Hello everyone
Today we had an incredible visit and something no other schools and not many people get as far as we know something that I will never forget a visit to Manufacture Christophe Claret In Le Locle only about 4 minuets away from when I live and our watchmaking school. Not only did we get a tour of the factory the guide was Mr Christophe Claret himself he gave up his own personal time to take us a tour round from start to finish and I have to say normally owners of companies don't always know much about their manufacture process but Claret knew every machine and what it dose and how to operate it. The even had an 16 axis CNC that he could operate via his iPhone.
All of the doors used his finger print to unlock them. What I also like about Mr Claret who is also a watchmaker he knows how important micro-mechanics is and he incorporates that into his manufacture by having old machines and new machines most of the production was based on micro-mechancincs and having good skills. It was surprising to see he even makes his on marketing videos in house and he directs most of them himself. It seems as though he is a very hands on man who will get help out with the whole process of production. Most of his components for his watches are produced in house by him including the clasp on the strap. It seems like he wants to be very independent company and a few other brands rely on Mr Claret to produce movements for them. I was very impressed that he knew his company inside out, I have always been fascinated by his watches and today my dream was filled to meet him and to have a tour of his factory. They have a room that he has stocks of metals and others for polishing components to logistics to the first design process. Most of his watches if not all he designed the first drawing before going to his development team. I am very impressed that a fairly small independent brand could do so much he even designed his own machines to his specifications. All his watches have to been more than perfect before he will let them leave the factory and he has a lot of quality control stages using high speed cameras and other high tech equipment to check before the movement goes to the customer.
You can see that like us at the watchmaking school he has a passion for watchmaking and quality. Each watchmaker is give what they call kits that they have to assemble from start to finish so they have all the parts for that watch and then they have to assemble it. He said the first watch that his watchmakers work on is a tourbillion when they first start because that the easiest watch he has in his collection. He also has a giant like safe room where all the parts are kept and two people work in their to organise the parts in these like giant safe draws looks like something from James Bond the security he said if someone tried to break in the police would be their in under 4 minuets and then their is so much security it would be difficult to get anything.
What was nice is that he is such a busy man but he spent many hours taking us round and showing us the parts and different stages and he let us look at everything and see everything even the engineering drawing of his watches you can tell that he has put a lot of effort and passion into building up his incredible company. At the end he showed us his personal watch and its of corse the new Claret Poker watch. I will update this again in the next few days with more information and pictures I have a lot of picture from the inside because he let us take as many pictures as we wanted but before I post them inside I just waiting for conformation that is ok to put them on the internet. I will show you one of my favourite photos and something that I will never forget and that me with Mr Claret after the tour. The only way I can explain how it was to meet him is when you are young many people want to meet David Beckham or Rooney well for me today was like meeting them because my passion is watchmaking and these are the people behind the watch and the extremely complicated movements.
I hope you all like the post and as I said I will update it in the next few days as soon as I get the green light for the interesting photos. sorry that their is so much text but their was a lot to see more than I can explain on one page and apology for my spelling Thank you Joe.
