DonCorson[AHCI]
3358
Part 3: Christophe Claret Manufacture d'horlogerie
Jun 07, 2009,03:07 AM
A visit to the Christophe Claret Manufacture d’Horlogerie
Part 3, The Watchmakers Shops
All the parts for Claret movements, whether made in-house, which the large and ever increasing majority are, or procured out of house, first go through this quality inspection shop where there is a 100% control of all the pieces.
In the decoration shop pieces such as below are finished to best haute-horlogerie standards.
A bridge finished with polished beveling and a satin surface.
After inspection and finishing the parts go to the stock room. Here about 12'000 parts are stored for the approx. 60 different calibers they make and support. When a movement is to be made a “movement kit” is prepared with all the parts ready to go to the watchmakers shop. Here Mr. Claret is holding such a movement kit.
The movement kit then goes off to one of the workshops.
Each of the workshops has a specialisation. This is the tourbillon cage workshop which assembles and tests the tourbillons on “mule” movements. Those finished tourbillons are then mounted on the final movement.
Oiling a movement under the microscope.
The tourbillon being finished on a mule movement on the left. The final movement is on the right where it will be installed when the finishing and functionality are perfect.
Note the black polishing of the tourbillon cage.
Here we are in the repeater workshop, unfortunately nothing to hear today.
A movement with smoked sapphire plate and bridges.
In the final instalment we will see some finished watches in the final inspection department.