I finished assembling another watch.

[Skidder]

EDIT: see pics at the end of the thread for a new one!


Hello, I just finished my second homebuilt project watch. I wanted something black just because I haven't got a black watch.


It is based around a 2824-2 ETA automatic movement - I changed the date wheel to black. Case diameter is 38mm. Strap is black aligator. Sapphire glass and exhibition back.

Thought some of you who like your watches may be interested in seeing it.

 

[Skidder]

wow that is very nice. Simple plain and a non metal strap.

Do you make the cases? Or is it like a computer you buy stuff that fits together and assemble and mod what you want?

Thanks.

Works exactly like PC building, buy parts and mod away. Pick a movement first, that dictates what cases will fit, different size cases need different diameter dials, movement dicates what hands will fit but these have to be matched to the dial diameter and so on. Careful shopping pays off just like with PC gear.

I would love to work my own case but not sure I've got the skills or patience just yet.

 

[Skidder]

intresting, nice looking simple watch

where do you get the bits from?

ebay for the movement and most of the bits

some guy in germany for the case

 

[Skidder]

That's a cool watch and must be great to wear it knowing that you built it

Are the parts new or are they salvaged from other watches?

thanks, it is nice knowing you put it together and it is probably pretty unique

In this case it's all new stuff but I have got my hands on a nice 1950s case from the bay (£2!) and I'm looking out for a suitable movement.

Good work, how hard is assembling it and got any links to why you can by cases?

it's not that hard, there are places you can make mistakes (cutting the winding stem for one) and you need to keep the workspace clean as dust and smudges are a PIA. Helps to have a movement holder to keep everything steady and you need to wear finger collets (or in my case marrigolds) whenever you touch the dial.

otto frei is very good place to start as they do quite a few kits which match the movement to the case etc. and take out some of the headscrathcing (haven't used them but know they are meant to be good):

http://www.ofrei.com

http://www.ickler.de/English/Verteiler-FrameE.htm

http://www.mdwatch.ch/page_boitiers.html

http://www.julesborel.com/

http://www.cousinsuk.com/

http://www.andys-uhren-shop.de/

 

[Skidder]

Just thought I would add this shot on my wrist:

 

[Skidder]

That's really cool. Can I ask how much it cost in total, and do you have any special tools for putting it together?

Thanks, about £120 (movement was about £55 of that, strap I got in a sale for £15 which is cheap as it is aligator, case about £30, dial and hands about £20 or thereabouts)

I have a movement holder, hand removers and hand placing tool and strap tools, tweezers, file. The only thing you absolutely can't do without is needle nose pliars - for the first watch I did all I had was pliars and tweezers and a stone file and it was OK, just not as easy.

 

[Skidder]

Is that ETA movement used in Tags?

yes and a whole list of other major brand watches - it's known as a solid workhorse and can be regulated to be pretty accurate (I have a tag with a tag branded version of this in which I have had for almost 15 years)

 

[Skidder]

Cool, case looks like it's based on a Chronoswiss design.

May be, very similar, but I think Chronoswiss' whole design is driven by classic watch design from the early 20th century and this case's look is a pretty classic old style pilot with pumpkin crown (that said it could have come out of the back door of the chronoswiss factory for all I know!)

 

[Skidder]

You obviously have too much time on your hands if you can build your own watch

business is slow so better that than spam all day!

 

[Skidder]

one more of the movement through the case back

 

[Skidder]

Good work.

Once you have all the parts, how long does it take to put them all together?

probably about 4 hours taking my time

Very cool, how many frames per second are you getting?

it copes with the final scene of crysis about as well as my trisli 8800gtx

What does the 25 jewels signify?

jewels are used to reduce friction because of their hardness and smoothness they allow metal parts to slide over each other. This explains it better than I can:

http://trusted-forwarder.org/elgin/help/watch_jewels.html

 

[Skidder]

I was after a Omega Planet Ocean but I really like the idea of a custom watch and probably at a fraction of the price.

Can you design your own dials? I see you can buy the omega ones but they $160

I have started designing a dial in photoshop but the hassly bit is getting the design on to the dial - there are companies which specialise in making dials but they only really want orders of 10 plus.

It is possible to buy blank dials and do them yourself but I don't think I have the patience for that. I was thinking of using a water slide decal to make a dial applied to a blank as I've seen someone on a watch forum do that with some success. I would then add my own lum to it.

For the most part I think I'll just stick with generic unbranded dials.

How long did it take to master making your own watches ?

Did you attend college for a course ?

No course but I am going to take one that will take me through totally deconstructing and reassembling the 6497-1 and 2824-2. So far I have done partial disassembly of both of those but haven't stripped them completely. Only been messing with watches for a month or two.

 

[Skidder]

Hehe that mechanism looks very familiar - it's close to the ML37.

Have you tried blueing the screws etc using a bunsen?

Yep, the ML 37 is based on the Eta movement. ML may tweak or decorate it a bit, not sure how much.

http://www.newturfers.com/bin/mwf/topic_show.pl?tid=11886


Haven't tried blueing any screws myself but my Unitas has blued screws and fancy cotes de geneve.

 

[Skidder]

just finished another one!

Just finished this skeleton watch. Hand wound with sub-seconds at 6pm. I built it to sell and it is on the bay but can't help but want to keep it! Hoping it doesn't make reserve.

 

[Skidder]

Nice! Out of pure curiosity, what's the reserve?

£375

 

[Skidder]

i really like that skeleton watch - how did you make it? buy a kit?

Thanks - I bought all the parts from different suppliers and then put it together. Key thing is to decide on the movement you want and then source parts from there.