I Built a Vintage Pilots Watch from AliExpress 

I've gotta be completely honest with you bro. Ive never cared, even a little bit, about making watches. But seeing your videos on the subject has given me a renewed zest into the matter. So here we are. We've come from the best of the best of GBA games and hardware mods, to making watches. As far as I'm concerned, that's about as full circle as it gets.

The nh38 is the equivalent of nh35 but with no date. Next project keep in mind this. Really lovely job!

I can just binge watch videos of him building watches. I need more ASAP these are so addicting to watch!

It seems that you have been severely bitten by the watch bug. There is no antidote and no turning back, watch addiction is as strong as any other... Just two words for you, now that you're fully into watch building: "open heart". Building and using your own open heart watch is even more satisfying than the ones with regular dials, there is something about seeing the thing alive and beating every time you look into it that is difficult to describe in words. Thanks for sharing your content, in particular your watch-related content

Mate, since I last commented on your watch builds, I've built two and got parts for a gmt and a pilots watch on order, thanks to you 😂😂😂 P.s. don't bend and twist the extra feet off the dial. If your not careful, you can deform the dial

I just wanna say your videos gave me the courage to start building my own watches.

Watches are so delicate and intricately designed, so I have intense respect and admiration for MaMaCoo watch makers

3 things (some of these are for viewers who are looking to do this themselves, as you're making it look easier than it may be): (1) Measure the part you need to cut off the stem twice (or more). (2) Cut the stem a little bit shorter than the measured distance, as you can file away the burrs and shorten it to the correct length later. That's just in case you measured wrong, you slip, etc. That tiny buffer can mean the difference between a workable stem and one you have to throw out. (3) You are pretty good at setting the seconds hand, especially if you've only done a few of these. For simple assemblies, as opposed to say complete movement assemblies, the seconds hand is notorious for being the most difficult part of putting together a watch (as a basic build like you do in your video).

You should have a look at making a skeleton watch with the NH70-72 movements (depending on your colour preference), if you're interested in the look of them. Loving this watch building series and a skeleton watch would be a great addition to your growing collection!

It's great to see someone doing videos like this again. I used to enjoy the snk007 mod videos from a few years ago and really miss them. What's old is new again. Great job.

I just made my own watch from aliexpress!! In the same style as your black vintage seiko you made 3 months ago.

Man your vids have sucked me in. Ive ordered parts for 2 builds so far and a buttload of watch repair tools. Still waiting for everything to arrive but super stoked. Love to see your enthusiasm with your builds 😊

The ghost (?) date mechanism means you shouldn't adjust the time backward if it's within two hours of midnight, or you might break something in the date part of the mechanism. Adjust the time until the date clicks over before putting the dial and hands on, so you know when it's midnight.

got my 39mm with the white dial on the 3-link "Bader" bracelet watch on mamacoo 3 weeks ago and am loving it to pieces. Absolute fantastic watch that wears super comfortable on my 6.75 inch wrist. Chose the 3-link over the 5-link bracelet for the toolless quick adjustment. Way more comfortable than my Longines Hydroconquest 41 mm.

4:01 Maybe try nail clippers? Never done it, just a suggestion. Also your watch videos are brilliant, keep up the good work!

I really enjoy your enthusiastic approach to watch building and the fact you don't edit out all the fumbling about that happens. One thing I noted is when you blew the filings from the back of the dial it was very close to the uncovered movement, I cringed a little. Keep up the good work.

Hello mate! I am from Brazil and have been passionate about the world of watches since I was a child. Recently, I found myself even more interested, researching great brands and so on. However, one great frustration of being passionate about watches is not having the money to buy them. A few days ago, I watched your videos assembling your own watches, and your excitement motivated me so much that I have already bought parts to build my first project. I must thank you for introducing me to this world of DIY watches, because to be honest, I feel much more excited about owning a watch that has meaning to me than one that is important just because it is expensive, etc. Anyway, thank you very much and keep it up, you are amazing! P.S. My project will be very unique and sentimental to me. When I finish it, I will definitely send you photos of it completed.

Really has that Hamilton and IWC vibe. Amazing !!!

You've got to look into building a skeleton watch with an NH70 or NH72 movement. Super easy to build since there would be no dial.

Hey man! Straps link is redirecting to the hands.

Alright, another watch! 🙌🏻

Dude grew up watching the QVC channel 😂😂😂 Looks great, I'd say its more field, than pilots watch though.

All my parts are on the way, these videos have been a big help and inspiration ✌

These watch building videos are 10/10!!

It looks amazing!

You inspired me to do one ! I am still waiting on a custom dial and I am throwing myself under the bus !

that bigger case could look very cool with some deep chapter rings, which i dont think youve used on any builds so far. theyre sort of an ornamental depth border or an additional horizontal border which can have additional spots for lumes and things Your videos inspired me and im super happy that I just got the email saying my parts now have a US tracking number so they'll be here any day

Don't forget to grease the o-rings that are on the crown as well. Just to make sure it is as waterproof as possible.

I haven’t built my own first watch yet (have a bunch of parts lists in the works though so it’ll happen soon) and I have to say your excitement is infectious, I love how excited you get

I have a green dial version of this exact watch on right now and I love the designs of them. Only difference between the build and mine is it has 200 meters of water resistance and I don’t know about that ones but probably had the same

I am going to build this watch! Thanks Elliot.

That is a gorgeous watch. I'll never get why people pay thousands for a watch, looking at this.

Keep the watch videos coming! You've earnt a new subscriber. The next step is delving in the the servicing of automatic movements. These clone movements often come bone dry from the factory which isn't good for the longevity of them. Time regulation is also worth learning.

I would rather to name it a field watch. but a site of that it looks great. Grats

Love the channel man! You inspire me to want to make my own custom watches. Keep on building!

Keep these videos pumping, I absolutely love them

I've been waiting for this since you mentioned it in the last video!

For Pilot's Watches I use the NH38 Movement, it doesn't have the date to worry about.

Mate, I've just built a pilot's watch with the same dial!!! My only issue has been with the hands: even though they were said to be right for the movement (NH38, the one without the date disk) the hour one went on easily, but I had to file the minutes hand's hole, while the seconds hand wasn't just right (and too tiny to work on it). So, I'm now in doubt if buy another set of hands and try to put the seconds one on or leave it as it is, since it's incredibly precise... 🤔

awesome mate congrats

Love your channel. Please take a minute or two and give us a LUME shot of your watches after you build them

Just beautiful.

Depending on the case and the thickness of the strap you can get away with a actual accurate (to Air Force issued watches) single pass nato strap

I would definitely buy that from you, you do an amazing job!

Damn these watch builds videos are great. Good choice on the case. 👍🏻

More!! We want more!!

Loving the video but it's time to start kicking things up a notch. Practice things like filling the case so the edges aren't too rough then polishing it up. Or screen printing a custom logo to the watch face. Keep increasing those watch skills!

I love the evolution of your channel! From Nintendo to custom watch building. Keep it up!

Great video. You should consider putting blue thread lock on the stem to affix the crown more securely. It should give you some more reliability if you end up using that build a lot. And blue not red, red stuff will cause more problems than it solves. 🖖🏽

These videos have convinced me I need to take my smart watch off a few days a week and go back to analog.. just because.

NH38 is the dateless one.

you beat me to it !!! good build.

Really enjoyed watching.

So you made a Tandorio watch basically 😂 love it 🎉

Thank you for making high quality videos!Love mamacoo ’s watches

You definitely own watches if you play gameboy, so this fits very well :)

As others have already said this is more a field watch and less a pilot's. If anyone's into this style you can geek out searching for dirty dozen field watches...now when we'll see Seiko mods? Because we all know that's where this will take us 😉

I will be honest: it does not bother me the turn to watch this channel is currently doing

Great video, actually that has turned into a beautiful watch

i love your excitement my man! ❤👍

if you dont have calipers for measure the stem.... I found using a mechanic pencil works great as a ghetto alternative. just tick the graphite out to make the measurement

Hi Elliot love your video. Requesting you to make a dress watch with manual wind movement (not automatic) with leather strap to make a pure vintage vibe.

I already have a hamilton khaki field...but this is tempting even though it looks similar...

Should check out the marine nationale straps bro, super comfortable and not as bulky as a Nato

……love these watch build vids Elliot 👍 great taste. I’m getting ready to dive in 🍻 cheers

May I suggest purchasing a Pen vice for using on the stem instead of a tweezer. Better tool to hold the stem to screw on the crown.

Elliot's third channel "Elliot's Hours" when?

I legitimately have everything wishlisted to make my own sometimes soon 😂. Absolutely LOVE these videos.

that GMT you put together looks fucking beautiful on wrist

i need more of these videos

Absolutely love these..can you specify the sizes on the links you do for the parts? Thank you and keep these builds going..love them

you needed a NH36 movment for this build. but the 35 works aswell

Just an FYI, next time you look for a no-date movement, search for NH38. Great watch!

I have been waiting for another watch making video 👍👍👍👍👍

love thes video's!!!!!!!

Nail clippers are best imo for snipping dial feet off.

great video

Remember when Elliot made retro gaming content? Good times

I didn’t even know you can make your own watches I’m definitely gonna look into that

A bit unrelated but I was gifted a Michael Kors watch a few years back and I love the fact that it has independent timer dials on the face. Not a feature I see all that often, but I'm not a watch nerd. Maybe it has become obsolete due to how easy it is to time things using phones? I also want a Seiko because of you, Elliot! :P

Super nice. But surely it resembles more of a field than a pilot watch?

Elliot, love what you do and would love to build my own pilots watch, could you share a build list and any Ali express numbers as I find trying to get a kit daunting?

Can you please provide us with a video on how you find parts? I’m struggling with finding parts for my first build, a guide on how you do it would be appreciated❤

Naughty...lol. Thank you for another great video.

The Broad Arrow is actually an Omega Watches trademark. I know of a small UK company that had a legal battle with Omega over it. Omega won because they had very big pockets.

Is it actually glow in the dark or is it just pretending to have the glow in the dark markings?

This is much closer in appearance and features to a field watch than it is to a pilots watch. Requirements of a pilots watch = oversized dial ❌, oversized crown ❌. Requirements of a military field watch = arabic numerals at indices ✅, simple non-oversized dial so as to not reflect too much light ✅. In fact, this watch looks nearly identical to many classic field watch designs, including the green nylon NATO style strap.

i do not like Pilots, but, my congrats, that's good job!

as i said in your previous video, i feel like it would probably easier for you to have a much lower chair/much higher desk (that is the setup most watchmaker use) other than that great job

Great build. Is this the 36mm or 39mm case?

Looks fire! I wanted to ask, how do you know whether the parts will fit?

So can you build or get different types of movements from Aliexpress?

I'm about to a very similar build, just need to figure out which dial posts to clip.

Awesome video !!!! What size case did you use ? The 39mm or the 36mm ? I ask because I have a small wrist and am concerned about the lug to lug length that i don't see listed in the description of the case. And the deflated ball, where did you source that from ? Thanks

Make more videos like these

The link for the strap points to the dial hands. Can you please provide the correct link for the strap. Watch looks great

Aliexpress and me have fallen out, got ripped off badly by one of their sellers over a Chinese Seagull chronograph but have decided to repurpose the quartz pile of junk by buying a VK64 2 register movement and will fit that instead of the $3 junk movement. The VK chrono's are actually miniaturised Valjoux mechanisms and actually mechanical chronographs with true flyback and whilst its not a true mech chrono its very close and will be pretty cool :)

How about putting tape on that movement holders inside lip that way it shouldn't scratch the dial.

Buy the Seiko NH38

love your videos, thanks to you I made my first watch. Do you know maybe how can I put on my own logo?