TheWatchEngraver

Thank you for visiting my watch engraving website!

Professional, Artistic Hand Engraving of fine watches. by David Wade Harris.
Applying traditional hand engraving techniques to the exteriors of modern Hamilton, Rolex, Tag Heuer, and other wristwatches. This is not the same as engraving that might appear on the hand engraved watch movement. The movement has long been a popular canvas for engravers to create fantastic beauty by engraving scrolls, Geneve stripes, guilloche, pearling and other techniques to visually transform the surfaces (even if you might never see them). Instead, I am referring to applying a different type of hand-engraving to the case and bracelet for extreme customization and personalization.

Much of the hand engravers work is accomplished on the small individual links. Watch engraving is often enhanced by darkening the metal in the etched area making it easier to see. Still, what has been hand engraved looks different in different lighting conditions. I think you would have to see the item in person to fully appreciate the work that went into it. To hand engrave the stainless steel Victorinox, Tag Heuer, Hamilton, or any other watch case and bracelet in a deep relief style is not an easy task. The metal is quite hard and the carbide graver needs to be sharpened and re-sharpened many times during the process. The end result is a unique one-of-a-kind luxury watch that can be treasured forever. Each watch purchased from my Etsy shop is hand drawn and hand engraved therefore each one is uniquely different in some way, they are never the same as you might expect computerized engraving to be.


Custom Hand engraving
A bit of Bio:
I have been a Texas Engraver, full time, since 1985. I am not limited to only hand engrave Watches. I have hand engraved just about everything that is made of metal that one would desire to have engraved; I have engraved Custom car parts, motorcycle part, Arms, musical instruments and of course, watches.

"In his shop near Tyler, Texas, one can still find a Master hand engraver totally
immersed in his craft using handmade tools to enhance various steel canvases not exclusive to but including watches with custom motifs or beautiful custom floral designs. David Wade Harris born July 11, 1963, in Oak Cliff, a Dallas suburb, is a master engraver who was taught hand engraving by the late, renowned, Ft. Worth engraver, Weldon Bledsoe who in turn learned from famous Cole Agee.

David’s wife was instrumental in him having the opportunity to meet Weldon
Bledsoe in the 1980’s. She was working for the plating company where Mr.
Bledsoe took his products to plated in precious metals and had Mr. Bledsoe engrave an item for David for a Christmas gift. David immediately became interested in learning the art of engraving. However, before Weldon would take him on as his student Mr. Harris had to
convince him that he was seriously interested in keeping the legendary engraving
style alive. Bledsoe stated that he would not teach anyone else to engrave because
prior apprentices would not carry on the tradition as he had taught them.

Weldon Bledsoe taught David Harris that an engraver does not pick up a hammer and chisel and start right in any more than a painter picks up a brush and starts putting strokes on a canvas. David says, “After looking an area over for a little while a pattern just comes
to mind or is visualized based on the desired style and motif. Once I see the pattern in my mind..... I really just trace the image that I visualize there. Also, I can duplicate many styles, motifs, patterns and pictures from photos. This is where the artwork begins.”

Once a design or style and motif are determined the technique is as follows:
First: Rub or dab beeswax onto the area to be drawn on.
Second: Dust talc powder on it so as to give a white area to draw in.
Third: Draw the desired pattern in the powder.
Fourth: Use hammer and chisel to work in the design.
“I use diverse types, sizes, and shapes of chisels. But about 90% of my work is done with the chisel that Weldon taught me to make, the same as Cole taught him to make. It is the key to this craft or way of engraving.”

Just as he learned during his apprenticeship under Mr. Bledsoe, David Wade Harris works in solitude using the same style tools and techniques that have been in use for over 300 years. He is an artist. His canvas is metal. With handmade tools instead of paints and brushes, Mr. Harris transforms an ordinary piece made of metal into a work of fine art. His work is sought after worldwide.

Over the duration of his career, Mr. Harris has engraved for people of all walks of life.


David Wade Harris
320 CR 1405 Jacksonville, Texas 75766
817-219-0484
www.gentrytime.com
www.thewatchengraver.com