Chapters:

• 0:00 Intro and Setup
• 1:50 First Chips!
• 3:52 Mainspring Barrel
• 10:19 Train of Wheels!
• 21:27 Serious Plate Business
• 35:38 Ratchet Hardware
• 39:30 Pallet Fork and Such
• 46:12 The Balance
• 54:19 It All Comes Together

I set out to answer a simple question: could I build an entire mechanical watch movement from raw stock in my home workshop?

Over the course of seven months I designed, machined, heat treated, polished, assembled, and debugged many of individual components to create a fully functioning watch movement. Along the way there were plenty of mistakes, redesigns, and lessons learned.

With only a few specialized components sourced (the mainspring, balance spring, and jewels), nearly everything you see in this movement started life as a brass bar or steel rod.

This video documents the entire journey from CAD model to ticking movement.

Thanks for visiting!

— Chris from South Carolina, USA

Many of my tools I use are affordable. If you’re interested in getting started with watch repair and would like to use what I use, I’ve included some links below. I earn a small commission from Amazon if purchases are made using these links.

Other texts:

• Watchmaking: https://amzn.to/4fs3BTg
• Watch Repairer’s Manual: https://amzn.to/3knrwdG
• Watchmaker’s Lathe: https://amzn.to/3D02WGb

Tools:

• Caseback Opener/Closer Tool: https://amzn.to/43Gn8Kr
• Mainspring Closer Tool: https://amzn.to/4mwaCE1
• Micrometer: https://amzn.to/4pcvBNv
• Micrometer Stand: https://amzn.to/3vPPuUy
• Microscope: https://amzn.to/3ZrQ3Pn
• Movement Holder (pocket watches): https://amzn.to/3H9JBUv
• Movement Holder (wrist watches): https://amzn.to/3JeG2iv
• Ceramic Tipped Tweezers: https://amzn.to/3QP1qMH
• Finger cots: https://amzn.to/3CXbXzJ
• Micrometer: https://amzn.to/3QNGN3C and Stand: https://amzn.to/3iIyF86
• Rodico: https://amzn.to/3kr5RBb
• Tweezers: https://amzn.to/3GNFEVi
• 10X Loupe: https://amzn.to/3iLfome
• Levers: https://amzn.to/3XB4RZG
• Demagnetizer: https://amzn.to/3ZINUhS
• Budget Screwdrivers: https://amzn.to/3Xr7gqo
• Better Screwdrivers: https://amzn.to/3SZRGkY

Cleaning:

• Mesh Baskets: https://amzn.to/3ITqikE
• Ultrasonic: https://amzn.to/3wcO7wg
• Mason Jars: https://amzn.to/3WkUfgB
• Cleaning Solution: https://amzn.to/3XwQ16I
• Rinsing Solution: https://amzn.to/3wdgAlA
• Cleaning Brushes: https://amzn.to/3QPnSp8

Lubrication:

• Oilers: https://amzn.to/3Xi8LXR
• DX Grease: https://amzn.to/3ZO0kVU
• Moebius 941: https://amzn.to/3Hf6g2X
• Moebius 9010: https://amzn.to/3CVGM7Y
• Moebius D5: https://amzn.to/3ITqikE

Buffing and Polishing:

• PolyWatch: https://amzn.to/3XlVTja
• Polishing Compound: https://amzn.to/3QQ1r33
• Bench Buffer Polisher: https://amzn.to/3OlcW2E