Mechanical Watch Build

I've avoided projects thus far, but have bought a few pre modified Seikos which I've enjoyed. I'm mostly a Seiko nerd.

alfadriver wrote: Thanks to this thread, I realized that I can replace the movement in an old watch that means a lot to me, but has only worked for a short while. I'm thinking that I'd like to change it from the quartz movement to a mechanical one. Since the watch is fairly useless as it is, I can at least take it apart (as little as I can get away with) and make some measurements. Not sure what will fit in the case- but I'd be ok with a basic winding watch. Need to get some basic tools, it appears. It's the face that's the important part.

As a follow up to myself- I've actually done some work. I'll take some pictures later, but I can describe what I'm doing...

The watch is an old Seiko that my parents got for me when graduating from Idaho- one of the logo watches. Every college seems to have them. I wore mine a lot, but quickly found out that it was not a very good watch in terms of being water resistant. In less than a year, it was common to see moisture inside of it. In less than 2- it stopped, and I got to send it back to change the crystal due to the corrosion. They didn't do a good job, as in less than 2 years more, it stopped again, and was corroded to the point of not bothering.

That was 1994 when I last wore it.

Then this thread comes along.

I managed to get it apart- and of course, it's a thin, but cheap, quartz watch. I don't want the same thing again, so I looked into a mechanical movement. I had no idea one could get them before this thread.

Being a 11.5 linge, not a big size, nor a hard thing to find.

My first thought was to fit a movement into the case that I have already. More on that later- as I found some other options.

Second thought- a second case- and the ETA movement 2824 fit the bill quite nicely. More important, there are cheap Chinese knockoffs that I can use for this cheap watch. Now don't get on that too much- I've not decided whether I should make this a nice watch or a cheap watch. The Otto Frei cost is $239, whereas I can get the Seagull knock off for $55. Then I need to find a case. What's interesting there is that I found almost an exact copy of the Seiko case/band- so this is very much in play.

Then I thought again, maybe there's a movement I can actually fit in that spot. Took some measurements, and found that I have about 3.8mm of space. Ok. And there is a movement that will fit- the ETA 2892. Being essentially the same as the 2824 except for being a lot thinner- it's over $100 more from Otto Frei, and actually $70 more from Seagull.

This sounds like an interesting option, except when one considers that I'm using a case that leaks. Not sure if it's smart to invest in that kind of movement to only have it suffer the same fate as the original quartz. And I'm not sure if it would actually fit.

But chasing that path a little found some interesting options. There are more than one used 2892 movements out there- and they are pretty reasonable. While they are used in some very high end watches (as well as the Swiss knock offs in even higher end), there are some moderate ones that a working movement would be ~$100. Hmmm...

And this is where I found an interesting tidbit. Some of the knock offs are being "accused" of copying a Seiko movement instead of the ETA one. Huh? Turns out Seiko did a thin movement, too.

So, here's where I stand.

The exact same case I want is in limbo, as the Ebay guy is out for a while. So in the mean time, I'm looking to see if a Seiko 4L25 or 4L75 movement comes up on Ebay. It would be cool to use OEM parts- and that would prompt me to have the case properly restored.

If that does not work out, I'll go with the 2824 movement+ copy case, and just carry over the face.

Interesting to do the research, that's for sure. Seems like I'll need to get some tools.

Nice watches. I have a few Fossil watches my wife has given to me over the years. They all have been limited run ones that have special faces that matched that time in our lives.

I looked into sending them back to Fossil to get them repaired. Cost wasn't the issue but the fine little print I actually read stated that if the watch in question was unrepairable or a specialty watch they would keep it and send me a voucher for the cost to purchase another one.

That was Not acceptable to me so they just sit in a box. Now I come across this and I see what is out there. Looks like I'll be setting up a watch repair desk and be fixing my watches.

Awesome thread, I'm a big watch fan, I've always wanted to try this.

welp, just placed an order for (3) NH36 movements (seiko 4r36). Down the rabbit hole!

many parts, orders, and tooo much $$$ later.. I'm almost ready to assemble. I have an idea for engraving on the dials that I need to see about, first. I'm going to end up with (3) 4r36 movements in matching skx007 cases w/ modified matching case internals, but unique bezels and bands.

Bumping this thread, because I picked up my first automatic watch on impulse today. Like that I'm wearing a machine on my wrist.

What is it? I've gotten most of my close friends at least interested enough to have something mechanical as their daily wear. One went off the deep end with me.

I've had about three different Seagull movements, and if I keep them bone dry, two seem to chug along just fine and stay regulated pretty well, whereas the one I showered & swam with in a 30 foot/water resist case bit it after 3 years.

Also, I can get a replacement Seagull for like 35% of the cost of getting an ETA lubed and freshened up every few years, which is something they need periodically or else they eventually grind to a halt and need repair at costs often high enough that a watchmaker will tell you to just swap it out.

But it's kind of like comparing a Mazda 3-speed to a BMW 2 series. Ferris Bueller recommends picking up the ETA, if you have the means.

turtl631 wrote: What is it? I've gotten most of my close friends at least interested enough to have something mechanical as their daily wear. One went off the deep end with me.

Tissot Le Locle Chronometre. Picked it up for about half of the internet going price from a Saks that was closing down. I was in Watch Heaven when I visited Switzerland earlier this year - Tissot was the only marque with anything approaching my price range, hah.