Do you have an eye for detail?

Can you see it? Of course you can. It's an escape wheel jewel from a Seiko 7S26 movement. Yes, it's tiny. In today's video, Andrew and I talk about different shock resistance devices in wrist watches - and why the function of these devices can not be assumed by how they look.  You should watch it - for no other reason than from an educational standpoint. The video is only 6 minutes long and I guarantee your appreciation of both horology and the work involved in the servicing of your watch will increase significantly. https://youtu.be/Gw8jLs3uUw0 Let me be clear: we are not making YouTube videos for entertainment purposes only. Our goal is to share with you what horology is all about. Every member of our small team is actively engaged in the production. The content that comes from independent watchmakers is unbiased and the result of decades of practical experience gained behind the bench - the only content you can trust.

Seiko DIY disassembly and reassembly tutorial: Chapter 3.

Pulling the watch mechanism apart is not difficult at all - especially if you handle the components with care. The most delicate of all is the balance wheel assembly which consists of 3 parts: the large and heavy balance cock, balance wheel and rather super delicate hair spring. This is the very heart of the watch - one slip of a screwdriver, sudden move or flip over and the heart is gone. Yet if you watch the video you will see how it's done. And yes, this delicate operation can be performed successfully even by a hobbyist as long as the instructions are followed and the process is understood. Again, there is a bit of a homework: sorting out and identifying the screws. There are 5 types of screws and while they are small, all of them are distinctively different. Easy. Even if you are not a part of the Seiko DIY group, you should really watch this short video. Educational, fast paced and to the point. https://youtu.be/pemubwobtjo

And if you do wish to join our Yahoo group, here is the link:  https://groups.io/g/7s26

Seiko Day / Date disc disassembly

 

Featuring: Why Seiko makes plastic wheels? How to pull apart calendar work and how to handle plastic parts. If you are a watch owner then you will love it. The watch mechanism is a miracle of mechanical engineering and precision. Watch parts are light, well made and not easy to handle so taking a good care of your watch is essential.  The bottom line is this: if you watch the video and conclude 'not a big deal, I can surely do it' than this mean our tutorial works. And yes, you should do it.  Watch here: https://youtu.be/-C9nSzN2Kak

Yes, you can do it!

 

There is no doubt that face to face gathering wont resume any time soon. Especially so, our Watchmaking classes. Yet strangely enough, 'thanks' to coronavirus, our classes are now moving to YouTube.  Yes, you can do it. Actually, any technically minded person willing to follow straightforward instructions will be able to complete our course. Once again, we are pulling apart a trustworthy Seiko 5 fitted with a 7S26 movement - the pride and joy of Japanese horology. A simple 'no frills ' watch which you will get to know inside and out. As we say, nothing beats that special feeling of being able to tell the world that YOU have pull a watch apart - and put it back together - yourself.  This instalment is just under 10 minutes and Andrew and myself are showing how to take the mechanism out of the case, then to remove stem, hands and dial. Your feedback is needed: feel free to let us know if the tutorial is easy to follow and are you able to see clearly what is going on. Of course, there are many 'pull apart' watch videos on YouTube, but our course is different: we are real watchmakers with unparalleled interest in helping you to complete the course.  Watch it here: https://youtu.be/sXh9DJ9aOlc

Watchmaking 2.0 May course

The happy faces say it all: another successfully completed Seiko 7S26 course.  Yes, we invested double the time originally anticipated, but it was worth it - every minute of it. Once again, here are the 4 reasons why we open our doors for 4 nights per month to teach watchmaking: 1. We want to offer you an experience of a lifetime.  Pulling a mechanical watch apart, learning how the watch works, and putting it back together is simply life changing.  Your appreciation of watches will never be the same again.  You will love it. 2. It's good for our young team of apprentices.  Assisting you to complete your tasks makes them better and more confident watchmakers.  The best way to grow is to share and teach. 3. We worked hard and invested heavily to establish relationships with the best Swiss watch tool makers and bring to Australia the finest watchmakers’ tools money can buy. Running watchmaking classes enables us to continue to do so.  Access to tools is essential to both professional and amateur watchmakers. 4. Independent expert watchmakers like myself are disappearing fast.  Independent horology has been squeezed out of relevance from both sides:  from big brands restricting spare parts causing the slow death of the trade, and from quasi-horology preached online by 'social media' gurus. The typical Australian watchmaker with 30 years’ experience behind the bench is simply unable to find his place in 2019. He is confused. An expert in his field, but feels discarded and irrelevant. Why? Because your average watchmaker is unwilling to share his knowledge, open his workshop, and have some fun. Not us!   We are fighting back, preaching and teaching the real horology: you, behind the bench, with screwdriver in one hand, tweezers in the other, with sweat and tears rolling down your eyeglass, fighting for your life - as has every watchmaker before you, for the past 700 years of this amazing trade. To book your seat for the next 2.0 course, email us ASAP. Our motto is simple:  "We raise your expectations high, and then we exceed them".

"Hi Nick (and Team), I just wanted to say thank you once again for the amazing experience that was the Watchmaking 2.0 course that you ran over the last 5 weeks. I went into the course not knowing what to expect, but having high expectations nonetheless. Safe to say that I was not disappointed. I was blown away by your knowledge and passion, but above all else, your generosity in sharing both of these attributes (and time!) with us budding watchmaker apprentices. The same can be said for your staff – Andrew, Bobby (Michael) and Gemma whose enthusiasm was infectious and help was invaluable. Please pass on my warm thanks to all three. Brad Martin"