Building A Watch

A few months ago, I discovered  watch modding.

After doing a bit of research and watching some videos I really wanted to make my own build.

Since I always wanted the Seiko SKX, but it’s now discontinued, I decided that would be the perfect project.

After doing some research on the different movements, I decided to use the Seiko NH36 for my build. Not only is it made by Seiko, but it is also an upgraded version of the 7S26. The 7S26 is a common movement found in many budget watches such as Seikos. Some include the SKX series and the SNK line. 
 

After finding all the different parts, and ordering them off eBay, I had to wait over a month for them to arrive since many came from Asia. 

These include the dial, hands, and case. I went with the Batman bezel, since I didn’t want to blatantly copy a specific SKX model.

In the meantime, I ordered some tools from Amazon.  (See tool list at the end)

To be honest, the first time I tried to build this watch it was a disaster. I scratched the dial, and once I barely got the hands on, I couldn’t figure out how to remove the crown stem. As I pressed down on the wrong spot, the crown stem snapped, and half got stuck in the movement. I also managed to bend the hands in the process.

After ordering a new movement and dial, it was time for take 2. This time, I was able to get the hands on very easily. However, I messed up with the crown stem again. While trimming it, I trimmed it too short. When I put it back in, it wouldn’t thread. I lost my patience and pulled too hard, while it was still in the hand setting position. Since the crown can only be removed when in the neutral/winding position, this messed up the second movement.

One again, I ordered a movement a third time. A few weeks later the movement arrived. I learned my lesson, and made sure to order some extra crown stems, because it’s always hard to trim the crown stem the right length the first time. Finally, after learning from my mistakes, I was able to finish it.

What I learned:

-You need to have the right tools. This cannot be done if you don’t have the right tools. Several of the mistakes I made were because I wasn’t using the right tool for the job. They don’t have to be expensive, they just need to be the right ones.

-You need to be very patient. Part of the reason this took me so long was because I lost my patience. This resulted in me not being careful with the delicate movement and breaking it. Never put too much strength. If something won’t budge, then chances are you’re doing something wrong.

In conclusion, this was a very interesting project, and I learned a lot. I can’t wait to build a few more watches in the near future (I have a few things in mind 😉). Stay Tuned! Feel free to message me if you have any questions.

Must have tools: Case openers, hand presser, tweezers, wire cutters and diamond file (for crown stem).

Optional tools (highly suggest): Bergeon Rodico (watchmaker putty) case holder (so you don’t damage the watch when working on the back), latex gloves, dust blower