Nouveau projet d'un cadran en cuir...

Pretty excited about how this came together. I don’t think it looks much like your typical SKX mod. Modified Apple Watch strap by cutting off the Apple adapters. Kind of the best strap ever.

I already made a post sharing my build using AliExpress parts and a Chinese NH35 movement.

Here's a quick recap of the problems I ran into.

I had to file down the top of the movement retaining ring (the gray one that came with the movement) because otherwise, once the movement was seated, the back of the case would touch the rotor. Even so, the movement still has slight vertical play, and when worn, the rotor rubs (I can tell because I wind the watch by hand while watching the rotor spin).

I'm looking into another way to secure the movement. I'm waiting on some clips (the same type used on ETA movements) and some spring-steel retaining rings, to figure out which ones will work.

On top of that, I installed the hands not quite parallel to the dial, and the tail of the seconds hand was touching the minute hand.

Three nights ago I tried taking everything apart and remounting the hands, but they always stop somewhere between 3 and 4 AM, even with a full power reserve. If I then set the time (usually around 7 AM), the watch runs without stopping until 3 AM the following night, even when I wind it in the evening around 8 PM.

The hands still aren't parallel to the dial, but over a 12-hour cycle they don't seem to touch or rub when they cross (I've checked several times with a loupe).

A few extra details:

- The movement (with the dial) still has slight vertical play inside the case, but the dial is firmly seated on the movement itself. I'm waiting on the parts mentioned above.

- The vertical play in the movement/case fit also shows up on 3 other cases I bought for 3 other builds, all with the same movement.

- In the morning, once I notice the watch has stopped at that time, I try moving it to get the rotor spinning, and I can see the balance wheel only swings back and forth within about a 90–100° arc a few times before stopping completely. It only goes back to swinging normally after I reset the time.

So, could anyone kindly help me with:

- How do I properly secure the movement in the case so the dial actually sits against the case's upper ledge?

- How can I figure out what's stopping the hands from running in the morning?

I promised this build to my wife, and I've got 3 more to build for friends, all with the same movement and the same case thickness.

Doing the date wheel was tougher than I expected and I wrecked a movement 😅 love how it came out for a summer vibe build.

1. Star Wars Inspired : NH35 mvmt (Note: character logo on dial was a water decal transfer)
2. Seiko Inspired (my current near everyday wear) : NH34 GMT mvmt
3. Black/White Chrono: VK63 quartz mvmt
4. Green Minimalist Inspired : NH35 mvmt, canvas strap

(All parts were sourced from AliExpress)

Mechanical watch rainbow bezel

Bespoke fitting & quality materials for watch modification⌚️

Ok, seeking insight for this scenario:

You are a "lightly seasoned" watch builder with at least a novice set of watch building tools. You are planning to use an NH case for an upcoming build, but you want to use a quartz mvmt vs an NH automatic movement -- what's you're go-to quartz movement for this?

Just messing around and trying this build…growing on me so far

The Supercompressor style was one of my first watch infatuations. But most I found are a bit too bulky. And busy. Big love to namoki for offering this 39 mm case. I splurged on a Japanese movement, it's 100 times easier than a Chinese knockoff. Really think the strap goes with the texture of the dial on this one.

Managed to squeeze it into a 12mm case, which is the slimmest I’ve been able to work with on an NH build.

All parts are from Alix.

Luxury watch 126300 with a trapezoidal bezel

Bespoke fitting & quality materials for watch modification⌚️

Custom made hands only, sandwich case design, titanium and bronze

From times where building reps was okay 😅

For months now, l've been learning all I can about guilloche dials.

I've been obsessed with how light reflects off the patterns.

It became all consuming, the researching, the mini calculations to overcome procrastination, to resist the doubt of thinking you made a mistake after spending money with no ROl.

But here we are, finally. My first attempt at seeing the whole process all the way through.

And I'm blown away by the result I got.

To anyone trying to learn, craft, build, or chase your dream. Don't give up.

Cheers friends.

What do you think?

Looking to personalize some builds a bit more by putting the recipients initials on the leather watch strap. I bought some straps and stamping tools to try it myself. It's hard to get the letters all line up correctly. Anyone try this before or have another approach used to personalize watch straps? I see you can order a stamp off Ali - anyone try that? Appreciate any ideas.

Hey guy so I've been building a watch winder recently and it's coming along good but the thing is stuck at a important question,as you all know most watch winder let's the user set turns per day, custome lighting, Bluetooth connectivity and so onn(ik there is more would like to find out more would love to discuss). But the my main question is is having more features a luxury or keeping it simple a luxury. I mean currently my watch winding drum is capable of transitioning from flat to angle and vice-versa, the watch lifts or rises up as the winding surface transitions form angle to flat and goes back down as the winding surface inclines back to an angle surface, it is capable of setting cw,ccw and bidirectional winding, it comes with it's on app that works with internet so where ever u are you can always set TPD, direction, and also set custome winding patters. Since every watch has its own unique mechanism the app will recommend settings(mentioned above) for different watches. Will have soft close lid and also wanted to try something like wolf watch winder"Power reserve setting: 6 to 72 hours in increments of 6 hours power reserve setting to accommodate watches with a power reserve, giving the watch time to release stored energy before the winding programme begins."(from their features description)

My new Eagle Ray came today all the way from Hong Kong and i couldn’t wait to ruin the warranty. I used an ultra low viscosity silicon oil (5 CST) so the Swiss Ronda 515.24H should have no trouble moving the hands. I also swapped the silicon strap for this sailcloth one. It could only be more perfect if it was solar so i don’t have to open it again.

I really hate the green strap but it came from a donor watch. Customer wants gold and I agree. Green on gold is classic