Independent Watch Manufacture Visits: Road Trip Guide

This is, in fact, a fascinating story that clearly illustrates what passion truly means. Claeys is trained as a engineer, and after completing his studies he was unfortunately confronted with a medical issue. This forced him to reflect on what he really wanted to do in life. From an early age, he had already developed an interest in watches, and he began asking himself: “Why not do something in the world of watchmaking?”

He enrolled in a watchmaking school, where he certainly learned a great deal, but in his opinion not nearly enough. A subsequent position at Lange & Söhne shaped him even further. 

Now, aspiring watchmakers rarely have the budget to invest in extremely expensive CNC machines. Claeys’ solution is nothing short of brilliant. He purchases certain components and, drawing on his engineering background, invents and builds enough himself to create a fully functional CNC machine—entirely self-made.

A simple cabinet serves as the frame, with an oil reservoir at the bottom for the CNC machining process. The oil is filtered using pieces of old, worn-out shirts. The necessary cooling system was built from the cooling components of an older PC. In short, I find it deeply admirable that he designs and builds all of this himself, and that it performs exactly as it should ..without having to spend a fortune.