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?I've been really busy since collecting my Dornblueth 99.1, but have finally had a time to download the photos I took when I went to collect it at the end of October.
As my alarm clock went off at 4:30am, I was sorely tempted to stay in bed and ask Dirk to FedEx the watch over to me after all, but after one more press of the snooze button I was up and soon on my way to the airport. As I landed in Hannover, the weather wasn't particularly welcoming and soon I was driving through the rain in my hire car. Unfortunately, my sat-nav was useless as the 12V socket in the car didn't work, so I had to rely on my carefully balanced iPhone and Google maps to get me to Dirk's workshop in Kalbe/Milde.
As I drove through the scenic (formerly East) German countryside, it seemed strange to think that a skilled watchmaker was located in an area that is much better known for it's farming, but about 2 hours after leaving Hannover I eventually pulled up outside Dirk's workshop. It is a converted house, and the front room acts as a showroom with a number of his fantastic creations on display for me to drool over. I was greeted by Dirk and his wife, and they led me through into the workshop that takes up the 2nd half of the ground floor.
Here they have the large machines that are too heavy to be fitted upstairs, and each one has a different purpose. Some are used to create the tooling that is then used in a different machine to create watch parts, so not only do they make the watches by hand, they also make some of the tooling too. Most of the machines were old fashioned - some dating back 70+ years, but there were also a handful of more modern devices, for example the tool that measures watch parts to a very precise degree. As each part is made, it is tested to ensure it fits the finished watch - they'd rather not find out that a screw doesn't line up right at the end of assembly.
Dirk then continued the tour upstairs where there were several rooms full of smaller tools - these are used for the finer details, and more delicate jobs like drilling the strap lug holes into the case, and polishing the different parts of the movement to give it the various effects like striping and spirals etc... One of the machines used is over 120 years old, and Dirk still rates it as the best tool available to cut very fine gear teeth. So fine in fact, that when he showed me one of the gears, I could only just make out the individual teeth, and the screw to hold it in place just looked like a minute spec of metal!
Dirk also showed me some of the books that he has used for inspiration, and from talking to him and seeing how he works it is obvious that he is incredibly enthusiastic about watchmaking, and each piece is made with a huge amount of care and skill.
We then went back into the display lounge area, where my watch was on display ready for me to collect. He ran through a few instructions, posed for a quick photo and then I had to head off back to the airport clutching the new addition to my collection.
FedEx would have been a much cheaper and less time consuming option, however I'm really pleased I had the chance to meet Dirk and see how my watch was created. It's not often that you can purchase something that is built to your own specification by hand by an experienced craftsman, and even less often that you get to see that craftsmanship first hand. It took me back to when I visited Blackpool to see my TVR being built, just without the smell of glass fibre! Definitely a once in a lifetime experience. Until the next one...
And now some photos...
Not a great day to be driving/flying/driving/flying/driving!
Some of the machinery is upwards of 70 years old.
This is used to cut the blanks from a solid rod of metal to make cogs from.
Each engraving is carved into wood, then placed on this tracing machine which scales everything down by a factor on the actual watch parts.
Trace something on the right hand side, and it will be engraved at a much smaller scale on the left.
Showing about 1/3 of the workshop space on the ground floor.
Dirk demonstrating how patterns are ground onto the movement plate.
The tool used for drilling the strap lug mounting holes into the case, and also a blank case front on the left.
Each hand comes as part of a sheet of pre-stamped hands, and after various processes turns out shiny and blue!
Dirk machining a small gear on a machine that's over 120 years old.
Dirk and his wife handing over my new watch, with a number of his creations on display in the background!
Not the best photo, but a quick snap to show it in action! I'll try to take some proper shots soon.
As my alarm clock went off at 4:30am, I was sorely tempted to stay in bed and ask Dirk to FedEx the watch over to me after all, but after one more press of the snooze button I was up and soon on my way to the airport. As I landed in Hannover, the weather wasn't particularly welcoming and soon I was driving through the rain in my hire car. Unfortunately, my sat-nav was useless as the 12V socket in the car didn't work, so I had to rely on my carefully balanced iPhone and Google maps to get me to Dirk's workshop in Kalbe/Milde.
As I drove through the scenic (formerly East) German countryside, it seemed strange to think that a skilled watchmaker was located in an area that is much better known for it's farming, but about 2 hours after leaving Hannover I eventually pulled up outside Dirk's workshop. It is a converted house, and the front room acts as a showroom with a number of his fantastic creations on display for me to drool over. I was greeted by Dirk and his wife, and they led me through into the workshop that takes up the 2nd half of the ground floor.
Here they have the large machines that are too heavy to be fitted upstairs, and each one has a different purpose. Some are used to create the tooling that is then used in a different machine to create watch parts, so not only do they make the watches by hand, they also make some of the tooling too. Most of the machines were old fashioned - some dating back 70+ years, but there were also a handful of more modern devices, for example the tool that measures watch parts to a very precise degree. As each part is made, it is tested to ensure it fits the finished watch - they'd rather not find out that a screw doesn't line up right at the end of assembly.
Dirk then continued the tour upstairs where there were several rooms full of smaller tools - these are used for the finer details, and more delicate jobs like drilling the strap lug holes into the case, and polishing the different parts of the movement to give it the various effects like striping and spirals etc... One of the machines used is over 120 years old, and Dirk still rates it as the best tool available to cut very fine gear teeth. So fine in fact, that when he showed me one of the gears, I could only just make out the individual teeth, and the screw to hold it in place just looked like a minute spec of metal!
Dirk also showed me some of the books that he has used for inspiration, and from talking to him and seeing how he works it is obvious that he is incredibly enthusiastic about watchmaking, and each piece is made with a huge amount of care and skill.
We then went back into the display lounge area, where my watch was on display ready for me to collect. He ran through a few instructions, posed for a quick photo and then I had to head off back to the airport clutching the new addition to my collection.
FedEx would have been a much cheaper and less time consuming option, however I'm really pleased I had the chance to meet Dirk and see how my watch was created. It's not often that you can purchase something that is built to your own specification by hand by an experienced craftsman, and even less often that you get to see that craftsmanship first hand. It took me back to when I visited Blackpool to see my TVR being built, just without the smell of glass fibre! Definitely a once in a lifetime experience. Until the next one...
And now some photos...
Not a great day to be driving/flying/driving/flying/driving!
Some of the machinery is upwards of 70 years old.
This is used to cut the blanks from a solid rod of metal to make cogs from.
Each engraving is carved into wood, then placed on this tracing machine which scales everything down by a factor on the actual watch parts.
Trace something on the right hand side, and it will be engraved at a much smaller scale on the left.
Showing about 1/3 of the workshop space on the ground floor.
Dirk demonstrating how patterns are ground onto the movement plate.
The tool used for drilling the strap lug mounting holes into the case, and also a blank case front on the left.
Each hand comes as part of a sheet of pre-stamped hands, and after various processes turns out shiny and blue!
Dirk machining a small gear on a machine that's over 120 years old.
Dirk and his wife handing over my new watch, with a number of his creations on display in the background!
Not the best photo, but a quick snap to show it in action! I'll try to take some proper shots soon.
I am drunk and tired while reading this but frankly, it is one of the best threads I have read. You have something that is truly unique and better still, you have been to its birthplace and met its creator.
The early start, flight to Hanover and the commute in your hired 12V-faulty eurobox should be a tale to tell your son or grandson in years to come, as you hand across the watch to their safe-keeping.
Treasure it, and the memories of your trip, forever.
The early start, flight to Hanover and the commute in your hired 12V-faulty eurobox should be a tale to tell your son or grandson in years to come, as you hand across the watch to their safe-keeping.
Treasure it, and the memories of your trip, forever.
I don't know what I imagined the place to be like but that's just utterly fantastic, he's obviously a real craftsman - the old machines are lovely and I can see why his watches are so special.
Good for you for going out to get it - what a great memory and connection with your watch.
Cheers for sharing the pics - that's a great insight.
Good for you for going out to get it - what a great memory and connection with your watch.
Cheers for sharing the pics - that's a great insight.
NeMiSiS said:
Excellent read, fantastic watch, enjoy.
I was expecting a workshop akin to a hospitals operating theatre with several boffins working in white dust proof suits and maglights strapped to their heads. But now I've seen how 'real' it is, I like the creations even more.
Watches 'off the peg' don't seem as appealing anymore.
That's exactly it. Makes you realise that even IWC and the base JLC models are mass produced.I was expecting a workshop akin to a hospitals operating theatre with several boffins working in white dust proof suits and maglights strapped to their heads. But now I've seen how 'real' it is, I like the creations even more.
Watches 'off the peg' don't seem as appealing anymore.
A Dornbluth has emotion and soul in it
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