by Jon Edwards

Jon Edwards

Making Nearly Indestructible Chairs

A behind-the-scenes look at how Pennsylvania-based Emeco crafts aluminum chairs like its iconic Model 1006 Navy Chair.

While most of the chairs leave the factory with a brushed finish, mirror polishing a single chair is a full day's work.

Image from linked video

Climate Control on Your Wrist

Wristwear from MIT's Embr featured in the business section of the Boston Globe.

Image credit Embr

Nice Little Video From Worn & Wound That Offers a Peek at the Manufacturing Process at Portland-based VERO Watches

Custom Carbide Tool for Cutting Out the Area Between the Lugs on a Watch Case

Made by AB Tool, in Oregon.

Image via Greg Koenig

A Look at the Rolex Datejust, Outfitted With a Co-axial Escapement, That George Daniels Employed to Ultimately Convince Omega to Put His Invention Into Mass Production Courtesy of Roger W. Smith

A Seemingly Unconstrained Amount of Money Packed Into a Very Constrained Space

3 talented watchmakers, 1 watch movement, 100+ years = The Superbia Humanitatis by Louis-Elysée Piguet, Franck Muller, and Paul Gerber.

Almost Inhalable

Iron Man's URWERK UR-110

The URWERK UR-110 worn by Iron Man’s alter ego, Tony Stark, in Spiderman Homecoming is coming up for auction next month.

“The Skill Women Have for Facing Every Task With So Much Patience, Investing So Much Love, Helps Them Greatly as Watchmakers.” – Maria Del Carmen

R.W. Smith Is Hiring

To the chagrin of the watch industry, much of its difficulty finding skilled watchmakers to keep service times low is self-inflicted. Restricting parts restricts the number of watchmakers who have either the ability or desire to make a go of things.

The "Disturbing Reality" of the Reduction in Service Wait Times

Ashton Tracy writing for Quill and Pad:

Understaffed workshops throughout the world struggle to keep up with demand for repair, which in turn causes lead times to swell out of control.

Another big factor not alluded to in the article are the parts restrictions imposed by most watch brands.

Mylo A Leather-like Textile Made From Mushroom Roots That Can Be Produced in Mere Days Rather Than Years, Without the Material Waste or Ethical Quandaries of Using Animal Hides

“The Point of Vintage Watches Is Not the Fact That They Look Old; It’s the Fact That They Are Old.” Sobering Counter-perspective on ‘fauxtina’

“I Always Tell My Customers That a 70-year-old Watch Does Not Becomes Younger After I Fix It; It Doesn’t Magically Go Back to 20 Years Old.” – Sanjyuro Ikeda

ELIKA

Staple Clock designed by Constantin Boym. Made with cardstock & staples.

Jet Black

The “jet” in “jet black” refers to a type of coal that was once used by jewellers.

Phoenix Rising

Angelo Bonati reflects back on the resurrection of Panerai