Hello everyone a little update...
Today we got a very special visit that not many people get to do its related to watchmaking and part not as they also manufacture other things for the technology industry, So we got a visit to a place called CSEM SA the company makes research and technology organization specializing in micro- and nanotechnology, system engineering, photovoltaics and communications technologies. So basically I will explain the watchmaking side of things. So this company is responsible for the manufacture of silicon parts in Patek Philippe movements and also the Girard Perregaux constant force escapement and Omega/Swatch group as well as a many other big brand that they couldn't not talk about but we have a good idea who ells has their parts manufactured by them. The company is a non profit organisation so they rely on the swiss government and on calibrations with brands like mentioned above. They don't make very big production only small scale and then when the part manufacturing has grown too big for them they let the brand or company take over production. As you will notice in the pictures the manufacturing process is fairly complicated and requires lots of measuring and not to mention the cleanliness of the site every time we go in we have to change and suit up right down to the boots and this is not their most cleanest manufacturing stage of process. It was very interesting to see how silicon watch parts are manufactured and we even got to have a go at some of the steps in the manufacture process to make some silicon parts to take home. Most of their machines or equipment costs over one million to buy because of the precision of them and because of how advanced some of it is. For me this was a very interesting insight into something that is going to become more and more common for me as a watchmaker so although I was not a huge fan of silicon at first I can now see the advantages of using this high tech material in watches and that silicon has helped with its property values. When you see the type of people working their it really is amazing very highly skilled and experienced engineers and scientist. Patek has since started to build their own advanced research and manufacture lab to start production on more silicon parts will the help of CSEM. We was very lucky to be allowed to take photos because normally they do not allow because of their special projects they have going on. But it was an amazing visit and something that I will defiantly not forget, Everyone at CSEM was amazing and very helpful.
I will let the pictures do the speaking as my spelling isn't the best so I apologise for that. I will soon be visiting another special factory this time it will be a watch factory but a high end independent brand in the next few weeks and its not the companies you would think. I hope you liked my post and thank you for taking the time to view it. And a Big big Thank you to everyone at CSEM SA.
Joe.
