Blogs: DIY Watches and More

Jul 14, 2026

Seiko makes two automatic movements that power most of its mid-range watches: the 4R36 and the 6R35. Both are reliable, both run on the same basic architecture, and both offer hacking and hand-wind...

Jul 13, 2026

Search forums for the Seiko NH05, and you will quickly run into references to the NH05A and NH05B. The naming creates confusion, especially for builders trying to choose the right movement. Are the...

Jun 19, 2026

Opening a watch case back is the first step for battery changes, movement inspections, and servicing. Using the wrong tool risks scratching the case or damaging the gasket. Case backs fall into a f...

Jun 17, 2026

Drop a mechanical watch onto a hard floor, and the most likely casualty is the balance staff. Those pivots measure just 0.07mm to 0.15mm thick, roughly the width of a human hair, yet they support t...

Jun 10, 2026

Most Swiss watches under $2,000 share the same secret. Flip one over, and there is a strong chance a Sellita SW200 is ticking inside. When ETA started restricting movement sales to non-Swatch Group...

Jun 9, 2026

A timegrapher tells you exactly how your mechanical watch is performing without waiting 24 hours to check the time. Place a watch on the sensor, and within seconds you get hard numbers on accuracy,...

Jun 8, 2026

Every automatic watch has a rotor. That semicircular weight spinning on the back of the movement converts wrist motion into stored energy, keeping the mainspring wound without manual winding. Full ...

Jun 5, 2026

Seiko modding lets builders swap dials, hands, and movements to create unique mechanical watches. The NH movement family shares a common architecture that makes part swaps simple. But "simple" does...

Jun 4, 2026

The Seiko 4R35 is one of the most widely used automatic movements in watches today. If you own a Seiko Presage or Prospex, the 4R35 is likely inside it. Seiko 5 Sports models typically use the clos...

Jun 3, 2026

The mainspring is the engine of every mechanical watch. Coiled inside the barrel, it stores energy to power the gear train, balance wheel, and hands for 40 or more hours. For anyone servicing movem...

Jun 2, 2026

Watchmaking tweezers are the most-used tool on any bench. Pick up a screw, place a jewel, position a hand, adjust a spring. Every task starts and ends with tweezers. When the tips lose their edge, ...

Jun 1, 2026

Sellita's two most popular movements share the same diameter, the same beat rate, and nearly identical functionality. Yet watch builders and brands treat them very differently. Whether you are sour...