I'm in the process of building a watch, just a beater style field watch based on a seiko style case, it's my first build.
I've just spent a very frustrating few hours trying to get the crystal on straight, it's still a bit wonky ( about half a mm out), a mate who tinkers with watches for fun is dropping round a decent crystal press and some tools for me to do the rest.
I was just wondering if others had built their own and any good advice, I'm finding Youtube invaluable so far, not looking forward to doing the hands, it all looks so tiny and fiddly.
Check out the Watch N+1 thread; a gentleman of this parish re-builds watches and has posted some lovely photo sequences of the disassembly/reassembly process, absolutely worth a look through. He replaced a movement in one of my watches a while back, and I’ve asked him to service my favourite Seiko.
He replaced a movement in one of my watches a while back, and I’ve asked him to service my favourite Seiko.
Really? Who dat? I've got a Seiko I'd like looking at
I’ve sourced and swapped a new ETA movement for a seized one and fitted it, so must have done most of the moves, although knowing up front things were meant to connect and fit takes a lot of the fear away.
I've done about eight watches from scratch, mostly divers. A decent crystal press and tools will help no end.
The process of putting the watch together isn't overly difficult. It's more the sourcing of decent parts as tolerances can be quite small.
Take your time and if you feel like you are rushing, step away and go back to it later.
I hope you bought a spare, spare second hand 😁
I didn’t know this was even a thing. I’m not particularly into watches, but I like making things. Off to YouTube…
An old friend builds watches for some fancy Swiss watch maker in Geneva.
Years back I planned, built and set up an exhibition for Jeager le Coutir (sp?). Had never heard of them. Cheapest watch was 175,000€. Most expensive with a price tag was 2,500,000€.😳
That's probably why I'd never heard of them.... Had I have known I should have slipped in a extra zero here and there on the invoice.
Futureboy, I've sourced the dial and hands from Yobokies, everything else from Namoki so it's all standardised and will fit properly, standard Seiko 28.5mm dial and SKX013 case, wanted as few headaches as poss on my first build.
My mate has all the tools so should make life easier, he fixes watches to unwind, so to speak.
@catfood I've never used Yobokies but he is well thought of. Namoki has always been good quality for me, but I have always stuck to crystaltimes for er, crystals.
Hope it goes well.
He was very good to deal with, very good and quick comms.
No spare second hand, it may end up without, my mate Al reckons the second hand will be a piece of cake as it's a no date, dial, although I think as he's done hundreds he just finds it easy these days.
I've done a handful. All pretty easy although I ruined a few hands at the beginning. Getting a decent hand press tool made all the difference.
www.cousinsuk.com has pretty much everything you could need in that respect, as well as selling various watch movements and other parts.
I took one of my seikos appart to replace the dial and refinish the case.
The cheap crystal presses with a side handle are useless as they dont apply even pressure i learned that quite quickly
Oh my this sounds perfect for my ADHD brain. I really need a house with a workshop.
Who is the watch guy, I have 3 that need servicing.
Isn't it called the Second hand because you always ruin the first?
I managed to put the hands on in around 30 seconds first time i did it, then took it all apart again to do some more work on the hands. It then took half an hour the second time ( with lot of swearing.
I once went on a one-day ‘introduction to watch making’ course as a birthday pressie. It was really interesting but my main memory is that the bits are *very*, like *very, very* small.
wow - I have occasionally allowed my mind to drift into the idea of making a clock (probably something wall mounted - weight driven mechanism like a grandfather clock) but then I remind myself that it would be a fidly mess of precision engineering and tolerances to get it vaguely useful…. A watch is several orders of magnitude more crazy…
I’m addicted to Wris****ch revival on you tube..he’s a really likeable guy, and very good at the job!
+1 For someone who isn't a professional, he's unbelievable. I thoroughly enjoy his videos and absolutely no interest in watches
I'm not a watchmaker by trade, but I do love the hobby and I hope you'll see why on this channel!
I have occasionally allowed my mind to drift into the idea of making a clock (probably something wall mounted – weight driven mechanism like a grandfather clock)
I've been looking at this...
Loving that watch guy on YouTube. Thanks Drp.
My mates Dad is a watch and clock guy, I might see about getting some tools.
Oh the joys, on closer inspection I've managed to bend the crystal gasket due to my own impatience and trying to Heath Robinson it rather than wait for the proper bit of kit to press the crystal on, it shows the importance of using the right tools and not just forging ahead.
So a week's wait for a new gasket and a bit more patience required, all part of the learning experience.
