The Homemade Philosophy: Dial
The Dial is the Canvas: The Soul of Every Homemade Watch
A Little Backstory
My path into horology began with DIY modifications and assembly kits. What started as a hobby quickly became an obsession.
Homemade Watch Company is entirely self-funded, a reality with unique challenges. It was described best by a reviewer (@watch.bert): “His approach and attitude were very reminiscent of the punk bands I would see in my youth; just as they would use money earned from their shows to buy gas to get to the next venue, each watch Edmund sells goes straight into the next one.”
The watch world is built for giants; suppliers demand high Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs), and the tools of the trade are costly. However, limitation is the ultimate catalyst for creativity. My family immigrated from Italy with a profound culture of resourcefulness—the ability to create beautiful, enduring things from whatever is at hand. When industry doors are locked by high costs, I adapt by building my own processes. This grassroots spirit is the DNA of every timepiece I create.
Precision Meets Poetry
While my process is artisanal, I welcome innovation. I use precision lasers to etch my signature designs, but it is my hands-on finishing that seems to get the most attention. Unlike pad printing or applied indices, my designs are one with the dial material, eliminating the risk of numbers rubbing off or adhesives failing down the road.
I experiment and manufacture with lots of different materials and explore all sorts of finishes. It’s important to note that the dial color/tone—whether sealed or left to breathe (“Living”)—may patina and evolve as it matures. The Artisan Note in each product description will guide you through the specific characteristics of the piece that you are exploring.
For my enamel work, I fire my dials by hand with a torch, whereas traditionally, artisans peer through the window of an electric kiln. There is just something about this visceral process of working with a live flame—maybe this is me still grieving the Fire Department… :(
Nowadays, I don’t fight the flames; I collaborate with them—by reading the metal's orange glow in real time, I manipulate the heat to guide the finish.
Engineered for the Homemade Craft
My process balances modern precision with a deliberate departure from convention. Depending on the build, I use either an engineered-polymer holder for NH35 movements or a machined-metal holder for Sellita SW200 calibers. Rather than relying on traditional dial feet, I secure my dials directly to the movement holder using specialized horological adhesives.
Once the dial and movement are unified, the assembly is locked firmly in place by the tension of the rehaut and caseback, ensuring absolute structural integrity. While this "build-flat" approach diverges from the industry standard, it is the result of extensive R&D and consultation with industry professionals. By bypassing the mechanical constraints of dial feet, I achieve a cleaner, more precise assembly for my handcrafted dials without compromising function. This process provides several distinct advantages:
Creative Freedom: By not relying on fixed feet, I have an expanded range of materials to work with and avoid the added thickness of mounting art (typically done with adhesives) onto prefabricated plates with dial feet.
Material Preservation: The intense, localized heat required to weld feet can warp metals and destroy organic materials, instantly ruining a hard-earned finish or preventing me from achieving one in the first place.
Visual Alignment: Fixed feet force a rigid alignment that doesn’t always harmonize with handcrafted art. I retain the freedom to micro-adjust every dial by eye during assembly, ensuring perfect visual balance. This is especially important as most of my designs incorporate a date window.
Simplified Service: Professional-grade adhesives are pressure-sensitive and can be removed easily by an experienced hand. During future maintenance, any residue is easily removed from the movement holder and dial. This also removes the risk of breaking delicate dial feet.
I hope these posts help provide insight into my work, and as always, never hesitate to reach out with any questions. There is no telling where this journey will lead next. But for now, I remain committed to the art of the build and the beauty of the craft. Trust the Process, Friends.
