u/j0hns0nart

A friend asked me to work on his grandfather’s watch. I’m a noob so I want to practice with multiple donors before I touch it. I think the seiko he wants me to help him with uses a mineral crystal. Bought a polish kit with diamond paste and went to work on the invicta. Really just textured the scratches. It’s acrylic so I’m assuming it’s easier than the Seiko. I’m planning on taping the Seiko properly. Ideally I guess id pop the crystal but not sure if I can use my normal round press without cracking the glass. Although I’ve seen people use burnishers to polish plated watches without removing metal, I thought id leave the case alone. I’m not at the point that I can fully service the watch but I could oil and adjust timing.

Advice?

Utah beer thirty.

I’m a novice builder, not a watch maker, let’s say jeweler/modder. What are the options for precise marker placement when working by hand. I’ve played with transfers, which are ok if I use them in enamel but not on many other materials. There’s nickel fabricated stickers which are ok, but maybe not archival. I purchased individual indexes, and without drilling holes, I tried grinding the pegs off and gluing. I also tried flat chapter rings or cases with markers on the rehaut. I’d like not to obscure the dial too much. I’m tempted to use a template to drill small holes and fill with lume.

More of a watch watch. Test firing transfers.

Never thought I’d love a salmon dial. I was wrong.

I know the contrast is high and affects legibility, I need to make the color deeper or more subtle, I need a silver or gold logo, I need a better crystal AR. I also think with brands like Studio Underdog, Awake, Ming, and even Moser getting braver with color usage, it might be appropriate. All that being said, I love the jewel-like quality of a black opal. It struck me as nice to look at. It will only get better as I get better at making.

I just started an I’m obsessed. 2026 might be a bad year to start watch collecting. I’ve gone from Timex, to G-Shock, to GS, to JLC, to Kurono Tokyo, and everything in between. Then I just figured I’d make my own with reticulated silver. At least I’m settled into making what I wear. It’s not even more economical after the tools, but it feeds my obsession without hoarding.

I think this beats my other colors. My daughter wants one in gold which I think would look pretty good.

It’s the shrek001.