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Watchmaker set for dummies

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Sledgehammer!

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Hi Guys,

I´m wondering if there is something like a watchmaker starter set? I don't mean the tools but an actual watch that you still have to put together, but with a guide. kinda like a lego set if you will.

I'd like to learn more about how watches work, and maybe franken a nice rep, but i'd like to start with something easy, with a 'how to' and something i can mess up.

If it doesn't exist, it should.. lots of grown men are addicted to lego's, so why not a 'put it together yourself watch'.

google didn't really help, i keep getting tools for results.
 
Art Vandelay

Art Vandelay

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I cant vouch for the quality but I did find a lot of such builds when I searched for "build your own watch kits".

E.g.
shop.diywatch.club

40mm Vintage Dive Watch With Stainless Stain Bracelet (Seiko NH35 / NH38 Movement) with tools and video instructions - VD03

DIY Vintage Dive Watch Kit | Complete Seiko movement 40mm Dive Watch with tools and full video guide: This is likely the best-in-class vintage diver DIY experience. The watch case is inspired by vintage divers such as the Rolex 5512/5513. The 40mm case size, with a slightly smaller case body...
shop.diywatch.club shop.diywatch.club

I'm sure that there will be cheaper ways to accomplish such a build.

Hope this helps.
 
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Jossé

Jossé

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I’ve seen many “reviews” of these on YouTube. I’ve considered a couple myself but haven’t found the time yet:

Seiko Mods & Watch Mod Parts | namokiMODS

Browse the largest collection of high-quality watch modification parts for Seiko watches. Bezel Inserts, Bezels, Sapphire Crystals, Hands, Dials, Chapter Rings, Crowns, & more.
www.namokimods.com www.namokimods.com
 
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Sparkie

Getting To Know The Place
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I've look at this in the past, including the offerings from diywatchclub and similar. Ultimately, their prices are obscene for what is a mediocre watch case with a NH35 packaged in a 120 minute experience.

Having had great experiences with Temu and Aliexpress lately, I'm considering getting the necessary tools to open up and service watches. Then you just need to find a book on watchmaking and a couple of garage sales watches on eBay to get started at minimal cost.
 
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S

Sledgehammer!

Getting To Know The Place
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Thanks all. I think just buying a complete movement and all other parts on Ebay seems reasonably easy. That might be a good first step, and then just buy a cheap movement, take it apart, service it and see if I can put it all back together.
The prices of diywatchclub do seem a bit ridiculous for what you end up with.

I also saw a few websites where you can order your own dial. (own design) that could be fun to do as well.
probably a lot more difficult than you'd think, if I want to make it appear half decent!
 
strcgn

strcgn

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I bought all tools from Aliexpress. I bought some case dial, hands and NH35 movement and builds my watch. All parts are around 100$. There are a lot of movements like NH series, PT5000 even VR movements for movements service training. All from Aliexpress.
 
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Sparkie

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strcgn said:
I bought all tools from Aliexpress. I bought some case dial, hands and NH35 movement and builds my watch. All parts are around 100$. There are a lot of movements like NH series, PT5000 even VR movements for movements service training. All from Aliexpress.
Click to expand...
If you had any list of necessary tools or links to listings it would be greatly appreciated!
 
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Chroad

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Sparkie said:
If you had any list of necessary tools or links to listings it would be greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...
Like this?

Watchmaker tool list for beginners

Hey guys, I saw a lot of people ask about tools and other things to work on watches. To have it more organized and to help new people I decided to create a tool list with links. This list got a basic tools set to start modding a watch. Tip: always buy best you can afford, watchmaker tools...
forum.replica-watch.info forum.replica-watch.info
 
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strcgn

strcgn

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Basic tools:

Movements:

Date Wheels:

Cases:

Dials:


Hands:

Stems:

Timegrapher:

One of most common movements are NH series from Seiko, NH34-GMT, NH35-Date, NH37, then PT5000 and also VR as used in some replicas.
Just choose movement first (for example NH35), then search for NH35 case, NH35 dials, NH35 hands, when searching is good to thick "Choice" option, because shipping is handled by Aliexpress, delivery times should be shorter, 10-12 days and it will come in one delivery. Everytime choose shop with highest positive reviews and be carefull about delivery times, always order additional stems for your movement, because when you will build watch, you will need to shorten stem, and is very easy to shorten it much, so without additional stems you will need to order new. And dials could be "sterile", without any brand (that is way I go), or usually with Seiko brand, just check it before order, dials from my links are sterille.
Then you could order only movement and try to service it. You will need set of oil, best Moebius, but with oils I should go ebay way like:

www.ebay.com

Professional-Grade Moebius Watch Oils and Greases in Affordable Small Vials | eBay

Looking for high-quality watch oils and greases at an affordable price?. While it may have slightly reduced performance, it remains a viable option for lubrication. Current purchasing options include professional-grade Moebius watch oils, such as.
www.ebay.com

oils should be most expensive.

Very useful tool is:
shop.diywatch.club

DIY Watch Club Second Hand Install Setting Tools for Seiko movements (TMI NH34, NH70, NH75, NH35, NH72)

Seiko movement second hand installation tool. Guides the second hand to the exact location for installation for easy alignment. Suitable for installing second hand for seiko mechanical movement. Precision engineered with polycarbonate for a snug fit. Can also be used as a movement holder for...
shop.diywatch.club shop.diywatch.club

for installing second hand, because it can be very frustraiting. This tool is only for NH movements.

For first build look to youtube for NH35 watch build, there is lot of videos.

Hope it will help
 
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S

Sledgehammer!

Getting To Know The Place
16/11/24
28
13
3
Netherlands
strcgn said:
Basic tools:

Movements:

Date Wheels:

Cases:

Dials:


Hands:

Stems:

Timegrapher:

One of most common movements are NH series from Seiko, NH34-GMT, NH35-Date, NH37, then PT5000 and also VR as used in some replicas.
Just choose movement first (for example NH35), then search for NH35 case, NH35 dials, NH35 hands, when searching is good to thick "Choice" option, because shipping is handled by Aliexpress, delivery times should be shorter, 10-12 days and it will come in one delivery. Everytime choose shop with highest positive reviews and be carefull about delivery times, always order additional stems for your movement, because when you will build watch, you will need to shorten stem, and is very easy to shorten it much, so without additional stems you will need to order new. And dials could be "sterile", without any brand (that is way I go), or usually with Seiko brand, just check it before order, dials from my links are sterille.
Then you could order only movement and try to service it. You will need set of oil, best Moebius, but with oils I should go ebay way like:

www.ebay.com

Professional-Grade Moebius Watch Oils and Greases in Affordable Small Vials | eBay

Looking for high-quality watch oils and greases at an affordable price?. While it may have slightly reduced performance, it remains a viable option for lubrication. Current purchasing options include professional-grade Moebius watch oils, such as.
www.ebay.com

oils should be most expensive.

Very useful tool is:
shop.diywatch.club

DIY Watch Club Second Hand Install Setting Tools for Seiko movements (TMI NH34, NH70, NH75, NH35, NH72)

Seiko movement second hand installation tool. Guides the second hand to the exact location for installation for easy alignment. Suitable for installing second hand for seiko mechanical movement. Precision engineered with polycarbonate for a snug fit. Can also be used as a movement holder for...
shop.diywatch.club shop.diywatch.club

for installing second hand, because it can be very frustraiting. This tool is only for NH movements.

For first build look to youtube for NH35 watch build, there is lot of videos.

Hope it will help
Click to expand...

Extremely lhelpfull! thank you very much
 
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xray7

xray7

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Sledgehammer! said:
Hi Guys,

I´m wondering if there is something like a watchmaker starter set? I don't mean the tools but an actual watch that you still have to put together, but with a guide. kinda like a lego set if you will.

I'd like to learn more about how watches work, and maybe franken a nice rep, but i'd like to start with something easy, with a 'how to' and something i can mess up.

If it doesn't exist, it should.. lots of grown men are addicted to lego's, so why not a 'put it together yourself watch'.

google didn't really help, i keep getting tools for results.
Click to expand...
I’m likely to sell off my tools after I finish with 4 watches in my backlog.

At the rate I’m working, they may be for sale in 2026.
 
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S

Sledgehammer!

Getting To Know The Place
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Does anyone know how they add weight to watches? I imagine the watch being very light if I use the aliexpress stuff. Is there a name to some component that fits and adds weight?
I prefer heavier watches, but it also adds to the feeling of quality. (yes yes, on an aliexpress watch haha)
 
xray7

xray7

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Sledgehammer! said:
Does anyone know how they add weight to watches? I imagine the watch being very light if I use the aliexpress stuff. Is there a name to some component that fits and adds weight?
I prefer heavier watches, but it also adds to the feeling of quality. (yes yes, on an aliexpress watch haha)
Click to expand...
Until someone drills them, I assume lead.
 
S

Sparkie

Getting To Know The Place
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Sledgehammer! said:
Does anyone know how they add weight to watches? I imagine the watch being very light if I use the aliexpress stuff. Is there a name to some component that fits and adds weight?
I prefer heavier watches, but it also adds to the feeling of quality. (yes yes, on an aliexpress watch haha)
Click to expand...
I would guess the weight comes from the steel case mostly, I can't imagine how you would meaningfully add weight via replacing a mechanism component.
 
strcgn

strcgn

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Sledgehammer! said:
Does anyone know how they add weight to watches? I imagine the watch being very light if I use the aliexpress stuff. Is there a name to some component that fits and adds weight?
I prefer heavier watches, but it also adds to the feeling of quality. (yes yes, on an aliexpress watch haha)
Click to expand...
I can tell you from my own experience that for example

I just found this on AliExpress:
€80.81 | AR Domed Sapphire 62MAS Watch Case for NH34A NH36A NH38A Brush Steel Band for Watch Mod Watch Accessories

is really heavy around 150 g for sure. I can tell that you can find pretty solid things on AliX. They are using same 316L steel than lot of reps. It's not like in the past now. Of course you can find shits, but these times AliX have a lot of quality stuff, hou just need to buy from reputable sellers with lot of posjtive reviews, but you shouldn't be worried about case weight or so, if you choose 316L steel case from reputable seller. My own experience. Of course in case of some gold cases, you cannot expect same weight, but steel things are pretty solid.
 
Last edited:
S

Sledgehammer!

Getting To Know The Place
16/11/24
28
13
3
Netherlands
strcgn said:
I can tell you from my own experience that for example

I just found this on AliExpress:
€80.81 | AR Domed Sapphire 62MAS Watch Case for NH34A NH36A NH38A Brush Steel Band for Watch Mod Watch Accessories

is really heavy around 150 g for sure. I can tell that you can find pretty solid things on AliX. They are using same 316L steel than lot of reps. It's not like in the past now. Of course you can find shits, but these times AliX have a lot of quality stuff, hou just need to buy from reputable sellers with lot of posjtive reviews, but you shouldn't be worried about case weight or so, if you choose 316L steel case from reputable seller. My own experience. Of course in case of some gold cases, you cannot expect same weight, but steel things are pretty solid.
Click to expand...
Ok good to know. I guess I just have to give it a shot, thanks!
 
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