There currently is an especially interesting exhibition at IWC Museum in Schaffhausen. Entitled “Apprentices, Tomorrow's Masters”, it features especially interesting work by watchmakers when they were students at IWC's watchmaking school, mostly a few years ago.
One piece that interested me was Raphael Frauenfelder's wristwatch with a skeletonized calibre 9720 pocket watch movement. Raphael, who was an apprentice from 2001-2005, is now a project manager in IWC's industrialization department.
Another really nice skelton project from another calibre 9720 was done by David Moragon:
David was an apprentice from 1998-2002, and now is a department manager in final assembly.
Many of you know Markus Bühler from his special limited edition Big Pilot's watch. But he actually did what, at least for me, is a horologically more interesting project. He took a calibre 9721 and made it into a tourbillon marine chronometer.
Markus is now department manager, industrialization and movement assembly.
There are several other watches shown by former apprentices. These include a tourbillon by Michael Dubs, an especially blackened movement by Brian Unger, a “vintage” ref/ 811 Yacht Club by Christine Schlatter, and a work by a current apprentice. Mario Dunst, who remarkably won second place in the 2012 Cartier competition with his animation on a Unitas calibre 6497 movement.
These watchmakers also were require to build many of their own tools, and several are on display.
If you happen to be in Schaffhausen, this is a “don't miss”. It's educational, beautiful and also just a lot of fun.
