I’ve always wanted to create my own watch.
Imagine how cool to create your own face design, the shape, the hands, the strap. Build it up and wear it. A toolkit would also enable you to do your own watch maintenance (batteries etc) should you have a number of watches. Links below is what I found online.
Guides & Courses
- This great wiki site explains in detail how to do it, where to get the individual components from etc.
- Ablogtowatch has a guide
- Here’s another hobbyist blog article
- How to make your own watch! exact instructions
- You can buy watch parts in the UK from Cousins
- Watchmaking for Beginners book
- Seiko watch customization and mods
- How to mod your Seiko, Seiko SNK809
- Factory courses in Geneva, workshop and training
- Esslinger Make Your Own Watch Kit $169!. Instructions.
Toolkits
Things you need:
- Standard repair tools
- Magnifying headband with a light (loupe)
- Hand pullers/cutters (pliers), good quality tweezers,
- Springbar Tool
- Pin vice
- G-S Hypo cement, Silicon 7 grease, Rodico putty
- Case openers (screw-on adjustable waterproof, snap-on not waterproof, rolex style – horb ball)
- Digital caliper (measurements)
- Case cushion, polishing cloth
- Good hand remover (presto), hand setting tool
- Link remover
- Dial protector
Here are some options:
- Esslinger Deluxe Watch Repair Kit – there are some options for different levels on their website (US)
- SE JT6222 13-Piece Watch Repair Kit – cheap! can buy on Amazon.
- Stalwart 16-Piece Watch Repair Kit – Amazon
- Ofrei professional tools
- Springbar Tool. Bergeon 6767-S Springbar Tool by Bergeon
Parts
- DLW Watches (UK)
- Ofrei (US – California)
- Rafflesdials (US)
- Nato Straps (US) cheap!
- Nice retro aviator hands from OneSecondCloser (US)
- Dagaz Watch (US)
- Artiface (US)
- Watchgecko (UK) straps
Seiko Modding
- Cool watches: Seiko Prospex Black Turtle, Seiko Prospex SRPC49 All Black Diver, Luftwaffe Aviator 1940s World War II Mens Gents Watch
- Seiko Boys photobucket blog
- Seiko Batman design, another example here from MLS Watches, MLS facebook. Seiko SRP787 Batman on eBay. Lovely sapphire dome on this example
- Seiko 5 SNKL23K1 on eBay
- Seiko SNZF17 on eBay
- Seiko 5 SNK809 on eBay How to mod your Seiko SNK809
- SNK803K2 Military. Nice video, blog review biege on olive army green nato strap