Home Built Watches, Show Us Yours.

[Geo]

There's not many home-builds being shown!

[bobm12]

I'm waiting for parts Geo, patience my young padawan!  :)

[madchops67]

How about a forum challenge ? We set a budget (a realistic one so everyone can afford to participate) and a list of criteria / spec (Chinese parts, Swiss etc) and maybe even specify a style (pilot, dress, etc) and then see what everyone comes up with?

I think it will be great to see everyone's interpretations and you can do as much or as little of the build as you want so it will be open to all skill levels - you could just buy a movement, case, dials, etc and then fit them or you could (budget permitting) build / modify a movement.

We can make this run over a couple of months to help spread the cost and also to allow people like me who work away from home for an extended period of time to still participate.

Anyone up for it?

I have just started doing my research on casing some American 12s, 16s, 18s pocket watch movements into wristwatches...but it's gonna take some time.

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[bobm12]

The probable movement is inside here:

 

 

An ETA 2840...So far: US$21.00

 

More to come!

 

Cheers,

 

Bob

[ramrod]

how the heck did you find that? i've been looking for a swatch, but all i've seen is quartz.

[bobm12]

Try also Swiss Army or Military with ETA 2846!

[ramrod]

i'm on it. thank you, bob.

[clockwatcher]

I have just started doing my research on casing some American 12s, 16s, 18s pocket watch movements into wristwatches...but it's gonna take some time.20160112_211537-1.jpg

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I look forward to seeing your results as I have a Waltham 'Seaside' grade movement with winder at 3 o'clock. The database describes it as a 6s, which translates to 35 mm (by 7 mm), from 1899. This seems like a perfect candidate for casing up as a wristwatch. It has a good enamel dial with fine Roman numerals and a sub-second dial and they made nearly 1.5 million of 'em, so spares shouldn't present any problems. Any thoughts on sourcing a case anyone?

[ramrod]

what case are you looking for? anything that will hold your movement? you are very close to what would be a nice dress watch with the size of your waltham. 

 

what i would do is look in some of the specification literature for a popular movement that is the same size as yours and than see what case is available. in other words, say that (hypothetically) an ETA 6497 was that same size as yours. you can find plenty of cases on fleabay that house an ETA 6497. that might be a good starting place.

Edited January 15, 2016 by ramrod

[ramrod]

i just looked on ebay and saw that an ETA 6498 movement is 36.6 mm. this would get you very close to using any watch case that parnis makes. you could use that speedi-fit compound to make up the difference.

[bobm12]

Or if applicable use one of these:

 

 

They come in different sizes, this one is for 11 1/2...Notice they could be used in the ETA 2801 family (ETA 2824).

[ramrod]

is the idea to trim out the outer circumference of the ring to fit the case?

[bobm12]

Yes, and whatever else is necessary. Those rings are fully customizable...you can get them for smaller or lager movements from different suppliers.

[clockwatcher]

what case are you looking for? anything that will hold your movement? you are very close to what would be a nice dress watch with the size of your waltham. 

 

 

Certainly a dress watch, maybe with an exhibition back to show off the Waltham's decoration. Having said that, I don't know if anyone's ever come across a diver with Roman numerals and blued hands but it might be a fun project!

[madchops67]

I look forward to seeing your results as I have a Waltham 'Seaside' grade movement with winder at 3 o'clock. The database describes it as a 6s, which translates to 35 mm (by 7 mm), from 1899. This seems like a perfect candidate for casing up as a wristwatch. It has a good enamel dial with fine Roman numerals and a sub-second dial and they made nearly 1.5 million of 'em, so spares shouldn't present any problems. Any thoughts on sourcing a case anyone?

That 6s is a perfect size for a dress watch. I have a Illonois 4s that would also be a good candidate...the dial is 33mm and the movement if I'm not mistaken is 31mm. I will definitely have to some how find a case or have one made specifically for it being it is lever set.

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[Watchtime]

Going through some older posts, I saw this....anyone finished his home made ones besides madchop?

[SteveT]

Hey this totally looks like fun, did this project ever get off the ground. Perhaps we can revive it for 2017 ?