Next Stop For The Hour Markers Behind The Bezel: Chennai

After a super successful watchmaking session in Mumbai, Chennai played host to not one but three sessions. Over 25 people, spread across three back-to-back batches, weren’t here to simply admire watches they were here to take them apart. Behind the Bezel, an initiative by The Hour Markers, had arrived in the city, offering watch lovers the rare chance to slip into the shoes of a watchmaker.

The set-up could have passed for a horological laboratory. Rows of benches gleamed with tools laid out with surgical precision: screwdrivers in rainbow hues, tweezers that could lift a pin-sized screw, finger gloves, loupes, and mechanical movements waiting to be dismantled. But before the first screw was turned, participants found themselves leafing through the HOT book- an illustrated guide packed with diagrams, components, and horological jargon. Some brows furrowed in concentration; others laughed nervously, realising just how complex the world behind a dial truly is.

Then came the plunge. Under the guidance of trainers, the group gingerly released the power of a movement. That soft click, almost imperceptible, marked the beginning of disassembly. One by one, the parts revealed themselves like a puzzle coming undone: balance spring, pallet fork, barrel bridge, ratchet wheel, centre wheel, third wheel, and seconds wheel. Every screw removed was a tiny victory, every gear lifted a revelation.

Of course, precision doesn’t come without pressure. A few tweezers trembled, a few screws went flying, but the trainers were there to steady hands and offer tips. And when the break rolled around, there was renewed curiosity. Coffee cups in hand, participants huddled around the timekeeping machine, eager to test the accuracy of the watches on their wrists. That’s when the shock set in. Even some of the biggest names in Swiss watchmaking faltered on the scale. Seconds gained, minutes lost the machine didn’t lie. Conversations turned lively, with enthusiasts debating servicing intervals, tolerances, and the difference between marketing promises and mechanical reality.

The second half of the session brought everyone back to the bench for reassembly. If disassembly was thrilling, reassembly was humbling. Wheels had to line up perfectly, bridges had to settle with care, and springs demanded patience. There were sighs, groans, even a few chuckles, but when balance wheels finally began to oscillate again, the smiles were unmistakable. For many, it felt like resurrecting a mechanical heartbeat.

By the end of the day, certificates were handed out, phones filled with photos, and conversations lingered long after the final tick had sounded. But the real takeaway wasn’t the paper certificate—it was a new way of looking at the watch on one’s wrist. Beyond the polished dial and shiny case lies a world of moving parts, delicate balances, and unforgiving accuracy.

Chennai’s Behind the Bezel was less of a workshop and more of an initiation. Three batches, 25-plus enthusiasts, countless tiny screws, and one big revelation: the magic of horology is best understood not by looking at a watch, but by daring to step inside it.