Make Your Custom Mechanical Watch

Hi,

In this Instructables, I will try to explain how I manage to source the parts and assemble a mechanical Watch.

There are two kinds of a mechanical watch :

• Manual movement (The one I choose)
• Automatic movement

(To better understand what are the difference check this link)

A big part of the understanding of how to make a watch come from this video made by Watch Repair Channel.

All the watch parts and tools come from Aliexpress.

• Watch case opener
• Air blower
• Movement holder
• Hands puller
• Watch repair tool kit
• A set of tweezers

The first thing you have to do is choose the movement, cause all the parts goes around the movement.

On the internet I was able to find 4 movements mainly used :

• ETA 6497 (manual movement with seconds at 9 hours) -> The one I choose
• ETA 6498 (manual movement with second at 6 hours)
• Miyota 8205 (automatic movement with day and date)
• Miyota 8215 (automatic movement with date)

After choosing your movement you can search for all the parts around (case, dial, hands , strap).

As you can see in the pictures all parts come with a good package in polystyrene boxes.

On the list below you can see all the parts I buy, but there are many more on Aliexpress :

• Case and crown
• Dial
• Hands
• ETA-6497 Mechanical hand winding movement
• Nato strap

The total price of this watch without the tools is 82.98€ (pretty decent price for a manual mechanical watch).

/!\ During all the assembly try to don't touch with your finger the movement, the dial, the hands and the inside of the case.

Before starting assembly :

• Inspect the parts
• Check the movement cushion mount on the movement
• Check the dial inside the case

Because I choose a dial without a second, I need to cut the second output. I follow this guide made by onzenuub to understand how to cut the output.

I use a pliers to cut the extra part.

Be very careful, it's pretty hard to put back in the right place all the parts.

• Insert the gear
• Put the washer on top of the gear
• Insert the dial in the right position

• Unscrew by 1 or 2 turn the little screw who maintains the crown
• Removing the crown

• With the hand puller insert the hour hand at 3 o'clock
• With the hand puller insert the minute hand at 12 o'clock
• Clean the dial and the hands with the air blower and some Blu-Tack

• Insert the movement inside the case
• Align it correctly with the crown
• Insert the movement cushion moun
• Unscrew the old crown and screw the new one
• Plug the crown and measure how much you need to cut
• Don't cut too much try several times
• Screw the little screw who maintains the crown

• Check if everything goes right
• Screw the back of the case with the watch case opener

The accuracy is pretty good for a movement who come from china sources.

The last step is to put the strap you want and who enhance the watch.

For less euro than a brand manual mechanical watch you will have your unique watch that you have assembled and choose all the parts yourself.

Enjoy wearing your work and have a nice day !