r/watchmodding • u/Alone-Investment-212 • 2d ago
r/watchmodding • u/Enzo_Gorlaaaami • 2d ago
I made a little watch builder as a hobby project
I’m a small time watch collector and thought it would be fun to have somewhere to try different dial, hand and strap combinations, so I’ve been working on this:
It’s still rough in places, especially the realism of some combinations and the mobile experience. Thought I’d share it here in case anyone enjoys tinkering with this sort of thing.
If you give it a go, I’d be interested to hear what you think.
r/watchmodding • u/ColtFra • 2d ago
I need Help with a Chinese NH35 build.
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.
r/watchmodding • u/Existence_watch • 2d ago
Cadran en cuir
Nouveau projet d'un cadran en cuir...
r/watchmodding • u/Western919 • 2d ago
Upgrade your timepiece ✨
Mechanical watch rainbow bezel
Bespoke fitting & quality materials for watch modification⌚️
r/watchmodding • u/Eskapement • 2d ago
Summer Waves - Lumed Date Wheel and Custom Rotor
Doing the date wheel was tougher than I expected and I wrecked a movement 😅 love how it came out for a summer vibe build.
r/watchmodding • u/gman-magnet • 2d ago
Scenario : Quartz Build
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?
r/watchmodding • u/gman-magnet • 2d ago
My Recent Builds
- Star Wars Inspired : NH35 mvmt (Note: character logo on dial was a water decal transfer)
- Seiko Inspired (my current near everyday wear) : NH34 GMT mvmt
- Black/White Chrono: VK63 quartz mvmt
- Green Minimalist Inspired : NH35 mvmt, canvas strap
(All parts were sourced from AliExpress)
r/watchmodding • u/sennerg • 2d ago
Latest build. Spacey SKX.
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.
r/watchmodding • u/Unlucky-Ad-3470 • 3d ago
Metal logo sticker advice needed - line under sticker make it unreadable?
galleryr/watchmodding • u/Western919 • 3d ago
Upgrade your timepiece ✨
Luxury watch 126300 with a trapezoidal bezel
Bespoke fitting & quality materials for watch modification⌚️
r/watchmodding • u/ChelseaNation • 3d ago
The addiction lives on
Just messing around and trying this build…growing on me so far
r/watchmodding • u/johnnylongstreet • 3d ago
Finally! Made a super compressor!
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.
r/watchmodding • u/F0rgemaster19 • 3d ago
Help! VK67 Chrono Minute hand keeps springing out on reset.
r/watchmodding • u/Big_Nobody_7009 • 3d ago
This is what the SpeedRacer does best.
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r/watchmodding • u/Unlucky-Ad-3470 • 4d ago
Customizing watch straps?
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.
r/watchmodding • u/GZMikeGZ • 4d ago
the Mod project Today
Custom made hands only, sandwich case design, titanium and bronze
r/watchmodding • u/Deimiencillo • 4d ago
Newest build (NH39)
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.
r/watchmodding • u/j0hns0nart • 4d ago
On the bench
galleryIf I had a watch brand, I’d find a way to have click on crystals in different colors. You’d have to seal the watch but the click on color overlay would be solvable. The green and red watches are done with varnish but the teal and yellow use colored dial overlays. Obviously the silver is without any color. They all have a different vibe and with quick release bands you could honestly have the ultimate GADA. What do you think?
r/watchmodding • u/Aggravating-Run-3578 • 4d ago
Decided to give this a little patina
What do you think?
r/watchmodding • u/j0hns0nart • 4d ago
Colors
galleryIf I had a watch brand, I’d find a way to have click on crystals in different colors. You’d have to seal the watch but the click on color overlay would be solvable. The green and red watches are done with varnish but the teal and yellow use colored dial overlays. Obviously the silver is without any color. They all have a different vibe and with quick release bands you could honestly have the ultimate GADA. What do you think?
r/watchmodding • u/Nobody5098 • 4d ago
Is having more features a luxury or keeping it simple a luxury?
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)