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15 October 2005, 11:57 PM

Well, after months of working on this off and on, I took the day off work yesterday and finished my project watch (TZ Watch School for anyone who has missed my previous posts).

The watch school level 1 was great, and if anyone is interested in learning more about how watches work, I would highly recommend it. The level 1 course was to disassemble/reassemble and ETA 2801-2 movement (hand wound, time only), and then I decided to buy the parts to make it into a complete watch. So, I bought the case, dial, hands, strap, and muddled my way through putting it all together (it's not actually part of the level 1 course).

Here is the result:

I ended up putting on the white dial, with rose gold hands that have luminous sections on them. I tried other styles of hands, but none looked as good as these did in my opinion. I still may put the black dial on at some point, but for now it will stay as it is.

Here is a wrist shot:

And then the view from the back - case comes with a display back so I can admire all the scratches I put on the plates..........

No second hand, so it will take a few days to see how well this thing is keeping time.

Yesterday I spent several hours cutting the stem to the right length (you have to sneak up on it so it's not too short), and then fitting the hands, and getting it all in the case. It was good to have it done, with that feeling of satisfaction that goes along with this kind of thing, but I'm also a bit sad it's finished.

My next project will be to tear into an old mechanical watch my late mother wore years ago, that currently doesn't run. I want to see if I can breathe life into an old, rather inexpensive watch - should be a challenge. Then of course there is level 2 on TZ, which is doing the same with an auto winding movement, that has a date ring. I think we also learn about lubrication of watch movements, so it should be fun.

Thanks for looking in on my project!

Al

Uncle-AJ · 16 October 2005, 12:29 AM

Congratulations Al. The course sounds like good fun and I'm sure you would get a sense of achievement when you can be wearing a watch you built yourself. I might give that a go when I finally go back to the UK. Mind you by then my hands may be too shaky and my eyesight too bad to try it.

padi56 · 16 October 2005, 02:11 AM

Well done Al there is a world wide shortage of watchmakers.

baseballduck · 16 October 2005, 03:11 AM

Congratulations Al. Great job on the watch.

Tyler

JJ Irani · 16 October 2005, 03:13 AM

Congrats, Al. That is not only a great achievement, you are now one of the very few who has a total insight into how a watch actually functions and all the parts associated with that functionality.

Good job, well done!!

dman · 16 October 2005, 04:18 AM

Great job Al!! Looks like an excellent job mate!!

Earl · 17 October 2005, 12:29 AM

Al, To me that is one hell of an accomplishment!! Job well done and kudos to you for completing the Level I course. I do hope this watch which I will dub the Al Watch or AW is a keeper and serves you well :o)

17 October 2005, 12:53 AM

Thanks guys - I appreciate the comments.

If I was a bit younger, and maybe a bit less shaky

, I might even consider this as a career change, but for now it's just a hobby.

I'm certainly looking forward to doing more of this!

Manatee · 17 October 2005, 10:02 AM

Nice job, Al! The complete watch looks very good. :-)

I'd like to try that someday, but anything that can't be completed in one sitting tends to get abandoned in my world. ;-)

Now you need to get yourself a rose engine and pretty up the backside. ;-)

AJC · 17 October 2005, 10:09 PM

Great work

,you know there will be fakes of this watch on Ebay next week.

Aaron

BruceS · 17 October 2005, 11:36 PM

Oh wow. I love it! Nice job

dman · 18 October 2005, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJC

Great work

,you know there will be fakes of this watch on Ebay next week.

Aaron

ROTFLMAO!!!

18 October 2005, 01:51 AM

Al, as I said in my email... looks really good!!!

18 October 2005, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJC

Great work

,you know there will be fakes of this watch on Ebay next week.

Aaron

I appreciate the sentiment, but I highly doubt it Aaron.

Goodwatch · 18 October 2005, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avalon

Well, after months of working on this off and on, I took the day off work yesterday and finished my project watch (TZ Watch School for anyone who has missed my previous posts).
Thanks for looking in on my project!

Al

Very nice!

Does this mean we're gonna have our own resident 'Walt Odets' on this forum?

Take care,

Frans.

18 October 2005, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goodwatch

Very nice!

Does this mean we're gonna have our own resident 'Walt Odets' on this forum?

Take care,

Frans.

Only if someone is going to give me their Explorer to rip apart (and to take part as well, if you get my meaning).

JJ Irani · 18 October 2005, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avalon

Only if someone is going to give me their Explorer to rip apart (and to take part as well, if you get my meaning).

Micah....your cue!!!

15 October 2005, 11:57 PM	#1
---- Guest Posts: n/a	Project Watch Completed!! Well, after months of working on this off and on, I took the day off work yesterday and finished my project watch (TZ Watch School for anyone who has missed my previous posts). The watch school level 1 was great, and if anyone is interested in learning more about how watches work, I would highly recommend it. The level 1 course was to disassemble/reassemble and ETA 2801-2 movement (hand wound, time only), and then I decided to buy the parts to make it into a complete watch. So, I bought the case, dial, hands, strap, and muddled my way through putting it all together (it's not actually part of the level 1 course). Here is the result: I ended up putting on the white dial, with rose gold hands that have luminous sections on them. I tried other styles of hands, but none looked as good as these did in my opinion. I still may put the black dial on at some point, but for now it will stay as it is. Here is a wrist shot: And then the view from the back - case comes with a display back so I can admire all the scratches I put on the plates.......... No second hand, so it will take a few days to see how well this thing is keeping time. Yesterday I spent several hours cutting the stem to the right length (you have to sneak up on it so it's not too short), and then fitting the hands, and getting it all in the case. It was good to have it done, with that feeling of satisfaction that goes along with this kind of thing, but I'm also a bit sad it's finished. My next project will be to tear into an old mechanical watch my late mother wore years ago, that currently doesn't run. I want to see if I can breathe life into an old, rather inexpensive watch - should be a challenge. Then of course there is level 2 on TZ, which is doing the same with an auto winding movement, that has a date ring. I think we also learn about lubrication of watch movements, so it should be fun. Thanks for looking in on my project! Al

16 October 2005, 12:29 AM	#2
Uncle-AJ "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Real Name: Adrian Location: Bolton, UK. Watch: Daytona 116520 Posts: 6,844	Congratulations Al. The course sounds like good fun and I'm sure you would get a sense of achievement when you can be wearing a watch you built yourself. I might give that a go when I finally go back to the UK. Mind you by then my hands may be too shaky and my eyesight too bad to try it. __________________ A man with a watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure.........Segal's Law Member #10

16 October 2005, 02:11 AM	#3
padi56 "TRF" Life Patron Join Date: Jun 2005 Real Name: Peter Location: Llanfairpwllgwyng Watch: ing you. Posts: 53,024	Well done Al there is a world wide shortage of watchmakers. __________________ ICom Pro3 All posts are my own opinion and my opinion only. "The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop. Now is the only time you actually own the time, Place no faith in time, for the clock may soon be still for ever." Good Judgement comes from experience,experience comes from Bad Judgement,.Buy quality, cry once; buy cheap, cry again and again. www.mc0yad.club Second in command CEO and left handed watch winder

16 October 2005, 03:11 AM	#4
baseballduck "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Real Name: Tyler Location: Pinehurst NC Watch: Explorer 214270 Posts: 1,018	Congratulations Al. Great job on the watch. Tyler __________________ Sedit qui timuit ne non succederet. Member #84

16 October 2005, 03:13 AM	#5
JJ Irani Fondly Remembered Join Date: May 2005 Real Name: JJ Location: Auckland, NZ Watch: ALL SOLD!! Posts: 74,319	Congrats, Al. That is not only a great achievement, you are now one of the very few who has a total insight into how a watch actually functions and all the parts associated with that functionality. Good job, well done!! __________________ Words fail me in expressing my utmost thanks to ALL of you for this wonderful support during my hour of need!! I firmly believe that my time on planet earth is NOT yet up!! I shall fight this to the very end.......and WIN!!

16 October 2005, 04:18 AM	#6
dman Lifetime TRF Patron Join Date: May 2005 Real Name: Daren Location: Austin Watch: the road Posts: 13,585	Great job Al!! Looks like an excellent job mate!! __________________ You either get it or you don't, if you have to ask, YOU DON'T!! I really hope that midget cop doesn't find me in Kokomo.

17 October 2005, 12:29 AM	#7
Earl "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2005 Real Name: Who Me? Location: Northern Virginia Watch: out Posts: 4,616	Al, To me that is one hell of an accomplishment!! Job well done and kudos to you for completing the Level I course. I do hope this watch which I will dub the Al Watch or AW is a keeper and serves you well :o)

17 October 2005, 12:53 AM	#8
---- Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks guys - I appreciate the comments. If I was a bit younger, and maybe a bit less shaky , I might even consider this as a career change, but for now it's just a hobby. I'm certainly looking forward to doing more of this!

17 October 2005, 10:02 AM	#9
Manatee Banned Join Date: May 2005 Location: Washington DC Are Posts: 677	Nice job, Al! The complete watch looks very good. :-) I'd like to try that someday, but anything that can't be completed in one sitting tends to get abandoned in my world. ;-) Now you need to get yourself a rose engine and pretty up the backside. ;-)

17 October 2005, 10:09 PM	#10
AJC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 1,878	Great work ,you know there will be fakes of this watch on Ebay next week. Aaron

17 October 2005, 11:36 PM	#11
BruceS "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Real Name: Sir Daft Location: Cornwall, UK Watch: Too many Posts: 2,464	Oh wow. I love it! Nice job

18 October 2005, 01:51 AM	#13
Atomic Guest Posts: n/a	Al, as I said in my email... looks really good!!!

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