I got a Makera Z1 and was playing around with it and made this not-guilloche dial on copper just to see how it performed. Copper is gummy so the finish wasn’t super clean, so I gave it a garlic patina to hide the imperfections. For a throwaway test dial, it plays with the light real nice! I’m excited to try a proper guilloche design on brass.

Hello all!

I haven't used my fibre laser in a while.

So I thought I would fire it back up and quickly design a guilloche style dial.

Not as deep engraving as I would have hoped, must leave the laser running longer for next time.

I would also like to add some colour with the previous methods I have used.

Let me know your thoughts!

Hey guys, it's me again. I tried uncoiling the hairspring thinking that it couldn't get any worse but I think I might have gotten to the point where it's ACTUALLY beyond saving. Would anyone mind taking a look and provide any insights? I don't mind if y'all have to be harsh. Thanks 🥲

Been working on engraving my own watch dials for a while now, starting as a complete newbie, and I’ve finally got this baby finished.
This is V1, so there’s plenty I already want to improve, but I’m really enjoying the process of learning, experimenting and figuring out what works.
Posting it here for some feedback and critique — don’t hold back! Interested to hear what you’d change or improve for V2.

I’m trying to replace the balance complete on an old Lady Waltham from the 1920’s; serial number 25-227909. In having trouble finding the exact movement, and I’m not sure how to tell if another one will fit. Is there a way to tell if the balance complete from another movement would be compatible with this one? Picture for reference

I see 7751 clones with one being half the price of the other but I see that the regulator arm is totally different? Is there a difference between shanghai and dandong for the 7751?

The one with etachchron is $200 and the other is half that.

Not sure if I can post links here.

Hey all! Going through some old photos and I found a guilloché dial I never posted anywhere. I wanted to share a few older tests to keep everyone up to date on how guillochage has been going on this machine before I start posting the newer stuff. (lots of progress!)

This 'dial' was made using the Straight Line Engine attachment and uses a sine wave rosette for the main area, itself phased (=offset from line to line) in a sine pattern, and a clous de Paris subdial. It was one of the better results I got out of the guilloché engine for a while, even though the surface finish is pretty awful by today's standards (it was made on the 3d printed prototype machine). Tooling and rigidity have both come a long way since, as I moved to a fully machined aluminum assembly. For those interested, that was the only solution and it made the machine much more costly. I'll post more updates very soon, the surface finish I'm getting now is about as good as it gets.

I really like how the light plays with the sine phasing, I haven't seen many patterns that look like it, that was a fun test!

I'm also adding a few other old tests that never made it to a post, some Clous de Paris, and a simple straight line pattern with and without a rosette (no phasing), so you can see the building blocks that led to the 'dial'. Again, those are really rough by today's standards.

As always let me know what you think of the pattern combo, and if there's anything else from the guilloché engine's progress you want to see / know about. Almost everything on this machine was improved by someone's feedback so I'm really down to hear what you think! 😁

Bought yesterday, it was running normally and everything seemed to work, including the day/date, but stopped a few hours later.

My watchmaker opened it and sent me this photo saying, “Rusty movement, will check tomorrow.”

Waiting for proper diagnosis, but curious what people on here make of it. Does this look reasonably salvageable?

Hello everyone

Like the title said, I have an idea for a watch made for medical personnel.

The problem is that my idea is very complicated and has to make.

How should I go about it? Are there any programs to pitch the idea to a menufacturer?

I made this watch for someone close. It’s built around a core memory: the feeling of a safe haven in a steamed-up bathroom as a kid, watching condensation run down the shower glass, a parent close by.
There was such a beautiful contrast in that memory, with such a sterile room providing that much warmth.
The dial’s built in layers: a translucent base for rigidity, with a milky parchment paper layer on top with the Roman numerals cut out. The parchment paper gives a nice texture and turns semi-transparent under the right light. I’ve added actual UV resin droplets for the condensation effect (raised, not printed, so they catch light like real drops). You can see a bit of the NH70 movement in the cutout numerals and through the parchment paper if you look closely.
Took a couple of rounds to get the mist right, first attempt was way too busy, scrapped most of it for something calmer. Less focus on recreating condensation on shower glass, more on the feeling and contrast of that memory.
Called it “Geborgenheid”, a Dutch word for that specific feeling of safety/warmth. Doesn’t translate cleanly to English, but that’s the vibe.

Alright, this is likely a dumb idea but why not? I have a piece of the old body panels from my dad's first car and I wanted to turn it into a watch, specifically the portion with the mosquito in it. It's a long story but that mosquito was part of the car since 1973 when it was repainted. The old man got it redone last year and I wanted to keep that, just because I always thought it was a piece of character in the car. Then I saw someone on Instagram who takes random stuff and makes watches out of them and I thought maybe that would be prefect. I know it won't be easy as I'm sanding down my test piece but how would y'all go about this? For reference, the watch is what I plan to use as my starting point, then the strap resembles the interior of the car, and the chapter ring is just so I don't need to put indicies on the dial. Dumb idea or is it something that I can do? Also what is the easiest way to get it round? Any advice?

Hi all I’m new to watch making, my main spring keeps getting stuck, at first I thought it was magnetism but the demagnetizer doesn’t seem to have an effect. This looks like it might be a lube issue on the jewel or something related? Any help is appreciated. This is a gmt movement. I’ve had to disassemble before because of a stick hair and reassembled I believe well enough. Just having this issue now.

Edit: not sure what it was but it all seems to be working fine now after taking it apart down to the train wheels and escape wheel, then reassembling it all. I appreciate all the help!

Hello! Im replacing the hands on this watch and I want to color match the hands with the markers on the dial, it does not have to be perfect, just a tiny bit better. Does anyone have any advice on what route to go? Coffee stain, oven, etc.

The dial is more of a yellow tone while the hands are towards the orange tones.

Thank you so much in advance.

I bought a used SKX, and the lume pip is missing.

Can anyone tell me if it's an insert, or if I can just buy/apply the right type of paint?

I want to keep the watch original, as it's from our son's birth year and will be his some day, so a replacement insert is not an option.

Any help appreciated, thank you.

I’ve bought a Citizen Leopard (4-770072-K) to fix. It runs really well, but the glass crystal is all marred and chipped. Unfortunately, I can’t find the replacement part (#54-60301) available anywhere online.

It’s a flat-top mineral glass with a steep beveled edge that rises 2-3mm above the bezel. Unfortunately, most new glass crystals are flat that sit flush with the bezel.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Hi all, looking for help with sourcing a watch case back nylon I-ring, or whatever. My lumibrite military need a new one and I dont know what to get or where to get it. Can anyone help me out with any information please? I have attached some pictures. The old nylon gasket ring looks flattened out in a place, Is this normal? It strikes me as not normal as it would prevent the back sitting flush to the body, but I dont know.

Hi folks.
I usually work on pocket watches, but just got this wee guy: called a Brevete officer’s small alarm clock, I think - but the mechanism is more like a pocket watch (and the case is just under 5cms).
I’ve removed the hands, except for the alarm indicator bi figure it should be fried fit, but gentle effort hasn’t been successful. And as the hand removers are sitting on the face (with shield), i don’t want to apply pressure. Many thoughts?
And if you’ve worked on this sort of mechanism before, any suggestions on where to start with disassembly? Any ‘surprises’ to watch out for?
Thanks.

Thompson Transparent 2660 “Nitric Blue” over silver foil

Day 30 of the 30-Day Challenge ‼️

Wow we made it!! I can’t believe it. I plan on doing a full write up soon on my reflections of the challenge.

For the last day I wanted to try something different from everything else! This was my first time doing transparent over foil and wow the results speak for themselves, it’s beautiful!

Unfortunately, I am ending on a (minor) sad note as on the last fire of the dial it got stuck to the trivet and ruined 😩 Fortunately I got pictures as I went…

I’m planning on keeping this trivet with the dial stuck to it as it is as a sort of trophy / reminder of my first 30 day challenge and how anything can go wrong at any time.

Thank you to everyone who has supported and followed along. I’ve loved all the comments and questions!

More to come!

(Another bonus last pic of my enamel shelf, it’s pretty much full thanks to the challenge!)

Figured you all might appreciate this. I've been working on this case for the last couple months. Just put the straps on for the first time! Really satisfying for it to start coming together! It's shiny enough that the camera really struggles to get decent pictures. It's machined from 17-4PH stainless.

Hello everyone!

I live in the United States and have been avidly fixing vintage watches as a hobby for a while now. I began wondering why I hadn’t considered joining the industry.

As I did my research I noticed many of the larger brands require WOSTEP and other licenses and certificates.

Is apprenticeship in the United States no longer a viable way to become a watchmaker? Do I absolutely have to travel to another state or country to attend one of the schools?

Any suggestions would be great! Thanks.

Hey,
does anybody know of a good lacquer to coat a dial that I am making with? preferably the lacquer comes in a spray bottle, I don’t have an airbrush.

How is it? And how does it compare to a witschi proofmaster? Any experiences? Thanks.

Thompson enamel 1840 “Sunset Orange”

Thompson enamel 1960 “Blue Grey”

Second to last day of the challenge and we get a twofer! It’s hard to believe tomorrow is the last day!