In this episode, Stephen McDonnell is back for Round Two to discuss his recent projects, including his experience at Dubai Watch Week and his insights on watch innovation. We explore the inspiration behind the MB&F LM Sequential EVO and the fascinating integration of vintage sports timing into modern watch design.

Stephen's passion for vintage motorcycles, especially Norton, shines through as he discusses his ongoing restoration project. Throughout our conversation, we highlight the importance of relatable human stories in the world of watchmaking.

Stephen shares the journey of pitching the sequential chronograph idea to MB&F and the positive response it received. He delves into the technical challenges faced and the crucial role of geometry in the design process. Stephen also shares the ups and downs, from a disastrous prototype stage to the eventual success achieved through nine months of incremental improvements.

We explore topics like the dynamic effects of high-speed movements, the challenge of inertia in the clutch, and the emotional toll of watchmaking. Stephen reflects on the significance of the LM Sequential EVO winning the GPHG and how it has personally impacted his life.

Finally, we touch on Stephen's fascination with John Harrison's clocks and get a glimpse into his exciting future projects. Tune in to hear the captivating journey of innovation and passion in the world of watchmaking!

Takeaways

• Stephen has been working on finishing projects with MB&F and has started a new project with them as well.


• Stephen gave a talk at Dubai Watch Week titled 'The Trials and Tribulations of Watch Innovation' that received positive feedback and resonated with a wide audience.


• The Sequential EVO was inspired by the challenge of integrating vintage sports timing solutions into a single watch.


• Stephen is passionate about vintage motorcycles, particularly Norton, and is currently restoring one in his garage. Synchronizing the chronograph in the Sequential One watch was a major challenge for Stephen. It took nine months of incremental improvements to solve the problem.


• The dynamic effect of high-speed movements and the challenge of inertia in the clutch were key factors in the chronograph's performance.


• The emotional toll of watchmaking, especially when faced with difficult challenges, can be significant.

• Stephen is interested in John Harrison's clocks and has a fascination with master clocks for future projects.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Plans for Watches and Wonders

01:10 Stephen's Recent Projects

03:42 Stephen's Experience at Dubai Watch Week

05:13 Stephen's Talk on Watch Innovation

06:27 The Importance of Relatable Human Stories

09:01 The Inspiration for the Sequential EVO

14:29 The Story Behind the Sequential EVO

23:20 Stephen's Interest in Vintage Motorcycles

25:39 Stephen's Norton Motorcycle Restoration

26:16 The Challenges of Watchmaking

28:31 Pitching the Idea to MB&F

33:02 Designing the Sequential Chronograph

36:27 The Internally Dual Vertical Clutch

41:42 Overcoming Technical Limitations

44:24 CAD Design Process

47:29 Challenges in Building the Prototype

52:21 Prototype Tool Disaster

54:33 Catastrophic Prototype Failure

56:18 The Challenge of Synchronizing the Chronograph

58:04 Incremental Improvements in the Sequential Chronograph

59:09 The Dynamic Effect of High-Speed Movements

01:00:32 The Challenge of Inertia in the Clutch

01:03:30 Testing and Solving the Chronograph Problem

01:05:25 The Impact of the Chronograph Challenge

01:06:16 The Recognition and Price of the Sequential One

01:07:49 The Emotional Toll of Watchmaking

01:10:49 The Personal Significance of the Sequential One

01:14:25 The Significance of John Harrison's Clocks

01:16:01 Stephen's Interest in Master Clocks

01:18:00 Possible Future Projects

01:18:28 Closing Remarks

The book we mention about John Harrison is called Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time by Dava Sobel.

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