How To Buy a Watch to Repair: A Beginners Guide

You've earned my subscription, sir. What is your take on Caliber Corner's Workhorse movement listing? ("what-is-a-workhorse-movement"). How would you rate from "Most Beginner friendly" to least (complexity vs expense vs experience gained by working on it). I take it you prefer the NH35 as the first. But, what would you recommend next, coach? Just curious... VIDEO IDEA? Thanks for your help!

Another great video. So helpful.

I'm just proud to have been able to open the case and change the battery on a Pulsar that I've had sitting in a drawer for 40 years. It was a high school graduation gift from my cousins. Once the battery died, I put it aside. Now I can do it myself. YEA. I AM starting to collect a few watches and movements to learn how to do service. I have my grandfathers Hamilton automatic that I'd like to get in to. It'll run for a few seconds and then stop. I figure it's going to be gummed up with old oils or maybe even a tired mainspring. I haven't even figured out how to get the back cover off, so no danger of messing anything up yet.

I went address

I'm so glad I found this channel.

You convinced me. I'm going to buy a micrscope and build my own Frankenstein Diver.

1111

I know I've seen one video about microscopes, but yes, I'd definitely like to know more. I was dismayed to discover a watch I just got off eBay in "non working" order (the seller was honest) turned out to be... completely hosed hairspring. I'm trying to source another movement for parts, but everything I've found is going for more than what I paid for this one, and appear to be "working".

Another very helpful video - many thanks. The watch you're wearing in this one kept catching my eye - wondered what it is?

Hi Alex..
Love you channel and I’ve learn a lot!!
I build my watch ,, the moment I screw the back, the date adjustment stops turning !!! A few threads and it does not work. I had to file down the plastic adapter.
Any advice?

Oh boy, just bought a quartz watch with a broken crown and a pocket watch from the early 1900's and then watched this video. Learning pains.

Excellent video and channel thanks 🙏🏻

Awesome advice. I've been learning on the fhf96 types, cheap and plentiful. Will move up to Seiko soon. What about citizen? I see plenty for sale...

Thank you so much for these videos. I really love watches and am toying with the idea of getting into the hobby of servicing personal watches for fun.

Thank you for this channel! It's excellent! So helpful!

You are soo right, thanks!!

Enjoying all the videos! I've jumped into American pocket watches and have taken one apart and put it back together and got it to run. I'm still learning about cleaning and servicing and need to practice that before I'm ready to get into wristwatches. I didn't have any idea about the Seiko NH36 but that's a great tip. I am going to set a goal of assembling one of those and adding it to my collection.

Alex,today I came across this video and found your explanations and down to earth suggestion extremely interesting. I agree that the whole Watch tinkering and repairing for us amateurs is greatly depending on seeing what you are doing. So next tool purchase of mine might be a microscope. Look forward to your advice on such a matter and will start exploring your channel to see if I can find any related video. Keep on doing the great work. P

What watch are you wearing in the video?

I'm 100% sold on improving a nh35 movement to start, and building a watch around it. Fantastic idea for a first project!

Thank you very much for making this video!

How about a video on your shop layout, tools you use and have?

Thank you Alex! I totally agree with all your advices, because I’ve done this way by myself this year. Cases - the great advice! I like stainless steel cases - it’s easy to return them in a good shape. I started to gain skills using 198-1990 USSR watches - we have a lot of them in Ukraine. And they are extremely cheap ( 1-10 dollars). Then I raised the bar - and next level is Orient watches with 46941 , 46943 movements and Seiko 70XX. Next level need more investments. The time hasnt come … yet )

Sage advice

So my first project watch was a Timex 4047 3164 with (what I believe) is an M31 movement. Might be M32, but I have exactly 2 weeks of watchmaking experience, so who knows.

Bought your 7 tools on Amazon, plus a few other things I saw you using on other videos. Like loupes, sticks, dynamite, etc. I bought a cheap video microscope. Good thing I'm into knives because all it's good for is checking an edge after a sharpening. Oh, and coins.

I bought a silicone mat to work on. And one of those loupes that look like eyeglasses with LED lights. Those were pretty good purchases.

So I get the Timex and open it up. That went pretty smooth. Until I realize this movement doesn't look anything like what you're doing videos on 🤣.

But I press on. Theory is theory and should apply across the board, right? 😉

I'm about halfway through tearing it apart, taking before/after photos of each step, and photographs of the bin in putting the parts in. Then I realize... this thing ain't got no jewels. 😂

So as I'm taking this thing apart, the stem falls out. That's when I notice these 3 little parts laying on the mat. Wasn't sure what to do, so I decide I'm gonna put those back together. While I'm doing that, I bump into the watchmaker side and knock off 4 or 5 gears and I have no idea where they were 😶.

Then, as if you were Nostradamus himself, while I was trying to reassemble the stem assembly, I put too much pressure on the brass tweezers and the stem, crown, gear and the two plates it sits between go flying into the atmosphere. 🤣🤣🤣 My wife says, "don't worry, we'll find them.Little she know they're two grains of sand on a beach.

I put everything away, grab a beer and turn on the IndyCar race. 😂

I think I spent $30 on the Timex, but the lessons were priceless. And it was a lot of fun. Reminds me of model airplane building when I was a kid.

Love your vids. Keep em coming.

One question - I was kind of confused on the order I should do things. Dial side vs watchmaker side? How long should you leave the stem in? Things like that.

Again, thanks for your great videos. Having a blast.

As a starter watch to repair, I bought the ST36 on eBay for about $30. It was the exact same watch you are using in your lessons. I then followed your tutorials exactly as you instructed. If I got lost along the way, I replayed the video as many times as needed until I got it right. I also bought the case that matches the movement exactly for $30. I added service tools as needed for the “restoration” process. Since it is a new running movement, It didn’t need restoration. It’s a whole lot of fun taking it apart and putting it back together.

On Aliexpress I see you can buy a Seiko NH35A movement for $29 new. Would that be a movement you can fit into lots of different cases?

I bought a seiko that seems to run just fine its just got a cracked crystal I got it for 3 dollars at a yard sale I think it's solar because it says solar above the 6 the only repair shop in town wants 80 bucks to replace it so I'm going to do it myself for way cheaper

Would love to see video on parts sourcing... I started backwards and have bought several "for parts or repair" watches on auction. (I know, I know...).

sound advice. I found a perfect movement and dial for an old gruen and never found a case to fit it. just sits in the drawer but might be a good candidate for servicing practice.

Great overview and I think this is very helpful for beginners. I'm both sad that I found it now that I am just through with this whole thing as a try-and-error-phase, but at the same time happy that I did avoid many of the mentioned missteps :)

I actually started with Molnija 3602 pocket watches, which are quite "modern", cheap to get if you keep eyes open, still bigger than your typical wrist watch, quite well documented by "the internet". Actually managed to combine four non-runners into two runners, and have them running as little desk watches now. Surely only one possibility, but that worked quite well for me.

Alex, please help! I'm a new learner, and bought an Elgin wristwatch for my husband's birthday, not running. It was around $30 off eBay, it has a black face, the second hand is not separate, so I'm guessing 1950s, 1960s. I'm not nearly ready to work on it yet so I took it to a watch repair guy at a jewelry store. He says it's not worth repairing, that the case is base metal and can't be replated (he says if a case like that is replated, it will develop leaks and holes). And I'm bummed! It needs cleaned, the balance looks good, and my main goal for getting into watch repair was to resurrect watches, not only uber-expensive watches. What's your opinion?

Thanks for the info

Great vid!

Where can I buy parts like hands or a bezel?

So happy to have you along side me as I venture into this world. Your sequence and rationale is so clear it seems obvious but of course it is not. Great tips regarding watches, but even loved the Advanced option in ebay. How come I never found this. Also, selection of the seiko movement, even buying new and establishing that you can improve its performance is just golden. It is the path I am chosing. I bought a Seiko 9612-9000 referred to as the baby grand. Gotta tell you, I fell in love with the time piece when it arrived. Intention is to give this a full service in 6 months. Of course I have a family so this is a matter of can I devote enough time to establishing my work space and learning the needed skills. Is 6 months too hopeful? (very grateful)

Thanks Alex. A nice way to start building your own watch is to assemble the parts on AliExpress (case, movement, dial, hands). You start with a working movement... My first builds were based on a NH35. You can practice on that well known movement and try to get it better. I'm still proud on wearing my first build watch🖖

I love you, man ❤️

you're so cool
thank you so much
wish you'd make a thorough udemy series one day. i appreciate the technicality and respect the art of watch repairing more bcus of you.

al salam 'alaykum (peace be upon you)
from your muslim viewer in yemen

Thanks for all the time you put into making these videos! The value of you sharing your experience is amazing, and very much appreciated. It would be interesting to see a basic overview of how your shop is arranged, maybe with suggestions for those of us that have limited space to place all the goodies, bench, microscopes and soon. Lastly, what kind of chair are you using that allows the flexibility of different work heights for the hours you spend sitting in one?

Your comment on starting with a modern movement and fitting a case is the route that I took. I bought a couple of Seiko NH36 movements knowing I would probably screw up the first one. Actually, I screwed up the second one too. But on the third one, I was able to take it apart, clean it in Naphtha, rinse in IPA, lubricate it with 8000, took the balance wheel off and reinstalled, and adjusted and regulated the watch - following the instructions in the Seiko Service Manual AND YOUR VIDEOS!. To your point, I was surprised that the movement ran better than new but realized it was probably not lubricated well or regulated from the factory. With the movements, a loupe, a good set of screw drivers, and an Android time app, I got started on a great hobby as I enter retirement for not a lot of money. I recommend your option on this. Didn't want to spend a lot of money until I found out if I had the "right stuff" for this hobby. Probably going to get a good microscope net and brush up on my lubrication skills.
P..S. My wife works at a jewelry store that sells Rolex and they also have a factory trained watchmaker on staff. She noticed how much I'm enjoying this and said I should consider going to the basic watchmaking intro school they send their staff to. I said I watched your videos instead!

Very knowledgable,

This is a really great video. And I hope that I have not made any of the most egregious mistakes. I have my grandfather's watch which was a pre Heuer Leonidas. I took it to a local shop who quoted me $600 to get it running again. I figured I could buy a lot of watch repair equipment for that kind of money so I started doing a little digging. My grandfather's watch has a Felsa 690 movement, which seems to be as common as dirt. They are all over the place and it seems like every part is available from somebody. So I have purchased a small handful of watches and movements for spares with the intention of learning on the cheap eBay watches before I crack the case open on my grandpa's watch. Your series of videos has been the most useful of any I have seen so far and I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

😅😅😅It is at this moment I, somewhat, deeply regret not discovering you sooner. Would have saved me $40. Live and learn and advance. Thank you for your honesty. I hope your channel gets a ton more subscribers. You deserve the views.

Great video! Was wondering if you can help out; I own a Seiko Kinetic Indicator Serial: 512362______5M42 0609, not a very valuable watch but I'd like to try and put back an original movment that was replaced years ago by a cheap movement, How would I go about it? Thanks

As someone who has just started getting into working on watches this series has been helpful. I just recently inherited a pocketwatch from my grandfather that was his fathers when he worked on the railroad. I knew it was a Hamilton but I didn't think it would be anything special, beyond sentimental value, but it turned out to be a Hamilton 950, non B so pre war, and was in amazing shape just a little dirty and need of service since it has probably been 50 years since its been touched. Fortunately I have a watchmaker in town, he actually has 30 years of experience and is a Rolex Watchmaster, and he knows I'm trying to get into working on watches and has even given me some tools and told me not to dare work on something like that while I'm still learning. So as soon as I can source a pristine dial I will be taking it to him to be serviced and have it swapped to a display case he has along with the dial I get, mostly because I feel that movement needs to be shown and because I want to keep the original case and dial from any further damage since they have been in the family for about 100 years. Hopefully, before to long I will trust myself to service movements of this caliber, but for now I will happily hand something this important off to someone who will do an amazing job.

Another greatly informative video: this is exactly the info an enthusiast but very amateur watch-repairer like me needs. Thanks!

Just subscribed and I would have liked hearing those words before buying 20 vintage watches for my first reparations.... Let's see, but for sure the sourcing video would be great..

God how I wish you had been around a year ago when I started this journey... your videos should be required viewing for anybody who has been mesmerized by any of the channels that make this look oh-so-easy, before they ever buy a loupe and pick up a screwdriver!

Thanks Alex, this particular video reallyhelpedme a lot. Also - Yes, please do a video on microscopes, if you haven't already. Have a great day.
-David