Top products from r/WatchHorology

I'll take your downvotes, you people who didn't even bother to respond.

Here's a copy/paste of my previous responses, which were generally well received.

You'll need to grasp the basics first, and there is nothing more fundamental to a mechanical wristwatch than the escapement. It's a bit technical, but I highly recommend The Watch Escapement by Henry Fried. It's a bargain under 20 dollars, though I have seen it for less on occasion.

For just about everything else, I highly recommend Watchmaking by George Daniels I know it seems pricy at 60 bucks, but I assure you that it is a tome well worth having. Daniels was and is, in my interactions with other watchmakers, considered a bit of a controversial genius.

Now, as for non-print learning media, The Watch Repair Channel is pretty great for repair instruction on vintage and modern watches as well as basic education on the parts and functioning of mechanical watches in general. As far as the artistry goes, I highly recommend both R. W. Smith's Channel ( He was apprenticed to George Daniels. ), and Steffen Pahlow's Channel, as both are master craftsmen in their own right.

Start with this video. It should give you a basic understanding. "How a watch works" presented by the Hamilton Watch Company. I don't recommend getting the Daniels' book until later. Rather, you should probably start with something like [this. This is part of the Joseph Bulova School of Watchmaking training manual]

The thing Theory of Horology has over the others is that it is the most straightforward in presenting formulas for the various physics and mechanics at work in a watch. If you are a skilled mechanical engineer then it has what you would need to design a theoretical movement, but it does not really provide practical information about watchmaking and repair. If you're not a skilled engineer, then it's far less valuable and I know I've seen at least some of the equations in it presented elsewhere but not quite as condensed. If you're still interested in it I wish you luck finding it (I think I got the last copy on the internet) as it's a nice looking book, but by no means a necessary textbook.

It's not quite a textbook but I'm currently really enjoying Chronograph: Wristwatches to Stop Time as it has some pretty detailed history of chronographs as well as some great illustrations and photos of a wide array of chronograph movements.

Timezone Watch School is a start.

That, plus George Daniels 'Watchmakimg' would be a good start if you want to go the DIY route.

Look up Roland Murphy, Keaton Myrick, and anyone from the AHCI for inspiration.

If you want to go to a proper school, Lititz Technicum, IOSW in Dallas, OSU's program, North Seattle Community College, and Paris Texas are all programs to look into (though they focus more on repair as opposed to fabrication).


Good luck!

I recommend doing a bit of research on George Daniels if you've never heard of him. His book is a bit expensive, but Daniels was known for constructing entire watches by himself, and was respected as one of the best in the world. His book basically explains how to build a watch from scratch. However, to my knowledge he only worked with wristwatches.

Something like this? along with this case closer?

I found a crystal holder as well. Now I just need to find a 19mm leather band (in whatever color he wants) and a replacement battery. Looking at it closely, there is some kind of white paint scuff on it and possibly a rust spot on the side of the case behind the crystal. So I'll have to get at that with a tube of PolyWatch right?

Your input is very much appreciated. Thanks so much!

Sounds like it just needs a servicing, which will most likely run $200 or so, plus a new crystal.

Use this link:

https://members.awci.com/AWCIWEB/AWCISearch/MemberSearch.aspx

to find watchmakers in your area to take it to.

Any watch with sentimental value is always worth repairing to me.

Antique pocket watches make great desk clocks in one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Plymor-Brand-Ornament-Display-Walnut/dp/B006XIQR14/

I have an antique Omega in mine right now, but I switch them out often as they sell. Winding it every morning is a nice ritual.

Go ahead and open it, take a look. Save yourself some money though and buy an 8 dollar friction ball. Works like a charm. https://www.amazon.com/Friction-Ball-Watch-Case-Opener/dp/B0058EDAUA

Wow, didn't know that!

https://www.amazon.com/Bulova-96B229-Analog-Display-Japanese/dp/B00TQHEA4U#productDescription_secondary_view_div_1466021521441

Any sense of battery life?

excellent book by the world famous watchmaker George Daniels: Watchmaking

Maybe those bottles were an old offering from Moebius, but I'm not 100% on that? The new 1mL bottles are clear with a black cap.
But, you could just buy your own 1ml bottles here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ILCCUN4/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_KiyJDb3J2GG92

Edit: spelling

Appliance repairman/ amateur watch hobbyists here. Only oil at my parts house is zoom spout turbine oil. One of these 4 oz bottles last me two to three years. Honestly, a watchmaker probably uses more oil than we do!

https://www.amazon.com/SUPCO-GIDDS-461354-Zoom-Spout-Turbine/dp/B008MG3T1Q

[How about a nice Watch Loupe?] (http://www.amazon.com/Bausch-Lomb-Watchmaker-Loupe-10x/dp/B000LDG2HQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1416541587&sr=1-1&keywords=watch+loupe)

Oh, and if you're in the USA, it is available in Laboratory grade purity on Amazon in various sizes!

https://www.amazon.com/Tetrachloroethylene-500ml-16oz-Purity-Solvent/dp/B00HUS5474

I haven't read it myself, but judging from the reviews, this may be the sort of thing you're after:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1456451650/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1483203754&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=watchmaking+book&dpPl=1&dpID=41aIcUE%2BAoL&ref=plSrch

Watchmaking https://www.amazon.com/dp/0856677043/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_zy96AbKN8XGKW

You're going to need this: https://www.amazon.com/Watchmaking-George-Daniels/dp/0856677043

Amazon Link

Seiko Men's SGF204 Stainless Steel Two-Tone Watch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00068TK70/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fyunzbRMT38RJ

http://www.amazon.com/Watchmaking-George-Daniels/dp/0856677043/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415374238&sr=8-1&keywords=watchmaking

Also note how watches (especially seiko) look an awful lot different in their amazon pictures than they do in proper pictures/real life - take for example, how "meh" the new presage cocktail time looks on its amazon listing (note how the watch looks wildly different in the first image compared to the latter ones) and then compare that to how gorgeous the watch looks in this recent Hodinkee article - basically what I'm trying to say is, the two watches you've linked are probably just the same model of watch produced in different places, and you've gotten confused and thought there were actual differences between the two due to Seiko's notoriously confusing product naming