My first time putting together a watch!

Try Aliexpress for parts !! I love Namoki but parts pricing is much better at Aliexpress …

Ok I’ll Share … you ready… you asked for to!! 😆…

Ok I’ll stop here…

Wow, so many. Thanks for sharing.

And,I get it. I already started sourcing for my next built :)

I think building watches is great fun. This is what I have so far. Top four use ST3600 movement (Chinese clone of ETA 6497) and the bottom has NH35.

Now I'm going to try to build my own dials for my watches. That should be an interesting adventure.

I did a DIY kit watch.

My last build included some movement customizations too!

I was going to put together my first watch during the Xmas break but I've lost a couple of days due to a cold, so I'm not sure I'll get round to it now 😕

I'd love to do a diy watch someday. I've seen so many cool mods. But I kinda worry I would get analysis paralysis from all the options and never be able to choose! 😂

It’s a lot of fun.

I’ve built three already, and I’m super tempted to build a gmt diver in a panerai style case…

On Monday I was wearing one of my builds, decided I didn't like the hands anymore, and changed them in about 20 mins over lunch, wearing the same watch for the ready of the day.

Enjoy your first build, it's a great feeling. You will learn at a rate that eventually will make you feel almost casual about working on a mod.

I agree with @Ichibunz that Namokimods is pricey, but the quality is very good. That being said, I still use AliExpress a lot for certain things, and you will continue to pick up bargains here and there.

Let me show you my latest, about 50/50 Namoki and Ali.

Nice built! I’m planning to use that same bezel for my 2nd watch. Ali Express for sure is great for pricing. I got the sub case and oyster bracket(Crystal, crown and back included) for around $60! Only thing I am a big fan of it is the lack of specs info on some of the items.

Maybe, it is just me being new to modding, but I want to know that parts will fit and that is a bit hard with Ali Express.

Yeah, I figured the watch hands on my build looked familiar. You are right about the specs for the components. I have bought a dial before that was for a 2824 movement, but the NH35 specs were listed. AliExpress is very good about refunds, though. Things just take time.

At the same time I have ordered watch hands in multiples if I found good ones on AliExpress. It really pays off to check Ali often in that regard. But the dimensions for hands may also be off, and I had to toss about 1 out of 6 second hands. But since you are ordering at a fraction of the price, it helps to have a little of a supply. Sometimes it makes sense to buy a complete watch on AliExpress, and just swap dial and hands.

I have never had issues with Namoki, Crystaltimes or Tokeilabs.

GMT diver in Panerai case would be interesting. Which movement are you planning to use? The most accessible GMT movement, I think, is NH34, which is quite small for large Panerai case. You would need to make your own case ring. 3-D printer would be useful for that. Also, getting a dial of appropriate size that fits that movement is not going to be simple. Also, for larger dial, you would need longer hands, which fit the NH34 movement. I'm interesting how you are going to overcome these things. Please, let us know. Thanks.

https://www.namokimods.com/en-ca/collections/skx007-cases/products/nmk930-nautical-w-crown-guard-skx-watch-case-black

I would most likely use this case, as it solves the dial and movement issue. (It's designed to be compatible with Namoki's dials and nh35/34 movements.

It's a scaled down case, I could definitely search around and look for something more in line with the original panerai dimensions. In which case I'd probably have to 3D print the movement spacer and refasten the dial feet.

If anyone knows of other Panerai style case options let me know.