DIY Watch Club build... What could possibly go WRONG? 

As someone just getting started with modding this video is so informative. Thank you so much

Nice video mate. Have subscribed. One thing I would do different - when it comes to putting the movement in the case, leave the movement on the cushion and lower the case onto it. Then, hold it against the cushion and flip it over. It would reduce any chance of dropping it and possibly damaging the hands 🙂

I've made a few of my own watches - none from DIY Club - & I find the best way to fit the sweeper is to pick it up with some Rodico and place it over the pinion, then press it down with a press tool. The Rodico holds it pretty well.

James, your DIY Watch Club Watch came out great! Enjoy wearing it in good health.

Thanks. I was wondering! It's beautiful!

I bought the big box with the diver 3 and a timegrapher, another kit (explorer with red dial) as there are heavy discounts). The total price for the whole material and 2 watches was pretty fair. Very good quality. A pleasure to build and since then I bought a lot of modding stuff. Of course, not everything is pefect, straps/bracelet could be better for example,, but that's a great experience and a great start for modding... I have to go, my next mod -a sort of milspec- is waiting 🙂

Nice one. I built the the DWC pilot watch kit a couple days ago. Like you that was my first venture into watch making. Really pleased with how it came out. Their instructions are great, I’ve been wearing it for four days along with an Apple Watch on my other wrist and it keeps good time with no adjustments. Second hand was a bear - took me 90 mins, in the end I did it by feel because I just couldn’t see the pinion. The aperture for the second hand tube in the minute hand is about the size of a pin and the pinion is about 1/10th. Because I was having such difficulty with this (also that kit uses a Miyota rather than a Seiko movement) I really thought that I may have damaged it. If you have a camera with a macro lens or a tripod to steady a phone take a picture Once I zoomed it in (a lot) I was able to see what I was dealing with. Holding the second hand in the tweezers or rodico and moving side to side on both x and y axis helps to get a feel for where the pinion is - as the hole in the centre of the seconds hand goes over the pinion you can feel a little “bump”. Then you can gently apply a small bit of pressure to fit. Not simple but it becomes easier. Best to have a good cup of tea, a lot of light and a quiet place. And plenty of patience :) I feel like rushing potentially leads to disaster! Thanks for letting us know you were sent the kit. I feel like being up front is good and this review is accurate.

Great job James, many thanks for sharing 👍 I've never done anything more than adjusting and changing bracelets. I would like to try one of these kits one day, but my hands are shaky, always have been, thus small precision work is difficult for me. Thank you again, and have a wonderful weekend my friend. Cheers

Well done👍! Enjoy!

I'm all about disassembling and reassembling budget watches. I would add a clear plastic over the case back while using the tool. A rubber ball is useful for case backs. Never bought finger cots (my bad). I do a lot (I mean... A LOT) of crystal changes. I'm ocd with crystals. I learned I hate flat bottom crystals! I got proficient at seconds hand installation. Done very fast. It becomes intuitive. Anyway, great video!

Nice one, I've looked at the DIY Watch Club a few times, considering whether to take the plung. Will have to take another look now.

Well done 👍🏼

Great job 👍! Waiting for the hand removal/replacement tools to arrive. Have a cracking Easter 🐣!

Good job 👍 . As long as you are methodical and have a steady hand it is usually straight forward. However, I offered to swap the dial and hands on a friends Steeldive and the second hand broke as it came off! I had to dismantle the front of the movement to remove the cannon pinion so I could get the tiny tube off the second spindle 😮

Those were some pretty smooth cuts

wow the tools all seem really nice...

Great work

Good job!!

Good job. Not sure I could handle the fumbling with the seconds hand.

In this kit that already included the case ?

I was thinking you had to build the movment as well, that's looks simple to do. Thanks for sharing 👍

Fun fact. Gmt bezels doesnt make a click sound. Only dive watch

I always found the rubber ball a much, much easier way of removing a screw down case back than a case back tool.

First off, the blue San Martin on your wrist looks spectacular, so does the finished DIY watch club piece. I'm not saying I'm an expert but I've been watching many videos on the wristwatch revival channel (excellent stuff by the way) And based on what he does you placed that springy washer providing pressure on the pinion the wrong way. The bent edges are supposed to point upwards (at 5:46).

I made my first watch (a present for my wife on our anniversary) about 6 years ago. I don't think there were any kits then and I ended up having to source all the parts individually. I was ambitious (or foolish, depending on your point of view) and based it around an ETA 2824 movement (a top grade one, at that). The parts cost me about $600, including a genuine alligator strap. Plus I had to buy the tools, as well... It didn't go too badly, although the seconds hand took me about two hours (and lots of Navy language) to fit. Having said that, I enjoyed it immensely and I wasn't put off. I've made several more since - one for each of my three children, a couple for friends and four for myself. I've started getting the parts together for one for my granddaughter, although she's far too young to appreciate it yet. Some tips for you: I always leave opening the case until after I've assembled the movement, dial and hands and I usually keep an empty yoghurt pot or two around that I can put over the movement, open case, etc. to keep dust off. The best way to mount the movement in the case, that I've found, is to put it right-way up on the cushion and then put the case on it. Then turn the whole lot upside down and the movement naturally falls into the case. Finally, other people have mentioned the rubber ball to open a case back - I wholeheartedly agree - it's much easier with that. One last thing to mention, about five months after I had made, and given my wife her watch, I saw an advert in a magazine for a company making a watch very similar to it - same case, same dial, slightly different hands, a standard grade, rather than top grade, movement and a standard leather strap. It was for sale for over $3000 - five times what I had paid.

It sure looks to me like the watch is 90% complete when you get it. Do all the gears and the heart of the watch come preassembled?

Can we get a link to your previous built video to check on the mistakes you mention?

Sehr schöne qualitativ gute Uhr, gefällt mir 🌟

I've seen this before and I would love try and do a project like this but I'm afraid I'd junk it up. I just need to grow a set and try it out. Great work. Cheers!

Impressive.........and a nightmare. Think I'll stick to letting other people build my watches. An interesting video non the less

So the reason you got a watch pad is to give you a soft area to put the watch down on instead of putting the face onto a wooden bench!

Dont see the link for the other video u said was in description

This is a pretty cool kit, I just wish I could tolerate having a watch on my wrist to get into modding watches. Jewelry irritates me to no end, watches, rings, and necklaces drive me batty having them on. Got in trouble in the army a lot for not wearing my dogtags on my neck lol

You forgot the case back gasket

Why would you get everything in a box if 80% of the fun is to source every part separately?

Shame didn’t have curved end strap…. Would’ve looked better

Hold up...the movement is already assembled?!?!

Much to the mrs disgust i call them finger johnnie's , annoys her every time. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 i lead a sad life .

Everything interesting was done off camera. Is there a reason for this?

Gain is free, please set audio levels higher. Can't get volume loud enough when the furnace blower is running.

I'd appreciate in the future if you could just omit if you got the watches or whatever, for free. It becomes a sales pitch after that. I'd like to watch in a certain level of ignorance, because if I knew you get stuff for free, then you are not like me. I gotta grind for every penny I get. And to get this kit, ai gotta work overtime/extra. And to be honest, there is a certain level of resentment. I get this is all me. I get you're honest, but I don't want to feel like a customer. You aren't the only channel that discloses that part. Thanks. I really enjoy your channel.

I don't think you made it. The movement was already put together you just assembled the main components

This is a novelty compared to really making a watch...

first rule of watch club...

Rip off tbh.

Wow. Way overpriced stuff here.