- 27/1/12
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I finished this project last summer, but didn't get a chance to post a thread on RWI. When I had the idea that I would build a small version of one of my watches for my girlfriend's birthday, I had no idea that it would turn into the most complicated watch project I have attempted, with many, many setbacks! Basically, my plan was to use a Jackson 40mm case (taken from one of his complete watches), and use a small vintage Swiss manual movement instead of the crappy Chinese automatic that came with the watch from Jackson. Of course, I couldn't use the original dial, nor movement ring, nor stem, nor crystal, nor hands, etc... Every part of this watch has been custom made, or modified in some way.
After receiving the watch from Jackson, I took measurements, and was lucky to have ordered the custom dial and movement ring from Adrian just before he went MIA, although it still took a while for the parts to arrive. The first thing I wanted to do was remove the ugly cyclops from the crystal. I attempted to scrape it off, which only ended in scratching the glass; and then I tried heating it, which did work, but it was still scratched. So I ordered 2 new crystals from Esslinger (the first was too thick), and installed it into the case. Next, when I went to paint the dial, I ran out of the color I needed to match my 44mm version. I ordered new paint, and then realized I hadn't taken into consideration that the Swiss movement I had (from a pocket watch) was about half the thickness of the Chinese auto, and so the stem hole did not line up with the case. I took some more measurements, and binbin came to the rescue and offered to make a rehaut ring for me. He was super nice to make an aluminum ring to my specifications even though he was very busy! While I was waiting for the rehaut ring, I worked on the stem; since the Jackson crown was .9mm, but the stem for the Swiss movement was 1.2mm (doh!). So I ordered a stem extender from Esslinger to convert the sizes, and then cut the stem to the right length.
Meanwhile, I took apart the movement to gently file the second wheel down, since it was at the 6 o'clock position. The original Jackson hands were pretty close to fitting the Swiss movement, but they didn't look very good, so I ordered new hands (meant for a 7750). At first, I attempted to squeeze the hand tubes to fit on the Swiss movement, but my tools suck, so instead I glued the tubes on from the original pocket watch hands. When all the parts arrived and I sanded the rehaut ring to fit, I put the movement & dial in, only to discover that it was not being held in properly and would move. (doh again!) I had considered using a spare ring to press the movement ring against the case back, but then I decided to take the more difficult route of making my own movement tabs (one of which didn't line up with the case), and cutting a new ridge inside the case. First, I used my dremel to cut into the brass movement ring to make space for the tabs. Next I carefully cut into the inside of the case to create a ridge that lined up with the tabs on the movement. The tabs were made from a small piece of metal plate from another case that I didnt use, and it already had small holes in it.
Once I solved the internal problems, I put everything together and screwed on the case back. My last obstacle was that the crown guard lever wouldn't close once I tightened the CG on. So I took my file, and carefully sanded (and then polished) it down until it fit just right. If you've actually read this far, I warn you not to attempt this build unless you like being frustrated, and have many hours to spare! :lol:
Lastly, the list of ingredients:
- Jackson 40mm case
- Swiss Arnex vintage manual movement
- Athaya custom 32.5mm dial (painted and lumed by myself)
- Silver 7750 hands (ebay: wholesaleoutlet990)
- Esslinger mineral crystal (very clear and nice quality!)
- Athaya custom brass movement ring
- Binbin custom aluminum rehaut ring
- Panatime python snake strap
small Swiss movement, partially apart while filing 4th wheel down:
movement with ring; crown with stem & extender
lumed hands with tubes glued on:
here you can see the aluminum rehaut ring, and (sorda) the groove I made to fit the movement tab:
inside, with home-made movement tabs (one isn't installed yet):
completed watch!
with my 44mm version:
aww, sitting in a tree together!
After receiving the watch from Jackson, I took measurements, and was lucky to have ordered the custom dial and movement ring from Adrian just before he went MIA, although it still took a while for the parts to arrive. The first thing I wanted to do was remove the ugly cyclops from the crystal. I attempted to scrape it off, which only ended in scratching the glass; and then I tried heating it, which did work, but it was still scratched. So I ordered 2 new crystals from Esslinger (the first was too thick), and installed it into the case. Next, when I went to paint the dial, I ran out of the color I needed to match my 44mm version. I ordered new paint, and then realized I hadn't taken into consideration that the Swiss movement I had (from a pocket watch) was about half the thickness of the Chinese auto, and so the stem hole did not line up with the case. I took some more measurements, and binbin came to the rescue and offered to make a rehaut ring for me. He was super nice to make an aluminum ring to my specifications even though he was very busy! While I was waiting for the rehaut ring, I worked on the stem; since the Jackson crown was .9mm, but the stem for the Swiss movement was 1.2mm (doh!). So I ordered a stem extender from Esslinger to convert the sizes, and then cut the stem to the right length.
Meanwhile, I took apart the movement to gently file the second wheel down, since it was at the 6 o'clock position. The original Jackson hands were pretty close to fitting the Swiss movement, but they didn't look very good, so I ordered new hands (meant for a 7750). At first, I attempted to squeeze the hand tubes to fit on the Swiss movement, but my tools suck, so instead I glued the tubes on from the original pocket watch hands. When all the parts arrived and I sanded the rehaut ring to fit, I put the movement & dial in, only to discover that it was not being held in properly and would move. (doh again!) I had considered using a spare ring to press the movement ring against the case back, but then I decided to take the more difficult route of making my own movement tabs (one of which didn't line up with the case), and cutting a new ridge inside the case. First, I used my dremel to cut into the brass movement ring to make space for the tabs. Next I carefully cut into the inside of the case to create a ridge that lined up with the tabs on the movement. The tabs were made from a small piece of metal plate from another case that I didnt use, and it already had small holes in it.
Once I solved the internal problems, I put everything together and screwed on the case back. My last obstacle was that the crown guard lever wouldn't close once I tightened the CG on. So I took my file, and carefully sanded (and then polished) it down until it fit just right. If you've actually read this far, I warn you not to attempt this build unless you like being frustrated, and have many hours to spare! :lol:
Lastly, the list of ingredients:
- Jackson 40mm case
- Swiss Arnex vintage manual movement
- Athaya custom 32.5mm dial (painted and lumed by myself)
- Silver 7750 hands (ebay: wholesaleoutlet990)
- Esslinger mineral crystal (very clear and nice quality!)
- Athaya custom brass movement ring
- Binbin custom aluminum rehaut ring
- Panatime python snake strap
small Swiss movement, partially apart while filing 4th wheel down:
movement with ring; crown with stem & extender
lumed hands with tubes glued on:
here you can see the aluminum rehaut ring, and (sorda) the groove I made to fit the movement tab:
inside, with home-made movement tabs (one isn't installed yet):
completed watch!
with my 44mm version:
aww, sitting in a tree together!
