First Concept Development

Art Integrated with Watch Mechanics

Began exploring original watch ideas and conceptual directions informed by research, symbolism, and a desire to create a nontraditional timepiece. Using a borde rcolie as inspiration.

Tempus MomentoUS Is Conceived

Connecting Experiences  ( THE HOROLOGICAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK)

As my independent research deepened, I began exploring original watch concepts guided by symbolism, ritual, and the desire to create a timepiece that did not behave like a typical watch. One of the most influential moments in this phase came from Twelve Faces of Time by Elizabeth Doerr, borrowed through the HSNY library. In the section on Philippe Dufour, his philosophy of slowing down craft—and preserving the human relationship with a watch—stayed with me. He describes a kind of “magic” in the simplest acts: winding a watch by hand, feeling the mechanism come alive, and experiencing a relationship between owner and object that modern life often rushes past.

Sketch Development

Deliberations on Concept

Produced over 200  extensive sketch iterations to explore the watch’s eye-shaped case, hidden dial, opening mechanism, and overall user experience. Before solidifying on a Intense, low gaze, with intense awareness & presence filled with a deliberate watchful stare.

EXPERIMENTS IN CAD Engineering and Moving Parts

An Introduction  from TEDDY IRBY -(BUCHERER)   Buy the Book  "THE THEORY OF HOROLOGY"

I transitioned from concept into engineering by grounding the design in real horological principles.
At the Rolex | Bucherer Service Center, I met Teddy Irby and shared early concepts.
He pointed me toward The Theory of Horology as a foundational technical reference.
That moment pushed me into structured study of movement architecture and mechanical logic.
I combined HSNY library books with technical videos and hands-on learning.
I opened and examined my own watches to understand internal component relationships.
I focused on energy flow, tolerances, and how mechanisms achieve reliability.
I then translated this knowledge into SolidWorks-based CAD.
Over many hours, I built an assembly of roughly 100 parts, including moving elements.
This stage turned the idea into engineered form and prepared it for prototyping.

Sketch CAD Development

Concept Production in CAD

Translated the concept into SolidWorks-based CAD, developing the structure, motion, and foundational mechanical relationships of the design.

Casing and Movement CREATIOn

Iterative Redesign. - Exploring Faceted angles for maximum reflection

Refined the design through repeated adjustments based on prototype feedback, improving proportion, function, and constructability.

Used the best pavilion angle of 45 DEGREES or maximum faceted reflection (brilliance) for most gemstones, ensuring the angle remains above the material's specific critical angle to prevent light leakage.

STRAP DESIGN

Unconventional Strap & Closure

I wanted Tempus Momento to feel unfamiliar in the best way—so I redesigned the strap experience as well.Instead of a traditional buckle and keepers, the watch uses a single adjustable closure designed as a lock.

Caseback & Sizing Iterations

sketches into CAD and prototypes,

I went through multiple proportion studies to refine how the watch sits on the wrist, how the “eye” reads from different angles, and how the silhouette feels at first glance.The caseback became a critical part of this refinement. I treated it as the interface between the watch and the body—shaping it to improve stability, reduce pressure points, and help the case sit naturally during movement.

Solar-Charged "Illumination"

Harnessing the power of Light, for the purpose of illumination

I wanted Tempus Momento to solve a real problem: mechanical watches are beautiful, but they don’t actively light up at night.Lume can fade, and low-light legibility becomes unreliable—especially when the watch is meant to be read through a EYE LID CLOSURE reveal at the users discretion. So I designed a second, independent system: a solar-charged illumination module dedicated only to visibility.

When I began thinking about adding light to a mechanical watch, I realized I needed to understand the electronic side of horology—not just traditional mechanics. Through the HSNY library, I studied quartz-focused repair and technical references to learn how small watch electronics are structured: how power is stored and managed, how switching is implemented, how modules fit within tight volumes, and how reliability is designed into compact systems.

Books such as Henry B. Fried’s quartz repair guides and beginner-focused resources helped me understand the practical realities of watch-scale electronics—battery architecture, contact design, troubleshooting logic, and how electronic components are typically arranged for serviceability and durability. That research gave me a mental model for how a secondary electrical subsystem could live alongside a mechanical movement without interfering with it.

gem-cut facets

Harnessing the power of Light, for the purpose of illumination

I designed the case with a rectangular profile to break away from traditional round watch architecture and make the piece feel more like an object than a conventional timekeeper.To elevate the form, I introduced gem-cut facets along the sides, borrowing from the visual language of cut stones.These angled planes catch and reflect light as the wrist moves, giving the case a shifting, precious presence rather than a flat industrial feel.At the center, the watch features a bold eye-shaped cutout that defines the identity of the piece and reinforces the concept of concealment and reveal.

The illumination is activated by an eye-shaped button, echoing the case form and making the interaction feel intentional.The wearer doesn’t simply press a button—they “open” light through a gesture that matches the watch’s narrative.

The Moving Eye (Dial / Hands Concept)

turning timekeeping into expression

To make the watch feel alive, I designed the dial as an eye in motion—not a static graphic.
The iris and pupil are integrated into the hour hand, becoming the “center” of the eye that slowly advances through time.

The minute hand carries the reflective white glare you see on watery eyes—the small highlight that suggests depth, moisture, and presence.

As the hands rotate clockwise, the pupil and highlight shift together, creating the illusion that the eye is subtly tracking forward.This transforms normal timekeeping into a living gesture: the eye “moves” as time moves.
It also reinforces the philosophy of the piece—while you watch time, time watches you—through a literal, mechanical animation. The result is a dial that reads as both a watch and an eye, where the passage of minutes and hours becomes expression.

Strap + Case Assembly in CAD

catching  issues early

As the design matured, I treated the strap and case as one integrated system rather than while also keeping them as separate parts.In CAD, I built the strap assembly directly around the case geometry to ensure the connection felt intentional and jewelry-like. through a slide in lock feature. for the Swivel and a Press Lock on the opposite end.This meant engineering the interface points, clearances, and pivot/fit logic so the strap would sit cleanly against the eye-shaped form.I tested multiple attachment concepts to avoid the “standard watch lug” look and keep the silhouette unconventional.

ASSEMBLY Eye (Dial / ITERATIONS)

Testing , Testing & Re-Testing

Created basic 3D-printed prototype parts to test scale, form, fit, and movement of key components. Final assembly is where Tempus Momento stops being a concept and becomes a wearable object.At this stage, the case, eyelid mechanism, movement, dial, hands, illumination module, and strap system all have to meet in one precise build order.

Final assembly is where the watch becomes real: case, mechanism, dial, hands, light module, crystal, and strap must work as one system.I begin by validating tolerances and ensuring the eyelid opens and closes smoothly.Then I install and align the dial and hands so the moving eye reads correctly in motion.The movement and stem are fitted and checked for clearance and stability.

Next, the solar-charged illumination system is being ntegrat ed and tested for reliable activation. The build finishes with crystal installation, strap locking fit, and full functional testing in cad before refinement.

3D PRINTED CASING

Iterative Redesign in Resin Before Metal

Continuing prototype development, refining the design, evolving the brand identity, and preparing the watch for more advanced physical fabrication and future iterations. Because the case is not round, the 3D print was essential for validating proportions, thickness, and comfort before investing in metal.I used the printed casing to test assembly logic: how components stack, how the caseback seats, and how the strap interface aligns.It also became a functional test platform for the retractable eyelid—checking travel distance, friction points, and clearances.

EYE LID  SLIDER ADJUSTMENT - ITERATION

EYE LID OPEN & CLOSE

1. Crown ring (roller) rotates (separate from the stem used for time setting).
2. Rotation drives a small gear → lead screw (or worm/gear train).
3. The screw moves a carriage up/down.
4. The carriage pushes/pulls the 3-layer eyelid pack along left/right guide rails.
5. The three layers either:move as a guided “stack-and-slide pack” (simplest), orcascade using tabs/slots so they “nest”  6. As they retract (more layered-door feel).

CUSTOM Cabochon crown ( TEMPORARY ) 

INTENDED TO BE USED WITH  A CUSTOM  OVAL CUT  RUBY GEMSTONE

Decided to go with a custom cabochon crown. Cabochon means “a gemstone of oval form polished into facets.” Therefore, cabochon crowns feature a domed gemstone on top of the crown head for decorative purposes. I chose this to distract from the rectanglualr linear surfaces of the watch and invite a Royal luxury theme.

This will most likely change to a ractanglular  INSET CROWN later as these iterations of Creating and destroying ideas  it part of the design process.

THE OPEN & CLOSEING EYELID SLIDER MECHANISM

UPDATE IN PROGRESS - NEW INVENTION

Update in Progress

NEW CASing UPDATE

UPDATE IN PROGRESS

Update in Progress

MOVEMENT UPDATE

UPDATE IN PROGRESS ( WATERPROOFING)

Update in Progress

TESTING DESIGN UNDER DIFFERENT LIGHTING CONDITIONS

Using 3d Renderings to test Design, casing and  movement beautifcation for further iterations and tweaks.

Update in Progress

Re-Designing FOR COMFORT

Ive re-iterated the case design with an overhual new look reducing width, from feedback from HSNY horological Society.

Update in Progress