Stefan Kudoke 1 Tremblage Gold Dial

A New Dial Using Old Techniques

Stefan Kudoke must apply a traditional hand engraving technique with deep roots in classical Saxon watchmaking to create the 2N gold plated "tremblage" dial for this Kudoke 1.

The term "tremblage" originates from the French word "trembler," meaning to tremble or vibrate, which directly describes the specific physical motion required to execute the unique finish. To achieve this textured surface, Stefan uses a fine graver to hand work the dial through countless individual strokes.

Because the engraving process is performed entirely by hand, the resulting texture on each individual dial is inherently unique.

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The Kudoke Kaliber 1

Seeing this movement for the first time in person left us speechless. 

Not only had Stefan completely ignored the gear train and movement design seen so often in other watches, he created something completely fresh with a throwback to British/German pocket watch designs.

In Stefan's own words:

Ages ago I bought an old English pocket watch movement, that lay unused in a drawer for a long time.  One day it fell into my hands again - just as the idea of my own movement began to take shape.

In the past, intensive cooperations between the German and English watchmakers existed - it was the German diplomat and astronomer Hans Moritz von Bruhl who supported English precision watchmaking finally bring it to Saxony and Dresden in Germany.

With my new watch movement I would like to tie in with this tradition and to honor the Old Masters.

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Other Features of the Kudoke 1

Since Stefan did such a great job at writing the two articles above, there's not much left for us to describe other than how the finished watch looks in person.

First, we compliment Stefan in choosing to make a watch with a case diameter of 39 mm, an ideal size for almost every wrist and size that is spot on to fit the character of this watch.

On the front, the dial features a contrasting circular patterned seconds register at 9, flame blued hands, and the Kudoke badge at 3.  The look is clean, distinctive and clearly shows what "hand made" means.

Flip it over and you'll spend the next hour reviewing a gear train that looks like no other - the design is vertical, and again the elaborate production techniques that Stefan uses on each movement part are clearly evident.

The manually wound movement supports a power reserve of 46 hours, and the Carl Haas balance spring is of chronometer quality.  The movement also features KIF shock protection.

And no Kudoke watch would be complete without a hand engraved balance cock, but what is so interesting in this new movement design is how proportionally large the balance cock is to the movement.