To Celebrate the 4th of July , Here's an Independent American Watch! The White by David Walter, Exclusive 2nd Prototype Pictures!

Jul 04, 2020,06:05 AM
 

David Walter is an Independent American watchmaker who is making this very interesting 39mm wristwatch, The White. 

Made without CNC, it's hand finished with a hand guilloched dial with an MSRP of US$24,950. Dials have engraved Arabic, Roman, or Chinese classical character numerals. 
What do you think? Please comment and let me know! 




These straps are very cool as well!





Here is the 2nd prototype movement coming along nicely!





A close-up of the prototype movement. As you can see, work is still being done!




Josh Shapiro does fantastic work with the hand guilloche dials




The classical Chinese was based on calligraphy, then engraved in the dial, rather than simply pad printed.









And the American made pocketwatch, the Azur, is made with a tantalum case!





And the coin-edged case of the Azur. I understand it’s not so easy to work with tantalum.




Have a happy 4th of July for those celebrating and a great weekend for everyone, everywhere!
This message has been edited by cazalea on 2020-07-13 15:10:30

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I like that combination as well.

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : July 4th, 2020-07:37
Compared to a Laine, for example, I think this watch is looking good so far!

Given this is just a prototype I would tend to agree. But it's not really an apples to apples comparison as the pricing here is significantly higher than Laine.

 
 By: countzero : July 4th, 2020-18:24
Very much like the JS guilloche dials though. It will be interesting to see how the movement will look like in the production version.

Great looking watches!

 
 By: jleno : July 4th, 2020-07:42
And I love those straps! Who does he get them from?

I think...

 
 By: Blue and White : July 4th, 2020-09:31
...one has to be in a very special and euphoric mood (such as on 4th of July) to spend some $25k for this timepiece. Neither dial nor case nor the (quite poor) backside view warrant that price level. Very astonishing. I recommend the works of e.g. Jaeger ... 

That's an interesting take

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : July 4th, 2020-10:48
Hand finished anglage with interior angles on David Walter's watch are not found on J&B's movements I've seen. Instead, you get minimal anglage, no real interior angles. It's a big difference. The plates are engine turned (which is nice, of course). I bel... 

Fair point....

 
 By: Blue and White : July 4th, 2020-23:06
...and thank you for your quick reply.

As this is a prototype, I might be allowed to be honest and suggest what could be focused on for improvement?

 
 By: xyz123abc : July 4th, 2020-09:43
If it’s not appropriate, please delete this post. Obviously this is based on a 6498 - but that’s not bad, and respect for making it all by hand. I also like the dial and hand design. Looking at the movement - where my interest primarily is, there are some... 

Hi, I think your intention is good and I appreciate the post.

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : July 4th, 2020-10:36
I'm interested in your last comment, the surface of the plates are straight-grained, which is a finish I'm told is harder to execute than simple geneva waves. As a watchmaker, would you really say that straight graining is not a valid finishing here or on... 

Straight graining is almost as hard as frosted.

 
 By: xyz123abc : July 4th, 2020-10:40
(And Geneva stripes is maybe third ) - to be brutally honest, I did not see this as straight grained - but again, this is a prototype. I guess the production model will look much better.

Ah, thanks again!

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : July 4th, 2020-10:51
Your honest critique is always welcome.

Omegas 266 not Unitas 6498

 
 By: nwk00 : July 5th, 2020-10:10
The layout is the close but size is different. David mentioned it somewhere before.

Not Based on 6498

 
 By: hpdoble : July 7th, 2020-12:54
The Movement of the White is not an ETA 6498. The click is also not a 6498, clearly hand made click.

Screws

 
 By: hpdoble : July 7th, 2020-13:04
I'm not sure you realize this , but those screws were all hand cut and made and purposely rounded. Flat polished screws dont reflect a blued finish well. They appear odd , so David does not use that technique.

I do not see any reason why I should engage in this (or any) discussions about what I am competent to realize or not.

 
 By: xyz123abc : July 7th, 2020-23:17
You can have your opinion - life is too short to discuss professional watchmaking with members of a forum where money is more evenly distributed than professional watchmaking competence But: The screws are the original 266 screws. The click is the origina... 

Sure. I just a little too upset.

 
 By: xyz123abc : July 8th, 2020-03:52
Calm again now.

👍

 
 By: xyz123abc : July 8th, 2020-13:10
nt

Hello, I was able to confirm with David Walter that:

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : July 13th, 2020-07:43
1. The movement is based on an Omega 266, not an ETA. 2. The click is handmade, not old stock. 3. The screws are hand cut and rounded, not old stock. Thanks to David Walter for sharing his work with us, and many thanks to everyone here on watchprosite who... 

Strange

 
 By: xyz123abc : July 13th, 2020-09:09
The click and the screws are still exactly the same as one the old stock Omega 266. ...  

It possibly may appear so from a picture, but the click is handmade and so are the screws.

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : July 13th, 2020-10:29
I hope someday you can examine the watch in person. I bet all questions are resolved this way. Have a good day!

Whatever.

 
 By: xyz123abc : July 13th, 2020-11:03
nt

Tantalum would be sweet! [nt]

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : July 4th, 2020-12:08

These are, from what I know, very much your aesthetic.

 
 By: Jay (Eire) : July 4th, 2020-11:25
But for me, not so much. Now, like my comment on the newly released Breguets and after seeing a non white Shapiro dial, adding some colour changes my perspective on the relative appeal of these watches. So, we could get to a place where the dial is someth... 

That's very reasonable, I think Josh's flame-blued guilloché dials are amazing.

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : July 4th, 2020-12:15
Yeah, I have friends who'll be like, "hey, this is very old, right up your alley!" 😅 What's a better size for you? More like 37mm or up to 42mm? I'm also interested in your sense of the case. What would need to change? I don't have an eye for refinement i... 

Should wait until it is out of the prototype stage..

 
 By: Ronald Held : July 4th, 2020-12:50
Prefer a different Arabic font

Yes, I could see a more modern font would change the look. These are a sort of Breguet numeral.

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : July 4th, 2020-18:18
I have a feeling that a person could ask for some personalized features within the basic aesthetic of the watch.

A good question would be the level..

 
 By: Ronald Held : July 5th, 2020-12:10
Of personalization that he can accommodate.

Well, if you're really interested, write him!

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : July 5th, 2020-12:44
You can pm me for his email or google it.

Will search for it. (nt)

 
 By: Ronald Held : July 6th, 2020-11:48
NT

I can help

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : July 6th, 2020-11:51
David At Davidwalter Dot Net

Thanks. (nt)

 
 By: Ronald Held : July 7th, 2020-12:51
NT

Watch is nice 👍!

 
 By: iceheller 1945 ✌️ : July 4th, 2020-23:38
The top movement plate can have a better finishing with maybe “Genève strip” that match/contrast with the base plate perlage finishing. Just my $2.

Thanks for commenting, 👍🏼! [nt]

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : July 5th, 2020-06:46