What does it take to dismantle a watch? Two screwdrivers, a pair of tweezers and that's it: in a few minutes you're looking at two rows of gears. Easy, no?
Well, not really. The 16 members of L'Orologio Club who took part in an exclusive Watchmaking Class organised by IWC in Milan on 8 October saw this for themselves.
To dismantle a mechanical watch, one needs to know the basic principles of its operation, and then get to the heart of the functions of each individual component. This is why the guidance of IWC trainer Ferdinando Mavellia and watchmaker Paolo Goldaniga was essential. It is necessary, in fact, to know where the energy that moves the gears originates from, how the transmission takes place and, crucially, how the speed is regulated, in order to understand the strict order in which each element can be removed from the plate, i.e. the calibre support. Which, finally, requires a little more skill than knowing how to handle a screwdriver.
This is just one example of the experiences you can have by becoming a member of L'Orologio Club. For more, know that events, trips and meetings are punctually reported in the pages of L'Orologio, on our website and social pages.
Just Tuesday, 15 November, I will accompany a group of Club members on a visit to Jaeger-LeCoultre, one of the largest and most interesting manufactures in the Swiss industry. During the day, follow the stories on L'Orologio's Instagram profile: you will discover the most fun way to learn more about watchmaking: by experiencing it. You can join L'Orologio Club by clicking on this link.
Dody Giussani
