Ska 11 Posted June 2, 2011 So here are the latest developments for the watch project. 1. Decided on the company Name (I'll let you know once its registered at Companies House this week) 2. Decided on the Model Name: "Wingman" (being a pilots watch and all) 3. Decided on the variant Name: "Ghost" (DLC coated Ceramic/Stainless Steel case, date @ 6 and no subdials.) 4. Finished the final dial design and selected the material. I wanted the whole watch to be as non-magnetic and rigid as possible, the dial being an important part of that. As a result I researched a number of suitable materials and finally settled on a super high-strength mineral ceramic substrate which is very light, rigid, easy to machine, comes in thicknesses of down to 0.15mm and is conveniently either black or white. I decided on a sandwich hybrid design with a white ceramic backing plate which will provide a fantastic base for adding lume, flash bonded to the black upper layer. This gives maximum visual contrast and ultra-strength. We only cut one today and some of the laser's focussing was not quite right so we overcut 2 of the smallest details slightly. Fixed now though so the next version will be perfect!!!! Here are the videos: Huge thanks to Elliot, (Basically the Elvis Presley of Laser Cutting!!) I'll take some Hi-res shots of the dial later. Got to teach a piano lesson this evening. The case-set will be machined later this month. Just doing some tests at the moment on the ceramic for the front case, as its a different material to the dial. Hope you like!! Ska Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KeNnY 29 Posted June 2, 2011 in the first video, at the end "FAIL? a guy drops a glass cup ! " AMAZING SKA !! !And great to hear you buddy !!!!!!! I wish you good luck and can't wait to see more !!!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ska 11 Posted June 2, 2011 in the first video, at the end "FAIL? a guy drops a glass cup ! " AMAZING SKA !! !And great to hear you buddy !!!!!!! I wish you good luck and can't wait to see more !!!!!! No mate, those are the ceramic offcuts. He chucked one at the waste bin and missed!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
opus9 0 Posted June 2, 2011 looking good bud..i bet the wait is torture...like the ghost and wingman...sounds great bud. regards opus9 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KeNnY 29 Posted June 2, 2011 He chucked one at the waste bin and missed!! He chucked one at the waste bin and missed! = FAIL ! Mate really looks great ! I am amazed by the laser cutting, never seen anything like that ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WebWind 1 Posted June 2, 2011 Fantastic work Chris! Looking forward to see more videos and pictures! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
downfromtheglen 0 Posted June 2, 2011 PMing Mary now to see if she can source a rep. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kolchak 17 Posted June 2, 2011 PMing Mary now to see if she can source a rep. Now thats comedy folks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThinkBachs 1 Posted June 2, 2011 Don't forget to register the name in the US as well. As far as the logo goes, why not screen print it and other details on the dial instead? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seclark007 11 Posted June 2, 2011 Chris, If you're looking for a Canadian distributor.............. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
solkryssare 109 Posted June 2, 2011 Awesome! Thanks for showing us this mate! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nunu78 1,743 Posted June 2, 2011 (edited) congratz Mate and good luck for the rest of the Project Edited June 2, 2011 by nunu78 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
carlton 0 Posted June 2, 2011 Good work. I'll follow this with interest ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KeNnY 29 Posted June 2, 2011 Don't forget to register the name in the US as well. As far as the logo goes, why not screen print it and other details on the dial instead? I WANT GLOWING LOGO ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nisv 0 Posted June 2, 2011 Allright, thanks for sharing. Epic Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Member X 91 Posted June 2, 2011 How cool I'm happy and willing to offer my services as quality checker and durability tester Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SB56667 155 Posted June 2, 2011 PMing Mary now to see if she can source a rep. :P Make sure to post the QC photos! Congrats and thanks for sharing, Ska! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ska 11 Posted June 2, 2011 Don't forget to register the name in the US as well. As far as the logo goes, why not screen print it and other details on the dial instead? Because thats what everyone else does! Its fixed now anyway! :P Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David543 0 Posted June 2, 2011 Hi Chris I am very impressed with what you are doing. Thank you for the videos. Am glad you're NOT doing what everyone else is. The idea of extreme precision, attention to detail and durability really do it for me. Like the dial in every way, and the use of materials like DLC and Ceramic for the case. I would share your interest in a watch that is hard to scratch in the real world! What vickers scale hardness are you looking at for the case? Any ball park on the price level? I'm seriously interested in this mate, hence my stupid questions Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SevenSevenFifty 0 Posted June 2, 2011 Awesome watch Ska! Now were going to rep it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ska 11 Posted June 3, 2011 Hi Chris I am very impressed with what you are doing. Thank you for the videos. Am glad you're NOT doing what everyone else is. The idea of extreme precision, attention to detail and durability really do it for me. Like the dial in every way, and the use of materials like DLC and Ceramic for the case. I would share your interest in a watch that is hard to scratch in the real world! What vickers scale hardness are you looking at for the case? Any ball park on the price level? I'm seriously interested in this mate, hence my stupid questions Cheers mate, Ok the Ceramic Substrate I'm using for the dial is very hard (around 800HV30) As such It can only be cut with a laser or diamond Its only issue is that it gets very brittle when cutting profiles smaller than the thickness of the plate. (Hence the issue with the logo.) If you can cut it out carefully however, once its flash bonded to another plate, it is no longer brittle. The machinable iridium-glass ceramic I'm using for the case is roughly as hard as 316L Stainless Steel (150HV10) but like the dial completely non-magnetic and will not swell or flex at all during or after machining or with temperature/humidity. The matte DLC coating I'm going to apply to the ceramic after machining will give it a surface with hardness and anti abrasion qualities just about equal to diamond. To give you an example. A steel part subject to abrasion or other wear with a normal working life of 1 week can last up to 85 years if DLC coated. The Case-Back is going to be made from 20 micron Ruthenium Plated 316L Steel. Ruthenium plate looks like "Black Platinum" and is exceptionally hard for a metal at around 500HV60. Its also gorgeous. I use Ruthenium plated hardware on my guitars: Finally, as promised here are some close-up pics of the dial. Ignore the Broken Logo and the "Wingman" Lettering Both are being increased in size for better visibility in the next version. Ska :ninja: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fed949 0 Posted June 3, 2011 Ska! Whats the price you gonna decide? I want one. FED949 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ska 11 Posted June 3, 2011 Still Working on it mate. Trying to get it as low as possible. I'll keep you informed don't worry!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nunu78 1,743 Posted June 3, 2011 Still Working on it mate. Trying to get it as low as possible. I'll keep you informed don't worry!! Mate ive said b4 but im making it official ,i want one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ska 11 Posted June 3, 2011 Just backfilled the numerals with BG-W9. Only 1 layer so its not perfectly smooth or white in daylight yet. Here's a quick preview. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
