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Hi Spectre, apologies. I don't think I explained the process very well. I print the designs onto acetate to create a photo resist. The photo resist is used to etch the designs into German (Nickel) Silver. The German Silver dial is filed and polished to get the gradients I want. This can then be relatively easily electroplated. I clean the dial ultrasonically in benzine, and then in a soapy bath. Then I electro clean and activate the dial. I electroplate a gold strike layer so the silver plating adheres properly. It took me about 6 months and a lot of money and practice to start getting satisfactory results. Very interested to hear more about your woodwork and luthiery. I had a fully kitted out wood workshop until I had to get rid of it a couple of years ago. Ill hunt out some photos for you. If you ever visit the UK a beer would be great, im sure we could chat for hours about watches, cars and guitars. Ive done some research since you mentioned this. Garrick watchmakers appear to be doing something similar to myself using bought in movements. Their cheapest watch starts at £6000!!!!! I can understand why. It takes me upto about 200 hours to make a watch start to finish, and about £700 in materials. They seem to have quite a long waiting list as well, so maybe there is a demand for it.

Im glad to hear you are managing to keep well and have managed to avoid COVID. Since my ongoing health problems ive pretty much become a hermit trying to avoid it! I don't know what sort of money I could sell them for. I really haven't thought about it. Im also struggling to find many other English watchmakers that make one-off handmade watches that don't produce their own movements and charge the earth. I dream about Rose Engines every night. Unfortunately I think it will stay a dream for the foreseeable future. Its so nice to hear from you Klassiker, your words are very kind. What you say makes perfect sense. I know you have lots of experience at finishing watch parts, so you know how hard it is to be completely happy with something. The polish could always be better, the edges sharper, the curves smoother. I do have a tendency to always think my work could be better. But I also think that the pursuit of perfection is especially important in watchmaking. Ill keep working on things until im happy, then who knows what the future holds? Thank you. The movements are ETA/Unitas 6498s. Im currently reworking the bridges so make them I bit more individual. Ill post some images of the CAD drawings ive done so you can see what im aiming for. Thanks Tom. Ill put together a rundown of the hand making process and post it as soon as I can.

I have started writing a book entitled "How to Become a Millionaire in Watchmaking." Spoiler alert: start with two million!

After many years "circling around" a staking set, I finally bought the one above for €220 ex.shipping In case I need something to add, CousinsUK seems to have a nice collection. Now I can go "deeper" and do new endeavours, like reducing worn hole sizes and changing balance staffs ....... Thank you all for your advise This was another consideration & @Klassiker change of mind ...... Seems a complete set and with some TLC, it may be just what I needed without braking the bank

You are discouraged through some set backs mate, perfectly understandable. You've worked bloody hard and its fought you all the way so you have earned a break. Time to get your motivation back and have a go at something else for a while. You will come back to it stronger and better without a doubt.

Testing fit of hands on the movement.

Thanks guys, Its taken about a year of working 4-5 hours a day to perfect the process for making the dials. Ive made over 100 dials now, most of which have gone in the bin! Most of the dials start with very precise detailed designs done in a vector graphics program and a sheet of 0.25mm German Silver. I print all the components to make the dials out of on transfer paper and fix this to the German Silver. Each component is cut out with a jewellers saw, following the lines on the transfer paper, filed and polished. The Guilloche type patterns are printed onto acetate to create a photo resist for etching. Once the pattern is etched they are filed and polished. Then any electroplating that needs doing is done. Eg, if im after a white colour I will gold plate the dial, then silver plate, and then heat bleach and pickle (usually multiple times as any mistakes here are costly) the silver to a pure white. The dial will then be lacquered for protection and to prevent tarnishing. Black colours are either oxidised to the correct shade, or black nickel plated. A similar method is used to etch markings and finish chapter rings, sub second dial rings etc. All numerals and markings are infilled with Indian ink and the the component is either repolished or brushed to create the finish im after. The part is then lacquered. Once I have the dial components finished, everything is put together to complete the dial. Individual components completed, and testing the fit. Guilloche style pattern ready for plating. Various components being prepared. Checking the contrast between front and rear of dial. Is the white bright enough? Is the black dark enough? Etc

Hi All, Its good to be back, and I have missed you all tremendously. I haven't posted on the forum since earlier in the year. Since I was last on a lot has happened. Lots of life changes have taken place spurred on by various health issues (bl**dy covid!). I have given up my day job and focused entirely on making watches. Not for profit I might add, but really as a type of happiness therapy. I won't go into details here, but will happily discuss if anyone is interested. Ive learnt a lot of new skills and techniques in the last few months, and now look back at my earlier creations with a certain embarrassment. Anyway, these are a few of my latest creations. As always all feedback is appreciated. Constructive or otherwise.

Throwing a bone to @clockboyto make sure he stays alert. Here is a ST mantle clock I cleaned today. Nothing to crow about...very straightforward. Came to me without a pendulum bob, so, yeah...that is a fishing weight--for now. The case back was split and broken as well as the brass door--all bent up. I repaired the back with a couple of pieces of hardwood and planished the brass door so that it is 200% improved. Showing the movement on a stand here.

I saw this in a local antique store and had to buy it. You see before you a mismatched set of doorknobs on their shaft, and one has an Ingraham watch built in. I examined it and, just as with walking sticks I have seen, the watch case back is one with the knob. As you might guess, I bought it for the purpose of turning it into the topper of a walking stick. (My left leg has a history and I see the need for a cane in my future. ) But I am left wondering: how often did people use doorknobs with watches in them??? I examined the mounting and it truly looks like it was manufactured to be a doorknob. Very odd.

I printed this crude temporary stand for the clock. Sits on my desk for now. Keeping great time, but because of the crud that was on the dial, it is hardly visible. I know that refinishing dials is a deal breaker for a lot of people, but I am seriously considering, removing the old radium lume and reluming with a modern one. It is just unusable as is...I think. I can always make the "Oh no...it is radioactive!!!!" excuse.

Hey Tom, I'm not planning to jump right in to a Rolex or Omega, no worries. That's the ultimate goal. Like anything else you have to get the reps in. I feel like if you have a mechanical mind and good hands, then simple rebuilds, cleaning and lubrication won't require endless practice (although it certainly won't hurt).

Huh ; wouldn't a more appropriate title be "From Millionaire to ruined with Watchmaking" ? Perhaps I'm holding the wrong end of the stick?

Hi LWS this could be a bloody big book something like war and peace. cheers

Hi Endeavour, well done (its only money), the hardest thing to get and easiest to get rid of. Having the set will broaden your horizons. I have one without a base and not as complete as yours but it gets me through ok and never stopped me from fixing watches although a bit old to do balance work these days but still enjoy what I do and the clocks. cheers.

Great to see you back with your projects, amazing work and so accomplished. Would you mind doing a rundown on making hands too please? Tom

Update: well, I'm pleasantly surprised. I checked its time this morning, and it's running only about 20 seconds ahead. Considering it has no second hand and I was just estimating when I set it yesterday, I think the cleaning and fresh oil did some good. That said, GAD it is arduous working on full-plate "dollar" watches like this Ingraham. The overly simplistic construction actually makes re-assembly that much more difficult. I'm glad I won't have to do that again for another five years. It gave me new appreciation for my old Longines and Elgins and my other watches of more ordinary construction.

No, I really did not think about it. Perhaps I should have. I delivered the watch today, so it is off to a new life. The owner was very happy...it was his grandfather's. I do not take money for my work, but I do get paid.

Thanks, all. I'm going to take a break and work on some other projects for a bit, then come back. I most likely need to strip the movement down to the plate and start again. They call it practice, right?

You put it right once, so you can do it again. Don't get discouraged. From what I can see, you have a lot of ability and a good attitude. Think about what to do differently next time, to remember where all the screws come from.

Since nobody has seen any posted video of watches I have brought back from the dead it's safe to assume that I haven't been having much luck. I do however enjoy taking photographs. Some months ago I picked up an Omega movement that looks as if it will actually go once I get around to doing something with it. I've been holding off until I've had more luck with disappearing parts. Anyway, last week I got a new macro lens for one of my cameras that will automatically increment the focus and then focus stack the resulting images into one with a larger depth of field than what you'd get by a single shot (the macro lens has a very narrow depth of field). So, here is a shot of "goldie" taken the other day with the new lens. I'm not sure that it's going to actually do better than what I was getting with the older set-up (but it was less work).

I know it says on the recruitment poster for watchmakers that anybody can do it no skills required but that's only recruitment poster. The reality is to learn to be good at watch repair requires lots and lots of practice. I sometimes really learning watch repair the same as learning to become a doctor. Ever notice were doctors say they're practicing? The same as in watch repair every single watch were practicing to get better it just takes time lots of time basically a be practicing until the day you quit all of us are just practicing to get better. also of course as others people probably said lots of pictures in the absence of a service manual lots of pictures are needed better more pictures then not enough. By the way I believe knitting is also something that requires practice.

Hi There Bear, Keeping ok so far so good managing to avoiding the dreaded Covid although the aches and pains of old age catch me at times I can't complain. If you concentrate on what you do and it is brilliant work I am sure you will succeed, about what price do they sell at in the competative market we have now, just interested. Look after your self and keep us all posted I for one am interested although too old now to follow your lead. wishing you all the best.

Its a tough decision. The business started affecting my health quite badly. I was working 14 hour days most days of the week. No holidays or weekends as this time was spent catching up on paperwork.No breaks for food, it was hard even to stop for toilet breaks! Money was getting tighter as I was being squeezed financially like most small businesses, and I started to hate working on cars. Over the last 5 years I damaged my back and shoulders and started having lung problems from years of fumes and dust. Add to this chest pain and dizzy spells. I was in constant pain. Then about 2 years ago I started having blackouts. I would be working under a car and then wake up laying on the floor. Doctors think my body just said enough was enough. After discussion with my partner I decided to sell up and focus on recovery. The watches became my recovery. I do believe watchmaking literally saved my life. And Mark really started this for me with his amazing lessons. So Thank you Mark! If I ever meet you the drinks are on me.

Thank you! I had a classic car restoration business. It got too much physically, so I sold it to sit at home and make watches! I also make custom guitars as a hobby. This has helped pay the bills too. With some difficulty! I sold my business which gave me a small amount of money to buy equipment and pay the bills. I sold my cars and luxury watches too. I have a very supportive partner that helps a great deal, and I also repair and build guitars that brings in some petty cash. Sooner or later I will have to find a way of making some real money tho. I have had a few people want to buy watches, but I don’t think they are good enough for that yet. And I’m wary about turning a loved hobby into a day job.

Bergeon designed those nylon pushers so that they would split and break so you can buy a new one.

Done. One hairspring holder.