federico.fiorillo Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Hi to all (hi David ) this is my first thread here. My name is Federico, and i'd want show, to you, my project. All started in summer 2009. The idea was there for long time, but just the meeting with some friends who love Panerai allowed me to give life to this project. I have since decided to realize a tribute to some people I loved. hence the idea of creating a watch that had special features. The idea then was to create a watch that could fit into a movement whose date of manufacture could be the year of birth of one of my dear. I started from scratch, I had not idea about anything. I tried to organize my work in stages for immediate feedback on the feasibility of the project. The first step to do would have been realizing a vitual project. Already in the past i tried to realize cases and dials using Cad program, but the results were orrible and so I dropped. This time something new has heppend, may be enthusiasm of my friends towards this my initiative. Approch was different. The first thing to do was get a CAD. I have an iMac and the only free cad was Rhino3D. It 's a cad very versatile and easy to use. Before starting I should have know how I could have retrieved the pieces on the market. The first thing I did was talking to Comazzi. He seems to be the only one in Italy who builds watch cases. But his prices were not so indifferent. Invest too much money on a project of which I didn't know the outcome was a thing i didn't want to do. The next step was to search some resource on Internet. I discovered taht there were sundry people around the word who made watch cases... After a reserch I was able to find Radiomir cases at a rigth price. The costruction of teh case forced me to change my original target. The first idea was to realize a Radiomir chrono csae with single botton, but now the only possibility I have it is a movement with no complications . The right size of the movement were those of UNITAS. When I recived first case, I discovered that there were 2 sizes of moviments that I might have put , one of 36,6mm and the other one of 38.10mm... Different sizes = more chances. The intention was not to replicate a Panerai. Even just changing the dial would be too little. There were a lot of movemets of 38.10 mm in size produced between 1900 and 1950. In particular american movements. So i decided starting to research movements that i might use for realizing my project. At that moment everything was clear. case; movement; dial; hand set; strap; wood box; The first step is find cases. Find the cases wasn't an easy undertaking. Once I found them the hardest thing to do was creat a prototype as close as possible to the original. Was necessary to have proper measures of size to accommodate the movement. and also to have the possibility to visualize the real effect of the dail, colors, ect..so as to be as faithful as possible to reality CAD realize was not so easy. Radiomir case is not exactly regular from a geometrical point of view. Eventually I was great and i did it. I was able to reproduce everthing. Dial. This is the stage most interesting but most complicate as well. I repeatedly tried to paint my dial, but the results were not exactly exciting. but this time I had to force something groped. the first attempts are as follows. these attempts were not interesting as well. The idea was to start work slowly supported by the aid of friends Club Panerai. And so it was. from this first series of dials, some of them have been more successful than others. After a series of changes made, according to several requests, forum user gave a turn to the whole. his advice have been essential for change. From his advise dial 3882 was born, but mostly thanks to his advice was born the way of drawing the other dials. while the development of 3882 was progressing, another quadrant began arousing the interest of friends of the forum, 1895. From this dial all its evolutions were born . Again trends and advice on building a real dail has been crucial. Indeed in this case a large contribution was given by the quadrants that should have achieved the dial. their support has been crucial in shaping the dail, and its limits of realization. quadrants will be printed, but luminova will be applied by hand. sorry, i think this post is really very big. i apologize. Some photos of my watches: Tempoarnea Manifattura Fiorillo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Absolutely fantastic to see the design process from beginning to end, and thanks for taking the time to write it all up to share Welcome to the forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offshore Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Hey , Welcome aboard, and I must say a very impressive 1st post! You will fit in VERY well here with some fine WIS! O/S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmeister Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Great projects and nice write-up. Welcome aboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dluddy Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Absolutely fantastic. Love your designs. Welcome to RWG and thank you for sharing your journey. Love the destination you reached Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Absolutely phenominal work, and what a way to make an introduction! Welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornerstone Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Welcome Federico. That's absolutely stunning, and fascinating thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
federico.fiorillo Posted April 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 (edited) grazie a tutti, thanks everybody it's a real pleasure to share this great passion... i'm sorry for a few words i wrote but i'm moved by the warm welcome... i'm so happy that you appreciate my work... ... i've already produced 30 pieces for friends and we are extremly satisfied Edited April 29, 2010 by federico.fiorillo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KB Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 That is beautiful work Federico. Welcome to RWG where you will find many who share your obsession. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxman Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Welcome to RWG Federico You do beautiful work, you sir are a artist. Thank you for sharing this amazing project with us. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoTone Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Excellent write-up... Moved to General Discussion for proper exposure ... Thanks for taking the time... TT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwatch Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 That is an absolutely brilliant first post here!!! And brilliant work! I'm with Teejay......I loved the step by step in the design and implementation process! Looking forward to more great work from you in the very near future!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Bravo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanikai Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Belisimo Frederico !! Simply awesome posting !! We are very fortunate to have you come on board.. And post such an exciting project! the journey is what the hobby is all about ... The destination is just another beggining Welcome and thank you !! Aloha/Cheers Lani Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
federico.fiorillo Posted April 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 (edited) These are some rendering of engraving to do on case, back and crown. and this first kind of engraves have already been realized. Currently there are two engravers who have a case each to make their test. I want to see if he can do these engravings even if everything depends on how its pantograph interprets the drawing data. plane glass bomb plexy This is a friend's project. It's a great job and an ambitious project. Taht's it: work in progress. numbered straps Edited April 29, 2010 by federico.fiorillo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
federico.fiorillo Posted April 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 (edited) This is a comperison between black dial and brown dial, here like in the irst post you can see the clock complete and ready to put on your wrist. and here with their big brothers :) Edited April 29, 2010 by federico.fiorillo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ektelon Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Absolutely fantastic. Great work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertk Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 As good as it gets. You are a technician and artist of the first order. Welcome to RWG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 wow....just...wow Welcome to the forum, Federico. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HauteHippie Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Well now that was one hell of a first post. I think I need to read it all over again and digest it some more! Wow. And welcome aboard!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lufcmattylad Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Thats an awesome project, I wish I had your skills Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vlydog Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Way to go federico and Benvenuto! Amazing work and attention to detail. I can't wait to see what else you have in store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
federico.fiorillo Posted April 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 (edited) Way to go federico and Benvenuto! Amazing work and attention to detail. I can't wait to see what else you have in store. grazie infinite a tutti. thaks so much everybody. to annswer to vlydog: i'm just an artisan and each piece is handmade... till now i have produced 30 pieces for friends... i didn't expect all of this and now i'm happyer than before... i'm speechless Edited April 30, 2010 by federico.fiorillo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmj Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 What a way to start with a fantastic post. Thank you for sharing your work with us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StormTooper4 Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 Simply Stunning work, I am green with envy on your skill commitment and and of course the watches themselves GOLDSTAR for you sir Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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