Watchmaking

M0T

M0T

M0T

Soldato
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I really like watches, but I really can't stand wearing them - for some reason having stuff on my wrists makes me feel claustrophobic.

The reason I like them is their mechanical nature, I find them fascinating, so my girlfriend suggested I look into seeing if I can get hold of a small kit or similar.

A quick google doesn't seem to produce a lot, so does anyone here know where to look?

Ideally I would like to make a pocket watch, preferably one that you can see all the internals of.
 
I think I was more looking for kits with step by step guides rather than long courses.

When I was 9 o 10 years old I remember going into a local toy shop (that is sadly now closed) and it sold all sorts of things like that. I remember seeing all sorts of electronics kits (radios, alarm clocks etc), so something like that for a mechanical watch.
 
One of the members here has made watches from bits. You can buy pre-built mechanisms and then just put the bits together. My only concern is that the kit cases aren't really that nice looking.

I would love todo this from scratch but you need the tools to carve the pieces accurately and unless you're going todo it continually it's going to be hideously expensive.
 
If you don't like wearing them then why don't you take a look at an Orrery? Has a similar mechanical nature, if not somewhat easier to get your head around, and you'd at least get something back from it.
 
Hi, I make wrist watches. You may find a kit for a pocket watch but typically you need to do some research around the movement you want to use and then build up a parts list around it.

Unitas 6498 and 6497 movements are good pocket watch movements which are readily available and still made (i have used them in several wrist watch builds recently as they work brilliantly in large wrist watch cases)

examples using these movements:

wristcalif.jpg


califlume2.jpg


backlightz.jpg


6497back.jpg


Swiss Unitas movements start about £70 and go into several hundreds depending on level of decoration. You can buy Chinese clones for much less and most are awful but Seagull made clones are actually good in my experience (the above skeleton is a Seagull).

for parts / a kit (although I don't think you will find one as such), you could try places like

http://www.ofrei.com

http://www.cousinsuk.com

But don't expect much help or advise from them as they supply the trade and do not want to asnwer questions from hobbyists - better to try watch forums for that.

You would need as a minimum needle nose pliars, jewellers screwdrivers, a file, handsetting tool (a bic biro just about works with its innards removed) - hand removal tool is also handy. Movement holder would also be good.

Hand setting and assembly is not hard but benefits from reading around the subject a lot first.


Edit: infact ofrei does have a pocket watch kit available as part of their watchschool - seems rather pricy for what it is though: http://www.tztoolshop.com/page163.html

I would probably be inclined to by parts separately
Good luck.
 
Last edited:
NickK said:
One of the members here has made watches from bits. You can buy pre-built mechanisms and then just put the bits together. My only concern is that the kit cases aren't really that nice looking.

I would love todo this from scratch but you need the tools to carve the pieces accurately and unless you're going todo it continually it's going to be hideously expensive.
Click to expand...

there's a whole host of cases out there if you look hard enough, so I wouldn't let that put you off - the case on this one I recently completed is excellent quality when compared to just about any branded watch (it looks pretty good next to my JLC)

You can also buy NOS cases from all sorts of manufactuers. In my view dials are more difficult to find good examples of.

mg6444l.jpg
 
Timezone do a kit and an online course to go with it

I bought the kit and a movement a while ago intending to do the course but never got round to it
 
Rotty said:
Timezone do a kit and an online course to go with it

I bought the kit and a movement a while ago intending to do the course but never got round to it
Click to expand...

The timezone kits are supplied by ofrei, as above. You should do it Rotty, it's rewarding.:) Would be a good place for OP to start.
 
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