DIY Watch Club

[Dan_1981]

Anyone seen this?

https://shop.diywatch.club/

Interested in getting into the modding / building scene & this seems like a decent way in.

At least with this I can be certain the parts are meant to fit together, which I can't be certain if I source everythign myself

Price wise it doesn't seema million miles away from buying the separate components yourself - the Dive watch version seems to come in at about £250

Could be an interesting way to spend a couple of hours...

Anyone tried it?

[GregorFuk]

Bit of a stretch calling it a watch making kit. A bit like supplying your new car with the wheels strapped to a pallet and calling it a kit car.

[h0b0]

Yeah, that's more Ikea furniture than Norm Abram style building.

[Dan_1981]

I wasn't expecting to have to build a movement from scratch but looking at it, you're still having to fit hands, dial, stem, bezel insert etc, the bits missing seem to be having to press the crystal, and maybe fit the actual bezel.

Thought it may be of interest to some, i'm certainly tempted to give it ago.

[Bumblebee7]

I like it, I think it's a great gift for someone. Nice place to start.

[Dan_1981]

Took a punt on this as I didn't trust myself to source everything from scratch and get it all right.

This is by no means build a watch from scratch but it's a nice little kit to bolt the pieces together...

So it arrived from Hong Kong with a nasty tax / import bill which wasn't the greatest start but was kinda expected...




Nicly packaged and we'll presented.





You get a bunch of tools, and all the components that need assembly... Hands, movement, case, bezel, bezel insert, gasket, strap, case back.



The website is set up with some decent step by step videos showing you exactly what to do. It's all pretty straight forward with a couple of fiddly bits. Stem removal / reinserting, dial fitting and the most frustrating but satisfying bit when you get it right, fitting the hands. Second hand in particular was very fiddly.

Some pictures...












Finished article...









Overall an interesting way to spend a couple of hours on a wet windy Saturday evening.

Quality of the kit is high & surprised me.

Finished watch is actually very nice and I'll be happy to wear it knowing I actually put it together.

[Greendubber]

That's awesome, good work!

[r159]

It’s very easy to deride something like this. But if it gives you a flavour and confidence to have a go at getting the bits together yourself then it’s

Sometimes I think people won’t be happy unless you started with a lump of metal, bag of sand, crude oil and depending on the strap a cow.

Edited by r159 on Sunday 4th October 11:50

[Spydaman]

Thanks OP. That's my 60th birthday present from my Wife sorted.

Edited by Spydaman on Sunday 4th October 14:41

[sealtt]

That’s quite fun and a great gift idea too.

[TeamD]

That looks like fun, I'm very tempted to have a go

[Spydaman]

Mine arrived a few days after ordering so no time to have second thoughts. I just need to wait until my 60th in December before I can build it. I think I'll get one for my Son for his 30th which was in September.

[FuryV6]

I'm with r159, some of the early comments really annoyed me, the guys just starting out in the word of watches, and all they try and do is piss on his chips.

Well done Dan_1981, looks very smart, just the kind of project to get you properly hooked, and you've got a nice selection of tools to boot.

[AJB88]

Really like the idea! shame they dont do a kids version.

[Dan_1981]

FuryV6 said:

I'm with r159, some of the early comments really annoyed me, the guys just starting out in the word of watches, and all they try and do is piss on his chips.

Well done Dan_1981, looks very smart, just the kind of project to get you properly hooked, and you've got a nice selection of tools to boot.

Oh don't get me wrong - I went into this under no illusions that i'd be going at it from scratch - but I mean seriously how many people when they say they're into watch modifications actually put their own movement together?!

It all stemmed from some of the stuff you & some of the other users on here were putting together, I wanted a white faced diver, and found Custom Seiko's doing them but didn't want to spend £400 on one, and then started playing with the idea of doing my own.

Putting a list of parts together & buying tools all with zero experience was a little daunting, this was a great way into it.

The little videos that came with it made it all very simple, and yes I could find similar guides online but again the convenience of having it all as one package just helped.

It's not a particularly lengthy project - I completed it in a couple of hours one evening, but the product at the end is well worth while & the quality is really impressive. I guess the fact that i've not had it off my wrist for a week is quite telling... I usually shuffle through the watch box daily.

From a cost point of view I don't think I could have bought the components for much different to the price of the kit, especially needing tools etc on top. I think the only stage that's missing that i'd need to do / buy a tool for if I was to do my own build would be the crystal insertion, so would need a press of some sort.

So scratch itched, I now know I can stick some components together..... best get designing that white faced diver I actually wanted in the first place

[r159]

The cheap eBay presses work fine, also handy for putting on press in case backs.

[Troubleatmill]

I love it.

The only complaint I have is that ( and someone may point out that it isn't an issue ) is if someone sells it on.

Because it is a "Dive watch" - the delivered face is "Water resistant" - but you can buy Seiko faces to fit that are 100M, 200M resistant.
Hopefully the bezel doesn't turn.

But - I can see this filling a lazy Sunday afternoon.

I think I need a loupe.

[Dan_1981]

The bezel does rotate...

And it comes with a loupe!