Sam's Odyssey 101

September 5, 2026

Last Saturday was the first weekend of the new semester, and I went to the Initium workshop in Geneva’s Old Town again. This time, I made my own mechanical watch with the guidance of a watchmaker.

First, I chose the components for my watch, and then I spent hours assembling them. I chose a design that shows the movement and many of the other parts inside the watch because I wanted to be able to see them moving.

The watchmaker taught me many things while I was working. One thing I found interesting was how even a very small detail, such as a tiny piece of dust, can make a big difference in the performance of a watch. He also told me an amazing story about the tourbillon and how it was invented.

After half a day of work, I finally had my own mechanical watch! It was exciting to see the movement working inside a watch that I had assembled myself.

I love watches.