Academia Tourbillon Differentiel!

First, I had to familarise myself with the assembly plan:





Then, mount the watchmaker’s loupe and – uuuiihhh! – those are tiny parts! Initially, I didn't see the wood for the trees!









You begin with the mainspring barrel, that’s fairly large and easy to put in place:





Next the geartrain…





… and then the upper movement plate:





Cross-check with the instructions; and a test for function:









‘My’ movement performed impressively, so I could continue and with mouniting the lower movement plate. I had to place great attention to an even alignment, here the tourbillon cage would be mounted!





Well done so far! The top plates can be fixed with screws. This is where it really starts to get challenging. Note the tiny screws. Putting them correctly in the right hole is one thing, screwing them in without scratching the movement surfaces is another!













Finished!













'My' movement looks indistinguishable to the one created by my ‘colleagues’:









Ok, I admit that this is of course not DeWitt’s chosen method of recruitment. Instead, it is an educative exercise to demonstrate hands-on the difficulties of assembling a fine watch. Precision, minute motor capabilities and concentration are immensely important prerequisites for such a job.

One can only be reverential to the skills of the master watchmakers at DeWitt!

Parting thoughts:
To be very brief: This was one of the most rewarding visits I ever done. DeWitt is an exemplary role model in several aspects:

1. how to develop, achieve and maintain a unique brand identity, based upon a a comprehensible 'story' and an inspiring openess of mind
   
2. how to concentrate efforts and resources exactly on those assets that create a unique position in the market
3. how to grow in a sustainable manner

Does this sound like an introductory course for an MBA? It shouldn't, but even in highly emotional businesses like watchmaking its the economics that rule.

DeWitt is a family owned and run watch company, and this shows. Cautious development of the company, uncompromising innovation in the watches. Mr de Witt has the freedom (and the means, I suppose) to be responsible only to himself, not to a marketing board or some anomymous shareholders. The result is a marvel, a true gem of a manufacturer that exemplifies the importance of SMEs as the drivers of progress.

To come back to my initial comparison with the first rendez-vous: It was a heart-flattering exercise, full of surprises and discoveries. The beauty was more than up to my expectations, and I am not sure, but my gut feeling tells me that there were even some hints of spiritual kinship to be felt... Who knows? I am really looking forward to pay another visit in Satingy in due course!

With these words I’d like to conclude my report. I hope to have provided you with stimulating insights into one of the lesser known, but ambitious and fascinating manufactures.

Finally, I could not prepare this article without the tremendous support I enjoyed. My first thanks goes to Mr de Witt for being available for answering to my questions and for long engaged discussions (I promise to continue our exchange on biology!). I also want to thank Natalie Veysset, CEO of DeWitt, Timothy Mayer (Communications Manager at DeWitt), Sylvain Martinez (International Sales Director) and particularly Aline Tornay (PR Manager) and Florence Darnon (Online Communication Officer) for making my visit fruitful and pleasant.

Last but not least, I’d like to thank all the watchmakers at DeWitt who took their time to accommodate my requests and for their willingness to interrupt their work.

Yet, time flies and the two days ended too soon. My thoughts stayed a bit longer than my body in Satigny. I realised that later in the plane back home:





Cheers and thanks for reading,
Magnus This message has been edited by Magnus Bosse on 2011-05-26 07:16:06

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