Have you ever wondered about a modern-day wristwatch’s inner workings or even how to make a watch? Having a custom timepiece can add significant value to your watch collection, but do you want to spend all that money buying an expensive custom piece from over the counter at a watch shop? Why waste the cash when you can indulge yourself in the absolute pleasure of making a custom watch on your own for much cheaper?
It might sound intimidating at first, but building your own timepiece can be truly rewarding. Now I’m going to walk you through the tools you need, the parts you’ll want to get and some tips to get you started on building your very own custom watch. Soon you’ll know all the ins and outs of watchmaking and how to make a watch.
Tools Used To Make A Watch
Let’s start with supplies. Watches have lots of tiny, fragile pieces that you want to be careful with while handling them. Having the right tools can save you from giving yourself a headache while figuring out where all those miniature pieces go. So, proper tools are essential in knowing to how to make a watch.
Speaking of those tiny pieces, the most essential tool you need is a magnifier. Try to find one that attaches around your head so you can keep your hands free. You’ll also want one that lights up to increase your visibility. Having this tool allows you to see every little detail and ensure that you are placing small parts in the precise location.
Investing in some great tweezers will make your build a whole lot easier. But handling all of those small parts with your hands alone will get frustrating. Pincers, Pilers and Tweezers allow you to pick up and place each piece correctly without constantly fumbling or dropping them.
Having a watch hand puller is useful for maneuvering the second, minute, and hour hand without scratching any part of the face. Sturdy jaws allow you to confidently grip each piece without damaging anything.
For adhering the different pieces securely, you’ll want to have some G-S Hypo cement handy. This stuff is excellent for watchmaking and dries clear and quickly. The adhesive will give your watch some extra strength without impacting the look.
Parts Used In A Watch
Finding the right parts is the most essential aspect of how to build a watch. This is where you will decide how you want your watch to look and how you want it to work.
The Case
The Case is your foundation. The case houses your watch and makes up most of its look. There is a wide array of materials and styles you can choose from. Stainless steel cases hold up the best and give your watch a sleek, clean look.
Most cases will already come with a crown, but this is something you could customize as well. The crown is the small knob on your watch’s side that controls the time, date, and other features depending on your watch capabilities. You’ll attach the crown after you install the movement.
The watch case holds everything in place. You’ll need to start here when you begin to build. Everything else will attach to the case.
The Dial
The dial is the part of your watch. It shows the time. You can choose from many different styles for your dial feet and ways to display the time, such as roman numerals, ticks, or actual numbers. You can also choose different colors and effects, such as glow-in-the-dark or reflective marks.
Once you’ve chosen your dial, you will adhere to your movement. You’ll need some dial dots to help the dial stick to the machinery. Adding a drop of G-S Hypo cement to each dot will ensure that it stays in place and does not rattle.
The Movement
The movement acts as an engine for your watch. The movement makes the hands move and also keeping the correct time. There are two different options for movements: mechanical and automatic.
Mechanical movements require you to wind the watch for it to keep going manually. Automatic movements obtain kinetic energy from the movements you make while wearing the watch.
The movement drops into the case once the dial and hands are attached. Most of the time, the movement will come with a movement ring that keeps the machinery from rubbing against other parts of the watch and centers it inside the watch case.
when the movement is secured in the case, you have to attach the crown. Make sure the stem fits securely in place. You can shave it down slightly to make a perfect fit.
The Hands
Select a style of hands that matches the dial of your clock. Make sure the size fits the case and that you can still easily read the time when ticking around the watch face.
You’ll definitely want to use your magnifier and tweezers when attaching the hands. You’ll drop the hour hand in place first. Make sure it is parallel to the face of the clock. Next, you’ll attach the minute hand.
The second hand will be the most difficult. The pin is tiny and hard to see and maneuver in. Make sure it is precisely in place before pushing it down as this part is quite fragile and can bend easily.
Final Assembly Of The Watch
Once the hands are attached to the dial and the dial is attached to the movement, you can put these pieces in the watch case. Make sure everything is secure in the movement ring, and you have thoroughly cleaned the case.
Movement tab holders will screw into place to secure it to the case. Attach the case-back and ensure it is tightly secured.
The final step is to attach the straps. Attach the buckle to the top position at 12 o’clock. Now your watch is finished! Your watch is complete and ready to show off! When your family and friends make queries concerning the source of such a prized and unique watch, you can proudly announce that you built it on your own. If you need extra help completing any of these steps, Esslinger has some great tips and videos to further explain each detail of how to make a watch.
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Author-
MD. RASHEDUL ALAM