The Breitling Watch Blog

Thu 18 Dec 2008

Being that I am also a custom handmade knife enthusiast, seeing Damascus used in a production watch was very interesting for me. I’ve seen Allen Elishewitz use Damascus on some of his custom watches, but I haven’t see it used on a production watch.

Angular Momentum is using it for the entire dial of their “Digital” watch. Don’t worry, it’s still an automatic mechanical movement. It just has a digital display, so to speak. You can see it here:

Now I’m a big fan of Damascus for knife blades, because it is a beatiful material, and the grain patterns that come from repeatedly hammering and folding over the different types of steel upon itself are stunning. However, I think this watch isn’t executed very well. The way the Damascus looks on the dial is kind of cheap.

There are many different types of damascus steel, and the one they chose for this application was not the prettiest, and I think they could have done better. However, it is an interesting start, and perhaps we will see more damascus and possibly mokume on watches in the future.

Diameter: 42mm
Water Resistant: 100m
Movement: Swiss Automatic 25 Jewel

 

4 Responses to “Damascus Steel Angular Momentum Watch”

1. Toby Says:
   December 22nd, 2008 at 1:13 pm

   I agree that aesthetically it isn’t perfect. I doubt that steel was hand-forged, though. Instead, I would expect it’s an example of what’s possible with powder metallurgy.

2. The Breitling Watch Blog » Damascus Watches from Sweden Says:
   January 3rd, 2009 at 1:08 pm

   […] talked a bit about damascus steel watches a couple weeks ago, and received an email from a Swedish watchmaker named Patrik Sjögren,who […]

3. Martin Says:
   January 7th, 2009 at 6:10 am

   Hello,

   I just cam across your blog and read your post about our Digital timepiece with rose damascus steel medallion.

   I have been working as a custom knifemaker for a period of over 10 years and just wanted to let you know, that we are in the position to judge the right material for our products. The medallion on depicted timepiece is made of hand forged Rose damascus steel. For dials and medallions used in watch construction we work with material thickness of only 0.40 mm.
   This produces some limitations. The steel used on Sjögren watches is not a Damascus steel but a vertically forged mosaic steel. The mosaic steel by the way is forged by Johan Gustafsson, a very talented knifemaker who has forged some beautiful mosaic watch cases for us some years ago

   Best regards,

   Martin
   Angular Momentum of Switzerland

4. The Breitling Source Says:
   January 7th, 2009 at 11:16 am

   Hi Martin, What is your full name or your website? I would like to see your custom knife work.

   As for not being a damascus steel, but being a mosaic steel, you’ll have to elaborate a bit more. If you’re refering to a Mosaic Damascus that is made from powder steel, it is still called damascus on the market, at least in North America. If you want to get semantic on me, technically the steel you are using is not Damascus steel either, its pattern-welded steel.

   Anyway, I agree that you are in the position to judge the right material for your products. However, it does not mean everyone has to like it.

Leave a Reply