My Watch Build from Parts Sourced Online

Forfiet on 15/05/2023 - 14:25
Last edited 15/05/2023 - 14:42

Per the post from ihfree located at: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/770703
I made a reply briefly commenting about being close to finishing my first watch 'build'…

This extra post of my own is to post some pictures of said watch and try to answer any questions you may have to the best of my ability.

Hands are a pain to place and need steady hands, the second hand being the worst.

The next hardest may be cutting the crown stem(the metal bar that connects the 'time adjusting thingy' on the outside of the watch) to the correct length :P

General parts list not including tools:

Movement: NH35A(Seiko) with black date wheel: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002797171395.html?spm=a2…

Case: 316L Stainless steel case with ceramic bezel. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003564880459.html?spm=a2…

Blue lume hands (Mercedes style): https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003661707916.html?spm=a2…

20mm Leather watch band: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004001202309.html?spm=a2…

28.5mm dial for NH35: Sorry they sold out I guess :(

PICTURES:

Front of watch: https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/102691/103674/nh35afro…

Back of Watch: https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/102691/103673/nh35abac…

Lume Shot: https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/102691/103675/lumeshot… This lume is not great though and disappears quickly. Hands are better than the dial.

Still have yet to permanently attach crown to stem with locktite adhesive….

Sorry for the word spaghetti!!! :P

P.S I'd like to think this whole post makes this obvious, but this is not a retail SEIKO watch, the only real Seiko parts are the licensed movement by Seiko Instruments. The dial is a after market part that I liked the look of….

Fashion & Apparel Watch

Comments

  • SBOB on 15/05/2023 - 14:29
    +2

    nice work.
    Slippery hobby slope though ;)

    • Forfiet on 15/05/2023 - 14:36

      Well all the tools are from aliexpress, but posting that too may scare people away and some are not absolutely necessary….

      But yeah this and steeldives will send you down further and further without a paddle….. :P

  • Loot N Plunder on 15/05/2023 - 14:39

    Sorry to say i think the band looks atrocious with that bullcrap string.
    just my 2c

    • Forfiet on 15/05/2023 - 14:44

      Was not my first pick, but the other band had a awful butterfly clasp and I was fighting to get it on…. So fair enough :P

  • SydStrand on 15/05/2023 - 15:09
    +2

    Nice. Let's see Paul Allen's watch.

    • Forfiet on 15/05/2023 - 15:10

      Will you settle for Bill Gates? I have a Casio Duro around here somewhere…. :)

  • franco cozzo on 15/05/2023 - 15:14
    +1

    cool way to design your own unique watch for not many dollars…nice one. will you do more?

    • Forfiet on 15/05/2023 - 15:26
      +1

      Kinda going backwards in milestones, but I have a Invicta and a Steeldive 1970(https://www.ozbargain.com.au/product/steeldive-sd1970) that I want to replace the dials of…

      Iam probably capable of doing that since I built this one from 'scratch' eh?

      After that? I want to build a gents dress watch as I have a small wrist and I like smaller watches, maybe with a custom printed dial with my name or a 'fantasy' company on it….

  • Ryanek on 15/05/2023 - 15:41

    Very cool. How much would you say you've spent on the tools?

    • Forfiet on 15/05/2023 - 16:09
      +2

      Over $45 buck easily but I've had some watch gear for changing bands and opening watch cases for awhile…. Tools needed for this job?

      Rodico(a putty used to clean, I used it help place the hands on the watch)+Pegwood sticks(less likely to scratch delicate surfaces): ~$5 Aliexpress
      Watch hand presser: ~$5-6 aliexpress
      Rubber ball for unscrewing the watch caseback: $3-4 Aliexpress
      Movement Holder for NH35A: ~$10 Aliexpress
      Watch parts dust cover tray: ~$7
      Digital callipers: Grabbed ages ago off a ozbargain deal…

      I might have used more, but these things were the most necessary I think.

  • Gunnar on 15/05/2023 - 15:56
    +1

    Nice Yachtmaster ;-)

    just kidding, nice work!!! I don’t think the pics do it justice

    • Forfiet on 15/05/2023 - 16:15

      Yeah definitely is 'inspired' by its predecessors, I believe it does look better than my horrid photo's but probably not a game changer in looks….

      The bezel was supposed to be a more polished shine on the digits, yet I got sent the dull grey instead.

      The ideas was that on an angle it was supposed to catch the light on the raised surface of the bezel and dial… May have to test it on my wrist for the day outside to see if it accomplishes anything towards my intentions…

  • pegaxs on 15/05/2023 - 16:17
    +1

    awww, bugger… now I want to make a watch…

    • Forfiet on 15/05/2023 - 16:22
      +1

      Check out Youtube first like I did, get inspired or a reality check… either way it makes for a interesting watch(pun intended)….

      My knowledge on assembly came from watching many clips online.

      • pegaxs on 15/05/2023 - 16:31
        +1

        NO!!!, stop it! I just went down a rabbit hole of 10 mins looking at watch bodies and movements… thanks to Watchnerd, Mathnerd and PJC, I literally have enough watches from deals here to give everyone a free watch. Damn I own a lot of watches. I dont even know anything about them.. I just like them…

        Side note: Where I did my locksmith trade course, their building was shared with the watchmakers/repairers trade school. Used to sit with those guys at lunch and talk watches.

  • Muzeeb on 15/05/2023 - 19:01
    +2

    How did you remove the cyclops?

    Also, maybe go over the white string on the strap with a brown texta/permo marker.

    Awesome job by the way.

    • Forfiet on 16/05/2023 - 00:11

      No cyclops version.

  • tebbybabes on 15/05/2023 - 20:16
    +1

    Nice going, mate. Not bad at all.

    • Forfiet on 16/05/2023 - 00:12

      Thanks :)

  • ihfree on 16/05/2023 - 22:29
    +1

    Nice one! I was going to suggest this deserved its own thread.

    I've got a half-finished mod project lying around which I need to finish off one day. edit: and it's back on - now looking at movements on Aliexpress.

    • Forfiet on 17/05/2023 - 06:52
      +1

      Yeah I didn't want to hijack your thread so….here we are :) Great to hear you are back on course to finish your mod!

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