Ferreras Craftsmanship
A handmade watch in Barcelona: the assembly of the Almirante, gesture by gesture
, 6 min read
A handmade watch is not recognised at first glance. It is recognised in what cannot be seen: in the time someone has devoted to each component before it reaches your wrist. This is the journey of the Ferreras Almirante from the watchmaker’s bench, in Barcelona, to its presentation box.
A Ferreras Almirante does not come off a production line. It is born at a master watchmaker’s bench, piece by piece. We wanted to show it without words, in a two-minute film divided into eight chapters. Here we tell it more calmly: what happens at each stage and why every gesture matters.
What it means for a watch to be handmade
In watchmaking, “handmade” does not mean that every screw is manufactured in a workshop. It means that a person, and not a machine, assembles, adjusts and verifies the watch. It is the difference between assembling a piece and finishing it.
In the Almirante, that work has a name and a place. Each watch is designed and assembled in Barcelona, and a master watchmaker adjusts the calibre by hand, one by one. This is how we understand signature watchmaking at Ferreras: few pieces, numbered, and one person responsible for each of them.
I. The parts
Everything begins on a cloth, with the components laid out in order: the 40 mm 316L steel case, the 18 kt gold-plated bezel with nanoceramic protection, the micro-grainé porcelain-effect dial, the hands, the sapphire crystal and caseback, the integrated bracelet.
Nothing is assembled yet. First, each part is inspected. A signature watch is decided in these details.
II. The watchmaker’s bench
The watchmaker’s bench is a small, exacting space: a loupe, tweezers, precision screwdrivers and a light that leaves no shadows. Work here is unhurried. A limited-edition piece admits no shortcuts, and the pace is set by the watchmaker, not by a time clock.
In our Atelier we work with master watchmaker Diego Rispoli, under the creative direction of Ferreras.
III. The calibre and its precision
The heart of the Almirante is a Swiss Sellita SW200 automatic calibre, in a semi-skeleton version with a gold-toned finish and 26 jewels. It beats at 28,800 alternations per hour and offers a power reserve of approximately 38 hours.
A good calibre is the starting point. What makes it an Almirante is the hand adjustment: the watchmaker checks its precision and regulates it piece by piece before moving on. That is why we say you do not buy a mechanism. You buy a watch finished by someone.
Through the 12 mm open heart in the dial, and through the sapphire caseback, that work remains in view forever.
IV. The hands
Placing the hands is one of the most delicate moments in assembling an automatic watch. They must sit parallel to the dial, at exactly the right height and perfectly aligned at every hour. The slightest deviation would show in the light.
On the dial, the F of Ferreras, integrated into the minute hand, receives the hands. It is a signature that is only discovered up close.
V. The casing
With the movement adjusted and the hands in place, the casing follows: the whole assembly goes into the 40 mm case. It is closed with the sapphire caseback, which lets you see the gold-toned semi-skeleton calibre, and the crown, signed with the shark, the emblem of the house, is fitted.
Inside the gold-plated bezel, the number of the piece is engraved. Every Almirante belongs to a limited edition of 100 numbered watches, and each number tells only one story.
VI. The water-resistance test
Before being considered finished, every Almirante undergoes a water-resistance test at 10 bar, consistent with its 10 ATM rating. It is the check that ensures the watch can accompany you near the sea.
The water resistance of watches is governed by an international standard, ISO 22810, which sets out the requirements and the test methods. In a hand-assembled watch, this check has an added value: it confirms that every gasket and every closure has been fitted with precision.
VII. The bracelet
The integrated 316L steel bracelet is assembled last. Being integrated, case and bracelet form a single line, without interruption. It is adjusted, the clasp is checked, and how it falls on the wrist is verified.
It is the part that is touched most every day and one of those that receives the most care.
VIII. The presentation box
The last gesture is the simplest: the watch goes into its presentation box. Behind it lie hours of work that no one will see, and that the owner will feel every day.
From the allocation of the piece, the approximate delivery of the Almirante is 90 days. It is the time a handmade watch asks for.
Why choose a handmade watch
A watch assembled by hand is not merely more precise after its adjustment. It is an object with an author. It knows where it was born, who finished it and what number it bears.
If you are considering your first automatic, in the Journal we explain how to choose an automatic watch with discernment. And if you prefer to see the result, the Ferreras Almirante sums up everything above: 100 numbered pieces, designed and assembled in Barcelona, with a Swiss heart and a Spanish soul.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Ferreras Almirante assembled?
Each Almirante is designed and assembled in Barcelona. A master watchmaker adjusts its calibre by hand, one by one.
Which calibre does the Almirante use?
A Swiss Sellita SW200 automatic calibre in a semi-skeleton version with a gold-toned finish, with 26 jewels and a power reserve of approximately 38 hours.
How long does delivery take?
Approximate delivery is 90 days.
