at the F.P.Journe Manufacture November 11, 2022
Supporting the most talented young watchmakers in the world.
Since 2015, the Young Talent Competition allows discovering the next generation of most talented young watchmaking apprentices in the world, supports them in their route to independence by identifying their achievements and putting them under the spotlight. F.P.Journe organizes the Young Talent Competition with the support of The Hour Glass, luxury watch retailer in the Asia Pacific region. Both Maisons aim to perpetuate and support the art of haute horology and cultivate the appreciation of extensive horological craftsmanship.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
The
jury of the Young Talent Competition 2022 is composed of key
personalities from the international horological scene: Philippe Dufour,
Andreas Strehler, Giulio Papi, Marc Jenni, Michael Tay, Elizabeth Doerr
and François-Paul Journe.
Maciej Miśnik
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
- Marine design pocket watch with tourbillon and pivoted detent escapement
- Age 30 - Warsaw - Poland
- Self-taught - Journeyman's certificate in watchmaking - Warsaw, June 2018
- Graduate in physics - Gdańsk University of Technology - September 2021
Case, hands and dial
Marine chronometers inspired the presented pocket watch. For this reason, the case was made of brass, however, for contrast, the pendant and the bow were made of silver. Most parts were made in my own workshop without using CNC machines. Basic machines such as lathes, milling machines and hand tools were used to make the watch.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
Technical characteristics of the movement
As in marine deck chronometers, a pivoted detent escapement was used. Oscillation frequency of the balance wheel is 2 Hz. It is well known that detent escapement has good friction properties but it is not shock resistant. Due to this, I decided to make a pocket watch instead of a wristwatch. Additionally, the watch was equipped with a tourbillon thereby reducing the problem of poising the balance.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
Manufacturing of the components
The presented watch is made of raw metals. No elements have been electro painted or plated. Only the hands and three screws were thermally oxidized to blue. Sulphide was grown on silver elements, this is what gives this darker look to the dial and to the small plate with the signature.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
Measurement
Diameter: without hinge and lock, 4.9 cm / with hinge and lock, 5.2 cm
Height: 7.1 cm Depth: without screws, 1.55 cm / with screws, 1.67 cm
Weight: with key and chain, 112.2 g / without key and chain, 100.2 g
- Age 30 - Warsaw - Poland
- Self-taught - Journeyman’s certificate in watchmaking - Warsaw, June 2018
- Graduate in physics - Gdarisk University of Technology - September 2021
About you:
When did your passion for watchmaking begin?
I wasn’t quite 2 years old when I destroyed my first Cuckoo clock. Eversince then, clocks, watches and tools have never left me.
Where did you learn about watchmaking?
Mainly, I’m self-taught, but my grandfather, and his father and grandfather, were also watchmakers. From time to time, I went to see watchmakers in my hometown, and would ask them questions.
What type of watchmaking exam did you take, and where?
On June 25, 2018, I passed my journeyman exam in Masovian Chamber of Crafts and Entrepreneurship in Warsaw.
What was your first watchmaking achievement? (Or first watch)
I built my first watch in September 2019. It’s a simple chronograph wristwatch based on parts from a pocket watch.
About the watch:
Why did you choose these complications?
My father is a seaman. Ever since my childhood, I have liked shining brass marine devices, especially clocks. I wanted to have a small marine chronometer watch that I could put into my pocket, so I decided to make a pocket watch with a tourbillon and detent escapement. For me, precision poising the balance wheel is a challenge, so I used a tourbillon to solve the problem.
How long did it take to create this watch?
About 8 months, 1,000 hours of work in total.
What was your favourite part of making this watch?
It’s hard to say. I think one of my favourite parts of making a watch is its first assembly and first run.
What are the challenges of working on basic machines?
In my opinion, the biggest challenges are self-control and self-discipline. In just a few seconds you can destroy 3 days of work. You have to be very careful and 100% focused on all elements.
Why didn’t you use a CNC machine?
The answer is very easy. I did not use a CNC machine for 2 reasons: first, I think that if we say a watch is “hand made”, it has to be hand made, not made on a CNC machine and hand finished. Otherwise, it would be only hand-finished, and manufactured on a machine. I know many factories do this, but I can’t change that. I would like to point out that I’m not an enemy of mechanisation of production. It’s OK, but we have to be honest. The second reason is CNC machines are extremely accurate and reproducible, so, in my opinion of course, a watch cannot be unique. It can be beautiful, precise, amazing, but not unique. Besides, CNC machines are expensive, and I am not the owner of a large factory.
About the future:
What do you intend to do with this prize?
The diploma will be hung above my workbench. Maybe it’s selfish, but I would like to buy some machines and tools for my workshop, for example a professional Swiss-made jig-borer, a pivot polisher, a bigger precision watchmaker lathe, etc.
What is your aspiration for the next five years?
It’s a good question. I would like to make a pocket watch with a 1-second constant force mechanism. It’s my current project. In the near future, I would like to launch my own manufacture, but I’m not sure, that will be possible. One thing IS for sure - I will make watches. Wristwatches, I hope.
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Press release - 2022
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MONTRES JOURNE SA
Brigitte Bocquet-Makhzani - Communication
International PR & Events Manager
17, rue de l’Arquebuse – 1204 Geneva – Switzerland
Tel : +41 (0)22 322 09 09
Fax : +41 (0)22 322 09 19
e-mail: bmakhzani@fpjourne.com
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