#watch movement

Automata X

Another steampunk goddess made with a range of watch parts, brass bits and pieces, electrical probes and two part resin.  She can look very intimidating from one angle yet strangely zen from another.  She’s in my Etsy shop.

Photonic Angel

I’ve had another go at these resin heads - this time ramping up the complexity and symmetry.  On top of my original inspiration, the movies Ex Machina and the Fritz Lang masterpiece, Metropolis, I’ve been watching a ton of science documentaries on youtube. Photonic computing is equal parts of terrifying (possibly undermining e-commerce security and privacy) and exciting with life changing possibilities.  It could grant us immortality - digital immortality with our consciousness being uploaded.

Resin is never simple to work with.  Lots of trial and error, testing different resins, a pile of rejects.  Every pour runs the risk of not setting if I botch the ratio. The parts are placed and fixed layer by layer with a 16 to 24 hour drying time between each pour.  With 5 layers the “brain” has depth and complexity.  Due to the convex curve of the forehead there is some distortion/refraction when viewed from the front.  I didn’t use any trick lighting in photos - the shape and material tends to capture light in unusual ways.  There are some occasional air bubbles - something I’ve got to learn to live with when working with resin without spending a fortune of a vacuum chamber.  I’ve bought a lot of watch parts over the past 10 years to create a complex “brain”.  Many are NOS - new old stock - parts never used - perfect for the pristine look I’m going for.

Due to the original being a clay model. the mold produced a frosted appearance and texture even using crystal clear resin.  Each face must go through levels of sanding and polishing.  It takes a long time and a lot of elbow grease to get a glass like polish.  I like to keep the frosted texture around the eyes, nose and mouth.  Her features would just disappear without it.  Her eyes are half spheres attached with UV resin.

After five or six days it’s always exciting to see how she looks coming out of the mold.  Once I’ve finished polishing I start working on her exterior features.  For this piece I’ve combined electrical glass fuses on either side of her head, two half drilled bead posts as antenna and laser cut arc slice attached with screws on the back of the head.  There are two three hole bars also screwed into the head for hanging holes.  Two hanging points mean the pendant won’t flip around.  

The head is 2 inches high, 1.5 inches wide and 0.75 deep. It is designed to be worn mid length on the chest but I’m happy to change the length or put it on a cord for a masculine piece.  The chain is silver tone ball link with larger ball stations.  I’ve ended each chain length (10 inches each - so a total 20 inch chain) with finished cord caps.  If you would like to wear it higher or lower - I’m happy to alter the chain to any length you want.

The Metropolis - Capital City.

I see a lot of watch innards in my work. Using a disassembled movement, the “skeleton” of any watch, as the basis for a tiny city has been rolling around in my head for a long time. Most of the holes for the “buildings” are already there. I sometimes need to pop the “jewels” out, usually low grade rubies, so all the holes are available. Many of the “buildings” are seriously tiny, sub 1 mm wide and a few millimetres high. They can also be very sharp. My first attempt wasn’t great as I couldn’t get the “buildings” straight and parallel. Take two using putty hardened before installing all the “buildings”. Third time’s the charm. A little futuristic city with a range of buildings, tiny details and a central “lake” using clear resin. You can’t really see it in the photos.

Here is the dilemma I faced:

It needed to be photographed without the glass so you can see the details, texture and how light plays off it at different angles. It is designed to be a pendant on a chain but for that use I have to stick down the glass dome permanently. If you want it as a piece of art, sculpture, desk ornament, assemblage - I can leave the glass unattached. If there was a way I could do both I would but I can’t see any way to do that using my current skills, supplies and equipment. If it’s displayed on a shelf close to eye level it would be great to keep the glass on to avoid dust but also be able to take the glass off to see all the minute detail. It will also get a lot of attention as a unique jewellery piece on a long chain.

So I leave that option to you - just let me know. It will be the same price for either option.

Components:

• Silver tone tubing - polished
• Two part putty
• Vintage silver tone watch movement
• Assorted watch stems
• Assorted watch bar springs
• Assorted winders
• Assorted balance staffs
• Earring posts
• Pins
• Electronic probes
• Clear resin
• Assorted tubing
• Miscellaneous parts
• Assorted crimps/beads
• Pinions
• Glass dome
• Brass disk
• Brass setting tray
• Eye up loop

Build time: 7 hours

Under the glass dome the pendant is just under 2 inches (4.5cm) high and 1 inch (2.4cm) wide. The chain would be brass gold tone rollo link at the length you would like to wear it at with a lobster claw clasp.

Thanks for looking!