The first time I did this, I used an ETA 2824 movement. It took me the best part of 2 hours and lots of cursing to get the seconds hand fitted. This was a few years ago before all the kits that you can now find and I didn’t see any tutorials on RUclips either. I’ve since made more using 2824 movements and also NH35/36 movements and I agree with the other commenter that the NH movement is the one to start with. I’ve messed a few up, and it’s a bit disheartening each time you do so, but in the end you end up with something unique. I’ve given them as gifts - my wife has been the recipient of a couple and both my children got one as 18th birthday presents. My next project is for my newly-born granddaughter.
I've been a watchmaker for like 4 weeks now, interested in watches for like 8. This is by far the best video I've seen lol. Every single mistake you made goes through my head whenever I touch a movement. Off topic a bit, but the first two movements I serviced are from vintage quartz watches. I literally didn't know you could service a quartz movement, but it's true, or any movement until 8 weeks ago. On the one I finished last Saturday, it was actually a non runner, so not only am I new, I also had to learn in short order, so I could diagnose the problem, which I did and ultimately fabricated a replacement part. Not bragging, just saying there is always a level of service you can do I guess, even for quartz watches. I passed them both to my daughter who will hopefully keep them long enough to pass on someday. Thanks for the great video and lesson! ❤it!
A lesson is being taught in both success and failure. Thank you for sharing your lessons with us as a PSA precautionary tale about modding gone wrong. It shows strong character to own your mistakes, especially in a public forum. I learned quite a bit from your video, thank you. I'm confident your next attempt will turn out a very fine time piece.
mate, these are the best kind of tutorial videos. top stuff for not trying to be a master at first shot. i'm now going to look at your other videos. i hope you finished and put up a new video .
I just built my first watch with parts all from AliExpress and it went fine. I will say that the seconds hand was an absolute pain to get in place compared to the other hands but a little Rodico and a 5x eye loupe was enough to get it done. I also recommend plastic tipped tweezers so you don't accidentally scratch anything. Also, the Seiko NH35A movements don't require screws to hold the dial in place and they don't require any clamps or screws to hold the movement in the case which is why I chose to go with the NH35 movement.
Thanks so much for posting this. I am gathering some bits to build my first watch. You have probably saved me from using a screwdriver with rodico on the end to clean up the dial. Also prepared me what to look out for when fitting the hands. This has been such an educational video. Don't give up.
I'm new at this too and you're not alone in stuffing things up. I find the NH35 movement to be less difficult. Thanks for sharing keep after it. I find joy in giving as a gift, a watch I assembled. Each one I've given has a makers mark. By that I mean a scratch, or small bend, but it it can only be seen with a loop. Cheers
I have a question. When i buy the case where the movement goes in I can choose the size 36/39mm. The nh35 movement has no size. How do i know that the nh 35 movement fits in the case?
@@pimengelbertink9926 I have used both 36 and 39, just make sure that is says in the description that the case is compatible with nh35 or nh36 and you'll be fine.
This was a great video. I learned a lot. This is why I haven't tried to build my own watch. 1. I need all the equipment. 2. I need multiple parts because I will F them up. 3. I no longer have the steady hands required to do the build. But I would like to design my own watch, pick out all the parts. I would have to have someone with experience to do the actual build though. Thanks for doing this!!
Yeah I get you. I don’t have steady hands either. I have very shaky hands. I messed up my watch just trying to change out the battery. I touched it once, twice and then BAM everything went flying out of it. I messed it up 😂 but I too want to build my own watch. I’m gonna challenge myself and give it a go with an automatic movement. Shaky hands and all. Yeah I’m gonna mess it up but I’ll get it done with my own unique dings and dents on it.
@@americanpaisareturns9051 Thanks for the reply. I have since thrown caution to the wind bought some equipment, and assembled my first watch. The hands were the toughest part taking 2 seconds hands (I bent the shit out of the first one) and about 7 hours total build time from start to finish. I'm gonna try it again. 🫣
Awesome video. I am on my second build. 1st was a disaster! I scratched the dial then cut the stem to short. lol. I’ve learned so much from my mistakes. Thanks Joey
Yeah, the seconds hands on the Miyotas, DG 2813 and relatives are the most demanding because their axles are only 0.17mm thin. ETA's 0.25mm seconds hand axle feels like a beefy rod compared. Patience and carefulness finally wins all the obstacles though. Complete those with experience and we have a winner. The real watchmakers use peg wood sticks for manipulating and cleaning very delicate parts, but I use just cocktail sticks. 🍸😋 Sooner or later every watch hobbyist runs in situation where he/she would need some standard little screw or a few, so best to be prepared and purchase a watch screw set beforehand, so the job at hand wouldn't again pause by lack of a cheap standard part. Check carefully to order real watch screws that actually fit a wrist watch, not those "Watch and Glasses Screw Sets", which by guarantee do not have one screw who would fit in the innards of any normal wrist watch.
I personally use pegwood with rodico on the end to place the hands and to help clean up the dial and hands afterwards. It helps to get right down to eye level with the movement to see the pinion where the seconds hand will go, and to use the handheld hand setting tools.
Brass, bronze or nickel tweezers are your friends when handling hands or any part that can scratch. Dials scratch incredibly easily, so best to avoid fiddling with them too much, or drag tweezers over them. I usually use brass and keep my nickel tweezers for the more precision stuff that still requires a delicate tool. Brass is the safest, but they bend really easily. As for the hands. I haven’t found a second hand that won’t fight back. I personally don’t recommend the cheap hand press used in the video. They tend to cover what you’re trying to see and too wobbly. The real ones cost a good bit and have no wobble. Best to use a good set of handheld hand tools, get down super low with a good loupe with around 4x magnification, use Rodico to hold the hand in the proper position with the non dominant hand, then press on with hand tool in dominant hand. Yeah, it’s awkward having your face at desk level working 4” away from the movement with a loupe, but the second hand is like balancing a needle on a bit larger needle. If you can’t see what you’re doing or not gently pressing down perfectly perpendicular to the stem, it will bend. The movement doesn’t matter, as the battle with the second hand will be the same. Cheaply made hands will make the fight even tougher, so best to source the better parts.
I messed up my second hand also the first time. The pivot was okay i think. Now you can take the moment apart and try to straighten it out . You did great for a first attempt. We all have yo start somewhere. I rather learn on my 35usd movement than a 1000usd movement.
The bent washer under the dial is to keep in place the hour wheel that in some movements is just laying over the cannon pinion without any bridge to keep it locked in place. Without that washer the hour and minutes dials can go out of synch. But I don't think this is the sase with the Myota movement which has a bridge covering the whole dial side.
I have two watch build projects in mind: one for my son's 21st birthday present; one for my brother (50th birthday). Both are a year away. I'll probably have to build one for myself first as well, to iron out my technique. ⌚️
Cool. I’m gonna give it a shot too. I already messed up one of my favorite watches. Gonna buy a new movement for it and try to fuck up my own build instead. 😂
I like this video specifically because all the other seasoned professionals won't make the same mistakes first-timers will, so he lays out his mistakes very nicely.
Hello!!! Love you channel and I’ve learn a lot!! I build my watch ,, the moment I screw the back, the date adjustment stops turning !!! A few threads and it does not work. I had to file down the plastic adapter. Any advice?
As someone who successfully built my first watch with a Miyota 8215 movement just a few weeks ago (after 4 years of tracking down parts and making mistakes) I would NEVER recommend anyone start building watches using a Miyota movement. Too many variables out there that aren’t right. I found 2 or 3 different dimensions for hand sizes. Case clamps are hard to find and expensive to replace, the movement is kinda finicky. Please start with either an ETA 2824 clone or a Seiko NH series movement. Sooo much easier and a lot more comparability due to Seiko standardizing there line of NH movements.
Assembled my own first watch a few weeks back. Lots of learning (like check 5 times for dust particles before screwing everything down and starting to align and thread the screws with putty rather than tweezers) onto the next one - ruclips.net/user/shortsYI2iEzKIqw8?si=d4ijDqkY507oIdL0
@ The Chirpy Panda Great that you showed us that! The annoying background music that is constantly repeated is a disruptive factor, especially when you are explaining or commenting on something. Otherwise, thanks for your comments!
Saw your video and i have a question - if i may. Sadly, I find myself only liking watches that are very expensive. But I don't care about the name, so my question is : Is it possible to have someone (not me!) make a watch from scratch by buying the parts to make my dream watch? Is this possible?
I don't think you should use that tool use the hand tools instead and put the hour hand at 9 so you can see what your doing. I'm no expert btw but I've watched many videos. I have tried this but I am way too shaky and can't control my hands long enough and the more tension the worse it gets. I have a tremor due to motor neurone disease😢 but I try with watches in to worried about. But it was great to watch a Newby trying as it highlights the problems us wannabes experience 😢😊 dude you tried and at least hands aren't costly. Good luck next time maybe note down your mistakes.
My solution: I have never second hands lmao. That and my movements I use typically don't have hacking and the inaccuracies even with +4 sec/day really show after a week.
The first time I did this, I used an ETA 2824 movement. It took me the best part of 2 hours and lots of cursing to get the seconds hand fitted. This was a few years ago before all the kits that you can now find and I didn’t see any tutorials on RUclips either. I’ve since made more using 2824 movements and also NH35/36 movements and I agree with the other commenter that the NH movement is the one to start with. I’ve messed a few up, and it’s a bit disheartening each time you do so, but in the end you end up with something unique. I’ve given them as gifts - my wife has been the recipient of a couple and both my children got one as 18th birthday presents. My next project is for my newly-born granddaughter.
Legend
I've been a watchmaker for like 4 weeks now, interested in watches for like 8. This is by far the best video I've seen lol. Every single mistake you made goes through my head whenever I touch a movement. Off topic a bit, but the first two movements I serviced are from vintage quartz watches. I literally didn't know you could service a quartz movement, but it's true, or any movement until 8 weeks ago. On the one I finished last Saturday, it was actually a non runner, so not only am I new, I also had to learn in short order, so I could diagnose the problem, which I did and ultimately fabricated a replacement part. Not bragging, just saying there is always a level of service you can do I guess, even for quartz watches. I passed them both to my daughter who will hopefully keep them long enough to pass on someday.
Thanks for the great video and lesson! ❤it!
About to build my first watch and appreciate your error-fest very much. The video may be old now, but avoiding mistakes never gets old. Thanks!
how did the watch turn out
How was it?
@@flyingcheeseI was very pleased, made a mistake, bent the second hand, got the date flip mistimed but fixed it so it works well. Built a second one.
I appreciate your honesty and guts showing your mistakes. But mistakes are part of learning.
A lesson is being taught in both success and failure. Thank you for sharing your lessons with us as a PSA precautionary tale about modding gone wrong. It shows strong character to own your mistakes, especially in a public forum. I learned quite a bit from your video, thank you. I'm confident your next attempt will turn out a very fine time piece.
mate, these are the best kind of tutorial videos. top stuff for not trying to be a master at first shot. i'm now going to look at your other videos. i hope you finished and put up a new video .
Learned a lot from this lesson. I'm about to put together my own watch and will try not to make these mistakes.
Thank you for this educational video.
I just built my first watch with parts all from AliExpress and it went fine. I will say that the seconds hand was an absolute pain to get in place compared to the other hands but a little Rodico and a 5x eye loupe was enough to get it done. I also recommend plastic tipped tweezers so you don't accidentally scratch anything. Also, the Seiko NH35A movements don't require screws to hold the dial in place and they don't require any clamps or screws to hold the movement in the case which is why I chose to go with the NH35 movement.
Thanks so much for posting this.
I am gathering some bits to build my first watch.
You have probably saved me from using a screwdriver with rodico on the end to clean up the dial.
Also prepared me what to look out for when fitting the hands.
This has been such an educational video.
Don't give up.
I'm new at this too and you're not alone in stuffing things up. I find the NH35 movement to be less difficult. Thanks for sharing keep after it. I find joy in giving as a gift, a watch I assembled. Each one I've given has a makers mark. By that I mean a scratch, or small bend, but it it can only be seen with a loop. Cheers
I have a question. When i buy the case where the movement goes in I can choose the size 36/39mm. The nh35 movement has no size. How do i know that the nh 35 movement fits in the case?
@@pimengelbertink9926 I have used both 36 and 39, just make sure that is says in the description that the case is compatible with nh35 or nh36 and you'll be fine.
Thanks for showing your mistakes so others can try to avoid them. I’m going to start my first build soon.
Also, 9:07, that’s what she said.
I haven't done a build yet, but I'm getting ready too. Thanks for the video!
This was a great video. I learned a lot.
This is why I haven't tried to build my own watch. 1. I need all the equipment. 2. I need multiple parts because I will F them up. 3. I no longer have the steady hands required to do the build.
But I would like to design my own watch, pick out all the parts. I would have to have someone with experience to do the actual build though.
Thanks for doing this!!
Yeah I get you. I don’t have steady hands either. I have very shaky hands. I messed up my watch just trying to change out the battery. I touched it once, twice and then BAM everything went flying out of it. I messed it up 😂 but I too want to build my own watch. I’m gonna challenge myself and give it a go with an automatic movement. Shaky hands and all. Yeah I’m gonna mess it up but I’ll get it done with my own unique dings and dents on it.
@@americanpaisareturns9051 Thanks for the reply. I have since thrown caution to the wind bought some equipment, and assembled my first watch. The hands were the toughest part taking 2 seconds hands (I bent the shit out of the first one) and about 7 hours total build time from start to finish. I'm gonna try it again. 🫣
Awesome video. I am on my second build. 1st was a disaster! I scratched the dial then cut the stem to short. lol. I’ve learned so much from my mistakes. Thanks Joey
Yeah, the seconds hands on the Miyotas, DG 2813 and relatives are the most demanding because their axles are only 0.17mm thin. ETA's 0.25mm seconds hand axle feels like a beefy rod compared. Patience and carefulness finally wins all the obstacles though. Complete those with experience and we have a winner.
The real watchmakers use peg wood sticks for manipulating and cleaning very delicate parts, but I use just cocktail sticks. 🍸😋
Sooner or later every watch hobbyist runs in situation where he/she would need some standard little screw or a few, so best to be prepared and purchase a watch screw set beforehand, so the job at hand wouldn't again pause by lack of a cheap standard part. Check carefully to order real watch screws that actually fit a wrist watch, not those "Watch and Glasses Screw Sets", which by guarantee do not have one screw who would fit in the innards of any normal wrist watch.
I personally use pegwood with rodico on the end to place the hands and to help clean up the dial and hands afterwards. It helps to get right down to eye level with the movement to see the pinion where the seconds hand will go, and to use the handheld hand setting tools.
Brass, bronze or nickel tweezers are your friends when handling hands or any part that can scratch. Dials scratch incredibly easily, so best to avoid fiddling with them too much, or drag tweezers over them. I usually use brass and keep my nickel tweezers for the more precision stuff that still requires a delicate tool. Brass is the safest, but they bend really easily.
As for the hands. I haven’t found a second hand that won’t fight back. I personally don’t recommend the cheap hand press used in the video. They tend to cover what you’re trying to see and too wobbly. The real ones cost a good bit and have no wobble. Best to use a good set of handheld hand tools, get down super low with a good loupe with around 4x magnification, use Rodico to hold the hand in the proper position with the non dominant hand, then press on with hand tool in dominant hand. Yeah, it’s awkward having your face at desk level working 4” away from the movement with a loupe, but the second hand is like balancing a needle on a bit larger needle. If you can’t see what you’re doing or not gently pressing down perfectly perpendicular to the stem, it will bend.
The movement doesn’t matter, as the battle with the second hand will be the same. Cheaply made hands will make the fight even tougher, so best to source the better parts.
You're a good sport in showing the failures. Did you try again or get different parts? I'd love to see the finished product.
Thank you! Because of your video I know now what to watch out for when I do my own watch. Greatly appreciate your video!
Great video,he who never made a mistake,never made anything.
I messed up my second hand also the first time. The pivot was okay i think. Now you can take the moment apart and try to straighten it out . You did great for a first attempt. We all have yo start somewhere. I rather learn on my 35usd movement than a 1000usd movement.
Ha ha we have all been there pal, ive ruined many and still trying to diy watch build
The bent washer under the dial is to keep in place the hour wheel that in some movements is just laying over the cannon pinion without any bridge to keep it locked in place. Without that washer the hour and minutes dials can go out of synch. But I don't think this is the sase with the Myota movement which has a bridge covering the whole dial side.
Thanks for sharing at least you tried it I haven't yet.
Good video m6 friend, learn more from mistakes than if it were to go flawlessly. Thanks for the video
I have two watch build projects in mind: one for my son's 21st birthday present; one for my brother (50th birthday). Both are a year away.
I'll probably have to build one for myself first as well, to iron out my technique. ⌚️
Hey man, not a year yet, but this made me smile :) I wish you luck with your projects.
I just bought the Spinnaker Spence. Basically the same dial, same hands, Miyota 9039. $650 watch. I’m questioning my purchase now.
Thanks for the vid! I have just ordered some components so it's very useful to know what to watch(!) out for on my first assembly!
Cool. I’m gonna give it a shot too. I already messed up one of my favorite watches. Gonna buy a new movement for it and try to fuck up my own build instead. 😂
Dunning Kruger effect at work.
This is your first time doing this, and you're giving advice like you know what you're doing.
I like this video specifically because all the other seasoned professionals won't make the same mistakes first-timers will, so he lays out his mistakes very nicely.
Hello!!!
Love you channel and I’ve learn a lot!!
I build my watch ,, the moment I screw the back, the date adjustment stops turning !!! A few threads and it does not work. I had to file down the plastic adapter.
Any advice?
Nice! Love you're honesty!
As someone who successfully built my first watch with a Miyota 8215 movement just a few weeks ago (after 4 years of tracking down parts and making mistakes) I would NEVER recommend anyone start building watches using a Miyota movement. Too many variables out there that aren’t right. I found 2 or 3 different dimensions for hand sizes. Case clamps are hard to find and expensive to replace, the movement is kinda finicky.
Please start with either an ETA 2824 clone or a Seiko NH series movement. Sooo much easier and a lot more comparability due to Seiko standardizing there line of NH movements.
mad respect.... keep doing what you do...
Great explanation of the whole process. Apart from psycho-piano in the background..
Nice work do you need press down when enter the stems
Hi! Where i can the movment holder ring? (The gold ring in the case)
I learned something honestly. So thank you.
Can you do more watch building videos?
Wait! I wanted to see the end result, dammit!! And I really like that case, i wish you posted links bro
Assembled my own first watch a few weeks back. Lots of learning (like check 5 times for dust particles before screwing everything down and starting to align and thread the screws with putty rather than tweezers) onto the next one - ruclips.net/user/shortsYI2iEzKIqw8?si=d4ijDqkY507oIdL0
@ The Chirpy Panda Great that you showed us that!
The annoying background music that is constantly repeated is a disruptive factor, especially when you are explaining or commenting on something.
Otherwise, thanks for your comments!
Thank you very very much for this video
great video thanks!
Give yourself some credit my friend:-) you answered a lot of questions I was wondering about. keep up the good work
Saw your video and i have a question - if i may.
Sadly, I find myself only liking watches that are very expensive.
But I don't care about the name, so my question is : Is it possible to have someone (not me!) make a watch from scratch by buying the parts to make my dream watch?
Is this possible?
Yeah go to a custom watch shop or buy the parts and take to a watchmaker. They may build for 100gbp or similar.
Wher did you purchase the parts kit for the watch?
Thanks for the vid!
Was that your first watch build?
Bruh I ordered a tandoori nh34 watch got the parts trying to swap the dials and hand but accidentally warp the gmt pinion 😂
I don't think you should use that tool use the hand tools instead and put the hour hand at 9 so you can see what your doing. I'm no expert btw but I've watched many videos. I have tried this but I am way too shaky and can't control my hands long enough and the more tension the worse it gets. I have a tremor due to motor neurone disease😢 but I try with watches in to worried about. But it was great to watch a Newby trying as it highlights the problems us wannabes experience 😢😊 dude you tried and at least hands aren't costly. Good luck next time maybe note down your mistakes.
What is that blue thing you used to pick up the watch hand called,? I couldn't understand
Rodico
Ohh this movment is a miyota i think this a nh35a srry my bad
Wish I watched this before I screwed up my hands too
Wayyyyy too many adverts. Won’t be watching any of these vids again my man.
Should have turned the hands to 6 o clock then place the seconds hand @ 12 o clock
Not all people are made to handle to fix phones or watches. Just leave it to the professionals. But it is always good to try.
Ruined by awful muzak.
The rotor is like that because it only charges the watches in one direction, in the other direction it swings freely
My solution: I have never second hands lmao. That and my movements I use typically don't have hacking and the inaccuracies even with +4 sec/day really show after a week.