In case you haven't seen it before, my absolutely favorite watch resource: https://ciechanow.ski/mechanical-watch/
insane! thanks for sharing
Making a watch from scratch
21–30 of 92 posts
Re: Making a watch from scratch
#22[flagged]
Re: Making a watch from scratch
#23I can fully appreciate the amount of skill involved here. I'm currently on a journey to make a clock from scratch using traditional clockmaker's methods. I started from pretty much zero knowledge of even basic machining, let alone specific clock and watch work. I'm a couple years in now (working in my spare time between work and family obligations), and I can repair most types of issues with clocks and many watches.…
One of my very vague goals is to build a clock, from scratch, without looking anything up. It wouldn't have to look like a wall clock; just something that keeps 24-hour time within reasonable tolerances. (It's been impossible to avoid knowledge of all clockmaking stuff, but I still avoid watching videos on how clocks are made. This is probably going to be something I do once the child is in college!)
Extra challenge: no other clocks to use as a time reference.
Re: Making a watch from scratch
#24I can fully appreciate the amount of skill involved here. I'm currently on a journey to make a clock from scratch using traditional clockmaker's methods. I started from pretty much zero knowledge of even basic machining, let alone specific clock and watch work. I'm a couple years in now (working in my spare time between work and family obligations), and I can repair most types of issues with clocks and many watches.…
One of my very vague goals is to build a clock, from scratch, without looking anything up. It wouldn't have to look like a wall clock; just something that keeps 24-hour time within reasonable tolerances. (It's been impossible to avoid knowledge of all clockmaking stuff, but I still avoid watching videos on how clocks are made. This is probably going to be something I do once the child is in college!)
That seems like a fun challenge for sure. I’m so far down the other road that can’t opt for that, as I’ve been studying other people’s clocks quite extensively. It’s definitely obvious that these days, using modern tools like CNC machines and laser cutters makes clock making much more easy. So you have to find ways to make it more difficult, such as your attempt to do it blind, or my attempt to do it with 19th century methods.
Re: Making a watch from scratch
#25Earlier quoted context omitted.
Almost everyone that's not already a large company is buying components. The only truly independent watchmaker I've ever heard of machining absolutely every component is Masahiro Kikuno.
Even the main spring? For some of the components it seems like a significant sacrifice in quality to make it yourself. I appreciate people can make their own, but I also think the obsession some folks have with in house movements is misplaced.
> For some of the components it seems like a significant sacrifice in quality to make it yourself. I appreciate people can make their own, but I also think the obsession some folks have with in house movements is misplaced.
At a certain level, watches aren't about quality. Only exclusivity.
Re: Making a watch from scratch
#26In case you haven't seen it before, my absolutely favorite watch resource: https://ciechanow.ski/mechanical-watch/
This has got to be one of the best explanations of anything I've ever seen in any subject. Thank you for sharing - hope you have a great day.
You're in for a treat then! Bartosz has a bunch of other insanely well done explainers on his website, with easily inspectable JavaScript too. Some of my favourites are the watch, the engine and the GPS ones, though they're all fantastic.
Re: Making a watch from scratch
#27In case you haven't seen it before, my absolutely favorite watch resource: https://ciechanow.ski/mechanical-watch/
> In case you haven't seen it before...
> Shares amazing link there was a 0% chance I'd ever see in my life if not for this comment
Re: Making a watch from scratch
#28In case you haven't seen it before, my absolutely favorite watch resource: https://ciechanow.ski/mechanical-watch/
I just spent a wonderful hour reading the whole thing and playing with all the demonstrations. Thanks for sharing.
Re: Making a watch from scratch
#29In case you haven't seen it before, my absolutely favorite watch resource: https://ciechanow.ski/mechanical-watch/
> In case you haven't seen it before... > Shares amazing link there was a 0% chance I'd ever see in my life if not for this comment
It is quite famous in hn and discussed a lot.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31261533
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38591084
His whole blog is a treasure trove:
Re: Making a watch from scratch
#30In case you haven't seen it before, my absolutely favorite watch resource: https://ciechanow.ski/mechanical-watch/
The link is superb. Thanks a lot