DIY Watchmaking – Making Your First Watch
Description
This course is your complete guide to designing, crafting, and assembling your own custom watch—no prior experience required. From dial painting and case design to hands-on assembly, you’ll explore each part of the process through practical projects, accessible tools, and creative techniques.
What makes this course different? We don’t just show you one way to do things. At every step, we explore alternatives—comparing materials, trying different techniques, and finding the right approach for your style, tools, and goals. You’ll experiment with CNC machining, 3D printing, laser engraving, painting methods, and more, all while learning to troubleshoot and adapt as you go.
Whether you’re looking to make a one-of-a-kind piece or develop your skills across multiple disciplines—this course gives you the tools, knowledge, and flexibility to bring your own vision to life.
This isn’t traditional watchmaking. It’s modern, creative, and hands-on—from blank dial to finished piece.
Features
- Comprehensive journey in building your first watch, with different options along the way to match your budget and skills
- Video lessons with accompanying materials to reference when offline.
- Follow along and make your dream watch or use ready-made templates and files.
- 18 hours of video content.
- Get access to our forum to talk with your peers and instructor.
Curriculum
Curriculum
- 4 Sections
- 48 Lessons
- Lifetime
Expand all sectionsCollapse all sections
- FoundationsGet to know the core components of a watch and how they fit together. This section sets the stage with essential knowledge about movements, case anatomy, design constraints, and practical considerations before you start building.5
- Hardware Design and ManufacturingLearn how to design and produce your own watch case using a range of methods—3D printing, CNC machining, metal casting, and more. We'll explore different materials, prototyping techniques, and ways to bring your designs to life, whether you're working from home or outsourcing production.14
- 2.1Introduction to Case Design
- 2.2Defining Dimensions
- 2.3Cross-Section Design and Assembly Notes
- 2.4Crowns, Clasps, and Additional Hardware
- 2.5Case Exterior Design and Material Considerations
- 2.6Finalizing the Case Design
- 2.7Caseback Options
- 2.8Finishing Touches
- 2.9Prototyping
- 2.10DIY Manufacturing Methods
- 2.11Outsourcing Production
- 2.123D Printing Watch Cases
- 2.13Metal Casting for Watch Cases
- 2.14Manufacturing Wrap-Up
- DialmakingThis is where creativity takes center stage. You'll experiment with various dial fabrication techniques like CNC cutting, laser engraving, hand-painting, and pad printing. We’ll compare tools and materials, explore both clean and expressive finishes, and help you develop your own visual style.18
- 3.1Components of a Watch Dial
- 3.2Dial Design Basics
- 3.3Creating or Sourcing Dial Blanks
- 3.4Comparison of Dial Cutting Techniques
- 3.5CNC Dial Cutting
- 3.6Laser Cutting Dials
- 3.7Cutting Dials by Hand
- 3.8Embracing Failure in Dialmaking
- 3.9Dial Painting Fundamentals
- 3.10Experimental Dial Painting
- 3.11Applying Numerals, Indices, and Branding
- 3.12Applying Numerals with Decals
- 3.13Laser Engraving and Inking Numerals
- 3.14Pad Printing Watch Dials
- 3.15Crafting and Attaching Dial Markers
- 3.16Dial Finishing Techniques
- 3.17Dial Hands
- 3.18Dialmaking Wrap-Up
- AssemblyBring everything together and build your watch step-by-step. From fitting the dial and hands to sealing the case and adding the final touches, you’ll walk away with a finished timepiece—and the skills to build more.11
- 4.1Assembly Preparation
- 4.2Fitting the Dial
- 4.3Securing the Movement
- 4.4Crown and Tube Assembly
- 4.5Glass/Crystal Installation
- 4.6Closing the Caseback
- 4.7First Complete Assembly
- 4.8Troubleshooting Assembly Failures
- 4.9Final Assembly and Strap Selection
- 4.10Testing and Servicing the Watch
- 4.11Course Wrap-Up and Celebration
FAQs
The bare essentials can be found in the Tools page, however some additional tools will be required depending on which methods you choose to use at various steps of the watchmaking process. In the accompanying materials of each lesson you can find an overview of which tools were used.
This course is designed to give you options. Some students will build a watch that costs them less than $50, while others will splurge on precious metals and high-end components that could result in a build costing several thousand dollars. We believe that the middle-ground is just about $250, for a watch that will last you a lifetime.
No - this course doesn't require you to know how to model in 3D. You can use the provided 3D files, order parts, or use the measurements provided to make hardware components without a model. Furthermore, the geometries of watch hardware do not require a high level of modelling knowledge.
No - you can use the templates and resources we provide with each lesson. However, to truly make your watch your own, we suggest that you design that dial yourself. It's easy, and we will show you how!
Price
€ 199.00
€ 199.00