Watch Cases - Another Topic, Cases!

Jewelry Discussion
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Ian, Greetings from the US! I was wondering if I could trouble you
for some advice on my latest project. I am looking for a method to
create my own large size “railroad style” pocket watch case. I want
to carve a large Masonic emblem and have it cast into the back, as an
integral part of the watch, then the cases themselves be made in
sterling silver. It would be convenient to create a wax original and
then have my regular jewelry caster create the cases for me.

This may sound crazy, I know, and I don’t know how thrilled Dan
Grandi is going to be when he reads this.

Is this possible? Do all cases have to be machine turned one by one?
I thought perhaps casting a front and back of the case, and then
tapping and threading the cases together might work. I am not a
watchmaker, but am determined, and have had a long time horological
passion. Last year I joined the American Watchmakers Institute, and
their online group, but haven’t found the right info just yet. Any
tips you could give me to get me along on this project would be much
appreciated. But I have found movements etc.

Right now I am planning on using the Unitas 6497 movement, and think
I have a line on some crystals:

http://users.ap.net/~cazadero/crr/index.html

But the case is proving to be tougher to source, and the watch making
community frankly hasn’t been too forthcoming with info!

Any thoughts on this? Where should I start?

Thanks for your time.
Drew
Andrew Horn
Designer,
The Master’s Jewel
www.mastersjewel.com

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 This may sound crazy, I know, and I don't know how thrilled Dan
Grandi is going to be when he reads this. Is this possible? Do all
cases have to be machine turned one by one? I thought perhaps
casting a front and back of the case, and then tapping and
threading the cases together might work.

Ahah… Andrew, Yer Rang me Bell Mate !!!

Actually I have made many watch cases in the past… They were all
cast… In the late 80’s I produced about 10,000 watch cases/ week
for a newyork company… They had about 40 designs that we had to
produce . Watch cases are not all that complex… Most problems can
come from or be solved in the model making and may take a few tries
to get all the shrinkages and tooling correct.

You should give me a call on the weekend and we can talk about it in
depth.

Best Wishes, Daniel Grandi We do casting, finishing and a whole lot
more for designers, jewelers students and people in the trade.
Contact : sales@racecarjewelry.com