Chàng trai trẻ khắc “hồn” Việt lên đồng hồ

The delicate lines on each watch not only demonstrate skillful techniques but also carry the breath of Vietnamese culture. That is the passion of Mr. Tran Ngoc Chien, who has devoted all his passion to the art of watch carving.

From passion for metal engraving

At 9 a.m., at a small house in lane 126, Khuat Duy Tien street, Nhan Chinh ward (Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi), Mr. Tran Ngoc Chien (born in 1989) meticulously carved each line on the face of a high-end watch. Under the microscope, the sharp blade glides decisively, turning the lifeless metal surface into a work of art bearing the mark of Vietnamese culture

“Since I was a child, I loved drawing and creating. Without paper and pen, I used broken bricks and pieces of charcoal to draw all over the walls of the house. I also experimented and made folk toys such as crossbows, bows and arrows, kites, etc. Those years not only trained my skillful and meticulous hands but also nurtured my love for painting,” Chien shared while working.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Chien looked through the microscope, his hands meticulously carving each delicate line on the watch face.

With that passion, in 2010, Mr. Chien decided to pursue tattooing, even though this was a new field in Vietnam at that time. Without any guidance, he researched and learned by himself through books, newspapers and the internet, persistently practicing each needle stroke and color block. After 8 years of dedication, he gradually affirmed his skills, becoming a familiar name among Hanoi tattoo artists.

“At that time, although I had achieved certain achievements in the tattoo profession, I still felt incomplete. Tattoo art helped me satisfy my passion for creativity, but it is highly personal. Tattoos only belong to the owner, they cannot be exchanged or kept. Therefore, I began to look for a new direction, where each work of art is shared, collected or given to others,” Tran Ngoc Chien confided.

Engraving on watches requires absolute precision, because even a small mistake can ruin the entire watch.

At the end of 2018, while chatting with friends, he happened to see some exquisitely carved watches. Curious, he researched online and was immediately fascinated by the meticulous craftsmanship of foreign artisans. Looking at the sharp lines created by talented hands, he realized that this was a subject that was both artistic and had the legacy value that he had been looking for. Therefore, he decided to pursue this art.

Like the tattoo profession, Tran Ngoc Chien started carving clocks from scratch. Without a teacher or proper documents, all the knowledge and skills he acquired were self-taught. He studied every video of foreign artists, observed how they carved and then learned from his own experiences. In addition to tattooing customers, he traveled around Hanoi, looking for materials to make tools to serve his passion.

Deciding to change direction when tattooing was bringing in a stable income, Mr. Chien said that the luckiest thing was always receiving support from his family. Thanks to that, he confidently pursued his passion without having to hesitate when making a choice.

“I believe that if the passion is big enough, as long as you are determined, you will definitely find a way. Giving up has never been in my dictionary,” Mr. Chien proudly said.

“When I first approached the art of watch engraving, I only intended to work and learn at the same time, mainly to satisfy my passion, and I would think about receiving orders later. But unexpectedly, after completing a few products and posting them on the group, I had my first customers. By 2021, when my work gradually stabilized, I decided to stop tattooing and devote all my time to watch engraving,” Chien shared.

After 7 years of pursuing the profession, Mr. Chien is now one of the young but experienced watch engravers, trusted and highly appreciated by many customers. From Vietnam, his works gradually conquer the international market, appearing in countries such as: Canada, USA, Hong Kong (China), Malaysia...

Basic tools for watch engraving include: Engraving hand, stereo microscope, table clamp vise (to fix the product), air compressor and carbide engraving tip.

Mr. Chien shared that to engrave a watch, the craftsman not only needs skillful hands but also must have a firm grasp of technical parameters and operating principles. For example, with a dial with an average diameter of 32mm and a thickness of 0.4mm, the diameter error must not exceed 2%, and the thickness must not differ by more than 5%. If the dial is too thick, the watch hands may touch the glass or not fit properly, directly affecting the operation of the machine.

“Watch carving requires much higher precision than regular metal carving. Therefore, the craftsman must be meticulous, patient, and constantly learn, innovate, and improve his techniques… to make a living from the profession,” said the sculptor.

The watch engraving process begins with receiving ideas, sketching designs, then drawing lines, lowering the background to create relief, trimming delicate details and finally polishing and finishing. Depending on the complexity, each product can take from 1 to 3 months to complete.

The desire to "touch" Vietnamese culture on watches

Tran Ngoc Chien’s clock sculptures not only impress with their sophisticated techniques, but also touch the depth of Vietnamese culture. From spiritual themes, people to folk symbols, each work carries a traditional breath, recreating the historical, cultural and artistic values of Vietnam on metal materials.

“As an engraver, I can follow the trend with popular motifs, but I want more than that. By putting Vietnamese patterns and images on the watch face, I hope each of my works will contribute to preserving the national soul and spreading love for the homeland,” Mr. Chien proudly said.

Mr. Chien believes that young people not only need to inherit tradition but also develop it to bring it closer to modern life. Therefore, each of his works both preserves core values and has a contemporary feel.

With that aspiration, Mr. Chien delicately depicts Vietnamese culture through symbols bearing the mark of history: "Ly Dynasty Dragon" with soft curves, symbolizing prosperity, intelligence and the desire to rise; "Dong Son Bronze Drum" with ancient patterns depicting scenes of daily life and festivals from ancient times; or the majestic image of "Hung Dao Dai Vuong", expressing the spirit of national uprising. The homeland's landscape is also vividly present through each carving, from the ancient beauty of "Ngoc Son Temple" to the majestic natural wonders of "Ha Long Bay" and "Hon Trong Mai".

With the Dong Son bronze drum motif, instead of carving the entire bronze drum face onto the watch, he chose beautiful angles and combined it with a modern layout to create highlights.

Carving is already a difficult profession, carving ancient cultural capital is even more difficult. For Tran Ngoc Chien, this is not only a technical problem but also a journey to find the origin of the nation. “Before carving any motif or image, I always research thoroughly through books and documents. For topics with little documentation, I must ask experts and researchers to understand the nature, ensuring that each carved line, although creative, still retains the original spirit,” he affirmed.

With the Ly dynasty dragon, instead of carving in the traditional "dragon nest" style, he transformed it with a different perspective, still keeping all 12 symbolic segments but adding details such as wish-fulfilling clouds to highlight the supple, soft features.

Researcher Tran Hau Yen The said: “Chien was one of the first people to put Vietnamese culture on the watch face. He often came to me to learn about the motifs. traditional culture, especially the Nghe mascot. What impressed me was that Chien did not just want to carve for beauty, but was truly interested in the meaning and spirit of each image. This is something precious, because not every young person is so persistent and passionate about learning about cultural origins.”

To engrave the Nghe mascot on the clock face, Mr. Chien met and discussed with researcher Tran Hau Yen The.

Mr. Chien revealed that many foreign customers are especially fond of watches engraved with Vietnamese imprints. Many times, they curiously asked him about the meaning of each motif, from the Ly dynasty dragon, the Nghe mascot to the bronze drum pattern or the country's famous landscapes. For him, being able to introduce national culture and witness international friends appreciate each traditional line is the greatest pride.

Each carving on the watch face not only shows exquisite craftsmanship, but also encapsulates eternal cultural values. For Mr. Chien, this is not simply a job, but a journey connecting the past with the present, preserving and spreading national identity in his own way. In the future, he said, he is planning to bring the stories in Dong Ho paintings to the watch face, so that these folk motifs can be brought closer to modern life.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/chang-trai-tre-khac-hon-viet-len-dong-ho-5042437.html