Tortoise automaton the size of a watch and adorned with jewels

Master watchmaker Raúl Pagès has set himself a goal: contribute to historical continuity and uphold the centuries-old tradition of prestigious automata. Marvel at the amazing craftmanship that went into making this gorgeous jewel-encrusted tortoise automaton!

From the video description:

Master watchmaker Raúl Pagès unveils his first creation, the "Tortoise" automaton which moves thanks to a mechanism similar to a watch movement. With this unique piece, entirely manufactured in Switzerland, the independent brand PAGÈS brings back to life the forgotten tradition of prestigious automatons.

Here is where you can learn more about Raúl Pagès creator of automata and master watchmaker.

[ Thanks Larry! ]

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This mechanical watch shows the moving of the planets around the sun in miniature

Check out this unbelievable watch -- The magnificent Complication Poétique Midnight Planétarium -- which displays a tiny model of the solar system on your wrist. The watch shows representations of Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. The version without the diamonds will set you back $274,613 in U.S. dollars. The one with diamond is about $366,101!

An article on the watch may be viewed here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2548017/Forget-smartwatches-wear-150-000-PLANETARIUM-wrist.html#ixzz3VsKzrlM3

To learn more about this fascinating craft, I recommend Watchmaking by George Daniels. The book follows the making of the precision timekeeper, step by step, and is illustrated at each stage with line drawings and brief explanatory captions. The text is easy to follow and to not overly technical.

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German-made hand vise used by jewelers, watchmakers, and clockmakers

The hand vise shown here is sure to be a useful addition to any Maker's toolbox. Similar tools have been used by jewelers, watchmakers and clockmakers for ages.

Based on the design of a tool from the 1900s, this little hand vise is helpful for holding all manner of small objects. Because there is a hole which passes through the handle, wire can be threaded all the way through and then worked above the serrated jaws which hold it securely.

The hand vise is tightened with a wing nut. Made in Germany of high grade tool steel, it measures 4-1/2 inches in length with a 5/8 inch jaw width.

Here is where you can get this German-made hand vise.

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Jaquet Droz makes the world's first singing bird wrist watch!

Did you see the exquisite automaton wrist watch by Jaquet Droz I posted about back in December of 2012? If not, here is where you can check out the watch. The company has done it again as you can see from the video shown above of a different bird automaton watch. Called The Charming Bird, it is the world's first singing bird automata wristwatch.

Here is a short interview with Marc A. Hayek, President and CEO of Jaquet Droz. In the video, we see a new large automaton the company has built in order to promote some of the very small ones they are putting into watches.

Jaquet Droz is a name long associated with automata and it's nice to see the company continuing to honor this history.

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Timekeepers: a new documentary about timekeeping needs your support!

The Timekeepers Kickstarter project is centered around the creation of a documentary on this history of timekeeping. A few months ago, Dustin Muncy and his colleagues stared interviewing watch and clockmakers in order to gain an understanding of their profession. They soon realized they had stumbled upon a subject with a rich history. The video shown here is some of the footage they have already shot. They are looking for supporters to continue and finish the film.

The part that really struck me was their recognition this is a field in serious jeopardy. Most watch and clockmakers are in the second half of their lives and many horology schools are closing.

From the Kickstarter project page:

This documentary will be for educational purposes to hopefully spark an interest in the next generation to appreciate and even pursue horology as a career or hobby. It will be available to national organizations such as the NAWCC (National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors) and AWCI (American Watchmakers and Clockmakers Institute) to hopefully be used as a means to educate and enthuse young kids or those who have never given thought to how their watches and clocks actually work.

I can't post about every laudable Kickstarter project out there, but this one is close to my heart. As you may know, automata and clocks have a long, shared history. There are millions of beautiful antique clocks and watches in the world. If all of the clock and watchmakers disappear, what is to become of these mechanical marvels? It's not a pleasant thought.

Please consider supporting the Timekeepers documentary. They have about two weeks left and are about 1/3 of the way toward their goal. If you cannot donate, please do what you can to spread the word!

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Call for artists - How do you as an artist respond to the concept of timekeeping?

I happen to be a member of the National Association of Watch and Clock Colllectors (NAWCC). In addition to offering classes, regional meetings, and an excellent publication, they have an impressive museum dedicated to watches and clocks. The video above tells you a bit about their museum.

I've received word that they have issued a call for artists for an upcoming exhibition. Why post about it here? Contributing artists are asked to respond to the concept of timekeeping. Special consideration will be given to works that are functional timekeepers. As a central resource for various forms of kinetic art, this show is decidedly on-topic.

From the Call for Artists:

A Matter of Time — This exhibit invites artists to respond to the concept of timekeeping and how it is represented today. Artists are encouraged to visit the museum and www.museumoftime.org for more information. Special consideration will be given to those works that are functional timekeepers as well. So how do you as an artist respond to the concept of timekeeping?

All of the details for submitting a work of art may be found on within the official call for artist announcement. The key thing to note is that the deadline for submission is Friday August 30, 2013. You will need to get them JPEG images on CD no later than that date. There is no entry fee.

Even if you don't submit a piece or attend the show, I would encourage you to make the two hour excursion from Philadelphia, Baltimore, or Washington DC to visit the National Watch and Clock Museum. If you find yourself in Scranton or Lancaster, PA you are within minutes of the museum.

[ Thanks Aaron! ]

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Insane deals on skeleton dial mechanical wrist watches

I've known for some time that Amazon sells watches. Though I can claim no expertise on the subject, every now and then, I will post about a nice looking watch. It fits the mechanical theme of The Automata Blog and mixes things up a bit. It has recently come to my attention that Amazon is selling some of these skeleton dial watches at an astronomical discount. Think I'm exaggerating? Check out this example:

This is the Invicta Men's 1090 Russian Diver Mechanical Skeleton Dial Watch. Nice watch, right? This seems to be backed up by the positive reviews and product description:

The Invicta Men's 1090 Russian Diver Mechanical Skeleton Dial Black Polyurethane Watch is a functional fashion statement all on its own. Its stylish skeleton dial design adds a trendy feel to your collection. This watch begins with a prominent 52mm 18k rose gold-plated stainless steel case with a rounded rose gold-plated stainless steel bezel with a textured coin edge. The right side of the case features a large crown with a screw-down cap attached to the case with a link chain.

At $175, the price seems reasonable -- until you take a good hard look at the retail price and discount (see image below):

I don't know if this is right, but it says you save $1,219.63, which is 87% off the cost of a $1400.00 watch! Whoa. I'm suddenly thinking about getting a watch.

This is just one of at many good deals on skeleton dial watches. To save some time, I've added them to a new skeleton dial watches section in my Amazon aStore. You can also just hop on over to amazon and search for skeleton watches in the Watches Department.

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The Watch Seller: hand-carved wood automaton by Tim Donald

Here's a new hand-carved wood automaton by artist Tim Donald. The piece depicts a somewhat suspicious street seller. When the handle is turned, the seller figure looks around to see if the coast is clear, then opens his suitcase to give you a glimpse of the "top brand" watches he's selling for a mysteriously low price. That the seller has his fingers crossed behind his back may indicate that these are not the high quality time pieces they are made out to be.

I love the details on the figure and the suitcase. The choice to put the figure in an enclosure suggests he might be tucked into some urban alleyway.

I wonder if I can get a good deal on a Vacheron Constantin Skeleton Minute Repeater (normally about $623,000 USD) or better yet a watch by Jaquet Droz himself?

See more automata by Tim Donald on his web site.

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Miniature kinetic sculptures using tiny figures mounted to watch hands

Artist Dominic Wilcox has created a series of miniature kinetic sculptures using tiny figures adhered to the face and hands of vintage watches. Each diminutive scene is then covered with a clear dome. The collection covers a variety of subjects including protest, surveillance, technology, money, and sports. The gleaming watch bezels and tiny candy-red figures are a fascinating and unexpected medium for exploring social issues. Many have playful, surreal themes.

See more of Dominic Wilcox's watch sculptures on his web site.

[ Thanks Karin! ]

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Profile of the Jaquet-Droz: master watch, clock, and automata makers

If you missed this video the other day over at the excellent Spiel und Kunst mit Mechanik blog, it is a must see. The film documents some of the achievements of the famous Jaquet-Droz family of watchmakers.

The list of accomplishments outlined in this 13 minute film is astounding. Among other things, the Jaquet-Droz are credited with:

• The first sing bird autoamta
• The first singing bird watch
• The self-winding watch
• The Writer automaton
• The Draftsman automaton
• The Musician automaton
• The pump winding system for watches

This is only a partial list to which we must add numerous advances in watchmaking technology, and supreme artistry in the aesthetic elements of watches and clocks. Finally, though the film does not mention it, Henri Maillardet, creator of the drawing automaton that was the inspiration for the one in the film Hugo, spent time as a young man working in Pierre Jaquet-Droz's workshop. Maillardet doubtless learned much of what he needed to know to build his own drawing automaton from the Jaquet-Droz.

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A skeletonized pocket watch broke my heart

I was lucky enough to have received an Amazon gift card this holiday season. I was clicking around the site and the watch shown here caught my eye. It was mixed in among the 140 other skeletonized pocket watches -- many of which are quite affordable. All too quickly, I got my hopes up.

The bad news: it costs $2,875.00.

The good news: it comes with FREE SUPER SAVER SHIPPING!!!

Alas, my gift card -- even with the generous shipping offer -- won't quite be enough. I think I'll keep looking for an antique Waltham pocket watch.

If you feel like punishing yourself here's the page for the Catorex Argent Massif 925 Skeletal Pocket Watch.

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Passing of a master watchmaker, George Daniels

I had heard of watchmaker George Daniels, mostly because I have been eyeing a certain book on Amazon for several months. The description and artwork in his book Watchmaking caught my attention right away. I did not know until recently how accomplished the author was as a watchmaker. Sadly, this genius passed away on October 21st at the age of 85. The facts within an obituary published by The Economist have left me stunned.

Daniels not only taught himself horology, but also every skill needed to produce a watch entirely on his own. He made the screws, springs, gears, hands and dials. He also made many of the tools used to make these things! In his 42 years of work, he created 37 unique watches and invented his own escapements. Here is video of his revolutionary co-axial escapement.

His obsession with precision led to the development of incredibly -- and entirely mechanical -- new watch mechanisms. This was no ordinary man, but rather the greatest watchmaker of our time.

Here is a link to the obituary for George Daniels published by The Economist.

[ Thanks Pete! ]

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Watch with magician automaton in a walnut shell

Made in Geneva in 1810, this incredible watch was made in a walnut shell. It incorporates a magician automaton and music! This is just one of the treasures to be found at the Patek Philippe Museum near Lake Geneva. It houses one of the most important collections of watches in the world, going back six hundred years.

Here is an article and gorgeous photo set titled six centuries of the world's greatest watches.

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Watchmaking - step-by-step making of a watch

This looks to be a VERY nice book on the topic of watch making.

About the book Watchmaking by George Daniels

The first and most comprehensive step-by-step guide on the subject, Watchmaking has become a classic in its own right. This new edition is updated to include a new section which discusses and illustrates a variety of the author’s own watches. The author's principal aim in writing this book has been to inspire and encourage the art of watchmaking, especially among a new generation of enthusiasts. The making of the precision timekeeper is described, step by step, and is illustrated at each stage with line drawings and brief explanatory captions. Great care has been taken to ensure the text is easy to follow and to avoid complicated technical descriptions.

Right, well, they had me at the title "Watchmaking"...and that awesome technical illustration of the watch mechanism.

Here's where you can view some sample pages and/or pre-order Watchmaking, due out in May of 2011.

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Nostromo watch, inspired by the ship in Alien

We don't travel down the modern-watch road too often here on The Automata / Automaton Blog, but this one recently featured on Engadget is just too mechanically cool to pass by. The watch, called "The Nostromo", is inspired by its namesake -- the ship in the movie Alien. The exposed gears -- and everything else -- are stunning.

Here's Engadget's recent post on the Nostromo Watch.

[ Thanks Tom! ]

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David Knight's watchmaking as miniature sculpture

David Knight is a watch repairer turned watchmaker. He designs, engraves, crafts every part except for the jewels and springs! He does not use any other mass produced parts, or outsource any of the work to others. His unique, sculptural watches typically take at least 2,000 hours each to make and are priced in the tens of thousands of GBP.

See more images and read some articles on David Knight, maker of sculptural pocket watches.

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The Verge and Foliot clock escapment in wood

My appreciation and interest in clock mechanisms is growing all the time. Here's a wood version of one of the earliest of all escapements: the verge and foliot.

Wikipedia on the verge escapement:

The verge (or crown wheel) escapement is the earliest known type of mechanical escapement, the mechanism in a mechanical clock that controls its rate by advancing the gear train at regular intervals or 'ticks'. Its origin is unknown. Verge escapements were used from the 14th century until about 1800 in clocks and pocketwatches. The name verge comes from the Latin virga, meaning stick or rod.

Its invention is important in the history of technology, because it made possible the development of all-mechanical clocks. This caused a shift from measuring time by continuous processes, such as the flow of liquid in water clocks, to repetitive, oscillatory processes, such as the swing of pendulums, which had the potential to be more accurate. Oscillating timekeepers are at the heart of every clock today.

Here is a link to Wikipedia's article on the verge escapement.

[ Thanks Steve! ]

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