How I Made a Mechanical Apple Watch (Fully Functional!) Build Video
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- Опубліковано 29 жов 2024
- Sharing some of my thought process, and a lot of the making, behind modding a real Apple Watch into a mechanical Apple Watch. A dumb watch if you will! I think a lot of people are looking for how the crown/stem assembly works at around 20:00
EDIT: There has been a lot of interest in owning one of these and while I can't see myself making any more in the near future, the response has been hard to ignore. Feel free to follow me here or on any of my other social media as that is how I would announce any sales in the future.
The donor watch is a 42mm series 1 in stainless steel
The movement is a Seiko NH38
The dial is Zirconium
Much more information: www.instructab...
Update: Wow, there has been way more interest than I could have expected in buying one of these. I wouldn’t be able to make more any time soon as I currently work a full-time job and have other projects/commitments in the works but the response has been hard to ignore! If I ever get around to making any for sale, it would be announced here on youtube so feel free to subscribe to keep up to date. Thank you all ❤
Update 2: and no, I am not interested in selling this one as I am not 100% happy with the parts I made
@@thomasholland5902that’s huge!
@@thomasholland5902 brilliant, will keep that in mind! Thanks Thomas
@@JackSpiggle no problem
I need one of these, yah could do a kit that we put together.
+1 on a kit. I'd love to be able to order the custom pieces and then find an Apple Watch and order the movement separately for a little bit of DIY to it.
Nice work! you have alot of skill.
its awesome that you comment like everyone else
Why so less likes, I thought this was a scam account
Ayo big fan
Oh wow… I don’t know what to say 😅 Thank you so much Zack, honoured you have seen and commented on my video ❤️
i wonder if this beautiful watch can pass your test Zack
That is utterly amazing. The pully system to connect the original crown is sheer genius!
Thank you! It only just barely worked! Got very lucky
@notfiveo Thank you my friend! Yes, I also found it a little fast 😂. Was not sure if anyone would be that interested but I didn't want to cut anything important and I had so much footage, hence why everything was sped up so much. Maybe next time I will split it over multiple videos or something else.
Would have loved to do a proper service on the movement but I knew nothing about watches when I started so I really wasn't comfortable completely re-oiling and everything. If any movement should be ok without a proper service though, it has to be a Seiko right?
And the laser is a no-name, Chinese, 20W laser. Seems to be built from bottom of the barrel parts but it gets the job done (albeit slowly)
true I never thought a stem and a crown could work with a pully. pure creativity
@@JackSpiggle Think on how you'll fix it in 10 to 30 years time when rubber perishes (like with cassette player rubber belts)
Also, don't you think that cutting out a piece of the auto-winding anchor affects that functionality? Weight matters in these affairs...
@@IgnatSolovey I took the watch completely apart and put it back together maybe a dozen times during the making process so it is 100% serviceable (don't know if I would hand it to a real watchmaker though). And with the tension it is under, I am expecting the belt to fail sooner than 10 years to be honest. I designed in as much screws and removable pieces as I could but it is an Apple Watch in the end so the glass is glued.
And no, the rotor is like a flywheel, 90% of the weight is on the outside where the moment of inertia is highest (exponentially so, as it increases with radius squared). What I cut was very thin metal to hold that weight as far from the axis of rotation as possible. Many fine watches do the same and even the original rotor has holes in it.
As a watchmaker myself, I’m really impress by your skills. Nice Work !
Thank you my friend, thank you. I have always most admired the skills of jewellers and watchmakers
sell these for however much u want and people will buy them. Trust me do it, I would buy 2 myself.
Before posting online I was set on never doing one again. After the response so far… I am considering it
@@JackSpiggleWell, Moser sells these for over $10k, so...
@@JackSpiggle I'd definitely also buy one. This is amazing
If you would consider doing a conversion, I have a 1st gen steel one and would absolutely love to turn it into one of of these!!! Incredible work and detail
I'll take number #7 🙏
Holy COW, the actual first of its ever kind
As far as I know =D yes!
THE WORLD OF WATCHES NEEDS A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU
So cool!
11/10 on your crown mod!! Also great Laster cutting. You’re shockingly precise with cutting the dial to fit. New to the channel but this is great stuff
Hey thank you! Really glad that crown mod worked out. If I had other means to make the dial (i.e. a CNC) I'm sure I would have used that, but yeah, it seems quite a few people are surprised with how much you can get done with one of these fiber laser cutters!
@@JackSpigglehow much to buy one of these?
@@MRPrep81 Not entirely sure just yet, the information in the pinned comment is still the most up to date information I can give
Just throwing this out there your version is 100% better then the H. Moser and Cie. Version. Yours has has details and nods to the original there's never will. If Apple made a mechanical watch this would be it while theirs would be the aliexpress version. Keep up the good work. Hopefully I can add one of these to my collection some day as I am a huge Apple fan boy and a watch lover. So this is like god level to me
Hey thank you so so much for the comment. If I had a lifetime, I don’t know that my finishing/technical skills will ever approach half that displayed in a real Moser but I am glad to see many people comparing this positively to their version. I really want to make more for others to enjoy and still slowly working toward that goal!
You might not consider yourself an artist, but thats a work of art.
Wow, really appreciate it Justin. You're right, I definitely never set out to do a project as "art" but it does often turn out that way.
It is not an " art "
It is a " SCIENCE "
Nicely done dude.. you have some serious skills..
The time and effort you used on making the watch is remarkable. One like from one person is not enough to show the gratitude we owe you as viewers.
Oh man, thank you so much my friend. I really appreciate your comment, you are much too kind.
You should make a brand,love how it looks and i think a lot of people would want one! Beautiful!
Thank you so much Frank! I am working hard to try make more but it is very slow going. I really appreciate your kindness =)
Absolutely amazing…some people transform their old cars to new one by electrical engine instalation. Your aproach is totaly different - you changed digital world back to mechanical - I love it.
Hahah yeah thats true! I think in both cases the goal is similar though, to take something beautiful but old and make it useful again. Thank you for the kind comment Dušan!
Standing Ovation with a long, slow clap. Smiling all the way through watching the video. Truly a statement piece.
That is really really nice to hear. When I cut it together I thought people would be bored at 25min long! And yes, I am very much enjoying wearing it
Fantastic project, love the idea of 600 year old technology in a 21st century case. You have great skills.
6 months after I first had the idea and I still can't get over how funny that juxtaposition is to me. Really appreciate the comment Terry
You think Seiko automatic movements are 600 years old?
holy crap. 800 subs? you're gonna get big :) what a great project - wonderfully executed. greetings from Norway!
Hey thank you so much Martin! Glad to see that the right people are finding it, especially from across the globe!
Well that’s the first time I’ve seen someone use a belt sander on a Seiko movement. Nice job all around, what a cool build!
It was a bit of a weird step for sure but I couldn't foresee any issue with doing so, so I just charged ahead! Thank you so much Caleb!
That is literally the most amazing thing I've seen in a while. And it truly captures what Apple originally wanted the Apple Watch to feel like for its wearers as well!
Thank you so much Tom, really appreciate this comment =)
Absolutely beautiful! The engineering in the crown system is amazing! If you’d sell these I would buy one
Thank you Kristóf! Lots of time was spent thinking about how to make that crown/button work!
here with you. i would fully buy one
Unfortunately, people who do see it will think its some chiense knock-off imiitating an apple watch. Great vid!
That is indeed the worst part. Still waiting for a stranger to notice!
That's bloody amazing! I think you did an even better job than H. Moser & Cie with their Swiss Alp watch which has the crown in the regular place (and costs like 100x more). Having an offset crown with the setting mechanism done through the button is absolute genius. Great job! 😀
Thank you so much my friend! I was very very unsure if it would work throughout most of the process so really glad I got it done!
Someone needs to show Adam Savage. This is such a labour of love, congrats, that pulley mechanism is insanely slick.
Adam Savage is a real inspiration for me! Cool to see other people connect the work I do with the sort of thing Adam Savage is into. Appreciate the comment my friend
Amazing stuff. It was a real statement in the watch world when Swiss watchmakers H Moser & Cie made their mechanical send-up of the Apple watch. You've been able to create a version that looks really impressive from the outside but with simple components inside and having the re-use aspect to it. Very well done! No doubt there will be many watch fans who'd be interested in your version!
Cheers Richard! I knew nothing of the world of watches when I started this project so I didn't get to see what people thought when Moser released their version. After learning a little more in the last few months, I can really appreciate H Moser and Cies ethos and approach to fine watchmaking. Thanks again for the kind comment
There is so much going on here with watch movement knowledge, fabrication, finishing, and fitment that have me seriously gasping
Hey thank you so much mate 😁. Really appreciate this comment
Brilliant work! Very inspiring engineering in the crown/button/pulley system. Very cool concept and well-executed!
Thank you so much Matt. Really didn’t know if it would work for the longest time and the parts are so small. Definitely expanded my horizons as a maker!
@@JackSpiggle You're much more than a 'maker' - you have amazing skills and the result is fantastic.
Ah shucks, thank you so much Paul, I appreciate it
Steve Jobs would’ve been proud of you. Great work.✨
I would hope so 😊 really appreciate it Marc
Jack, that’s just incredible. Very creative approach to blending Apple and mechanical. Love what you did with the buttons and the pulley idea is brilliant for the winder. Great work. Glad your persevered.
Thank you so much Gerald, I really appreciate such a kind comment. I think not having seen much of watched prior to this actually made it easier to think outside the box. I too am glad I saw it through!
The pulley system is pure genius..kudos to you for your ingenuity
Hey thanks mate =) maybe not the best system ever but it sure as hell works!
I am blown away. I wish I had 1/10 of your abilities.
Thank you Larry! Took a lot of failures to build up what skills I do have and, of course, I am privileged to have the space and resources to actually learn these things!
Man, that’s impressive!!!
When I first got an Apple Watch I was disappointed I couldn’t find a face option that looked like a mechanical watch with a visible oscillating balance wheel. I then thought about putting a mechanical movement into an Apple Watch case, but after thinking about it I put that idea in the too hard basket. Kudos to you for actually doing it. Very nice execution too.
Hey thanks mate! Yeah I figured if I was doing it, I had to do it right. I too cant believe there is not a face like that after all these years and versions!
This requires so many kinds of skills! There's machine work, microtooling, and not just being a watchmaker, but to be able to mod movements like that.
Blown away is a lesser description of what I feel rn
Thank you so much my friend. Such kind words! It took some time and research but hopefully this shows that simple additions to a watch movement are indeed possible!
Looks amazing! Reminds me of the Swiss Alp Watch, but for a fraction of the cost!
Cheers Russell! After posting this I learnt that Moser were not the only ones either. Ciga designs did some and even Casio has the MTP-M305M
@@JackSpiggle your's is still the coolest, imho!
Wow! Thats AMAZING!
Awesome. Have been thinking of doing something like this with my old series 0 but didn’t know where to start
Cheers mate! Yeah there is a write up in the description now too with more detail. Don't know if I would recommend doing it exactly how I did but it was definitely rewarding!
My toxic trait is seeing this videos and think that, even without any experience, i could do this as well. Great job, the final result looks amazing!
Hahaha I do the same. Really appreciate the comment mate
As a person who can't even keep a regular watch from running out of battery, I can't help but imagine the creativity of him creating a mechanical Apple Watch
You are both a genius and a mad-man. Good work!
Hahaha I love it, gotta have a little crazy in your life hey ;)! Thanks for the comment David
with your laser and metal fabrication skills, you can make an apple watch case specifically for the Seiko NH38, NH35, NH36 and sell them. :)
I have had lots of requests to buy. Definitely thinking about it now 😉. Thank you so much my friend!
What a amazing talent! great work👍👍👍
Thank you so much my friend!
I was thinking about this concept in my head back in 2019. Surprised to see someone actually did it. Great job!
Yeah I definitely expected to see more of these on the internet when I first had the idea. I saw 1 or 2 people bring up the idea but I am pretty confident saying this is the first working version on the internet! Got any other brilliant ideas I can steal? ;)
*Incredible.*
Saw your post on reddit, this is incredible 👏
Thank you so much Daryl! Glad people are enjoying it!
Genius, I'd buy one!
Man, videos like these are what make UA-cam worth it!
Like other have said (and many of them being fans of mechanical watches as well, just like myself) this is amazing work!
(Great video editing as well, love that you kept the sounds and didn’t overlay with music!)
Wow thank you so much Daniel! I too like these kind of videos on youtube, hence why I put so much time into documenting it all =).
That’s amazingly beautiful. The black zirconium matches my wedding band!
Its a brilliant material. Would like to see it on more watch dials. Thanks for the comment!
I hope you get a lot more views from this. Incredible work, and really well presented video. Massive congrats
Thank you so much my friend. Really appreciate the kind comment
Excellent work!
This is really impressive. I like the outcome and that this was an e-waste upcycling project. Ironically, despite Apple's eco-friendly marketing, Apple has been making so much e-waste by not providing much repairability with their products, and this looks like one of the good demonstrations of how unrepairable objects can still be used.
These watches are definitely not built to be repaired. The phone repair guy I showed it to was really highly rates and he seemed really upset at how hard they are to work on too. Strabge, we dont get much of Apple’s eco-friendly marketing here in Australia I don’t think.
@@JackSpiggle
The gluing of the back with the movement involved made a many watchmakers wince, but certainly a way to get things done. Since the case is stainless, as an idea for a potential future iteration, maybe braze a threaded ring to it to fit a screw down back/cap?
There's one detail that baffles me, tho. You had made the dial feet exactly as a watchmaker would've done in circumstances where they cannot be brazed on, but seems you've ended up gluing the dial to the movement after all?
The coupling of the Apple button and offset "crown" knob is quite a solution, even more impressive that you found ways to do it without any fancy machining tools.
@@AnEntropyFan hey mate, really appreciate this comment! I think it is definitely because I was coming at this from a different angle. I have never worked on watches before and I was treating the case like an apple case still. Originally it is all glued together so thats just what I did too. Would love a screw down back but the front would still has to come off to service the movement anyway. Maybe there is a solution for the front too, will keep thinking.
The gluing of the movement is because there is nothing holding the movement to the dial originally. And any solution I cam up with (that was actually possible to assemble) involved gluing some kind of bracket to the dial anyway so I figured why not just try gluing the movement and it worked fine. It all comes off with some isopropyl alcohol so while not quite as simple as a normal service, it is serviceable!
Again, really appreciate the comment and feel free to ask more questions
@@JackSpiggle
Not sure either, maybe some sort of a bezel to clamp the glass but that would probably significantly alter the "Apple" case look as well. Using the kind of glue they use for cellphones could be a good idea tho, given that your dial is zirconium you'd be able to release the crystal using a heat gun without a risk of damaging it.
Aren't you gluing down dial feet at 9:00, or are those prongs for something else? If they are dial feet, every movement should have screws that tighten onto those and lock the dial in place. That combined with a movement holder, which you can just cut out out of acrylic or delrin, to eliminate wiggle room so that no forces act laterally on those feet with the movement just freely latched on is pretty much how the watch industry does it most of the time.
Awsome work man.
have you had the idea of fitting a transition gear instead of the rubber band?
like the original crown will power gear 1, then you have gear 2 and then seiko the crown will be connected to gear 3.
you can make gear 2 thick so that when you raise and lower the crown gear it will slide but still retain connection.
that will also solve the potential problem of the rubber band losing elasticity due to age.
though it might be more complex by a factor...
It is definitely a better solution mechanically, I can actually only wind it the first maybe 20-30% because then the o-ring friction cant overcome the main spring (all you need for an automatic anyway). But yeah, definitely not something I could have even dreamt of attempting in my home shop.
very original. well done pal.
Thank you my friend, thank you =)
The manual customization and creation... man you got the top knowledge and skills to create anything to make anything mechanical, probably electronic as well, and even on the most minute parts, you have the tools and environment to create it. respect.
some rich person probably will pay you $25k for it =D
limited one and only edition
Hahah thank you my friend. I don't know about $25k but yes, being able to make stuff like this really feels like a superpower at times!
Awesome. One of the best modification I have seen recently.
Thank you so much Chinmay!
Hey, love your work! You might be onto something big here. If you can possibly mass produce these as kits with a pre machined movement, you could create a whole new movement (pun intended). I'd totally buy it. I'd love to see you do this for other watches, maybe the Moto 360 from many years ago? Samsung Galaxy watches? You're sitting on a gold mine of a market here.
Thank you Ahmad! Yeah people have recommended a kit which is an idea I do like, but not sure if I will ever see it through. Never heard of the Moto 360 but that looks really nice for 2014!
@@JackSpiggleplease do! Then the customer can source the watch themselves
Awesome job. Love the Apple cutout in the back. Very nice work.
I thought it was a really cool detail so I’m glad it worked out and that people like it. Thanks for the comment!
This is so fucking beautiful, I don’t have the words… I’d totally commission one from you if that were at all possible! I honestly totally prefer this to the H. Moser & Cie Swiss Alp, it’s so much prettier than that extremely expensive thing! As both a mechanical watch owner & enthusiast AND an Apple Watch owner, I have to say this is the most amazing thing I’ve seen in a long time… absolutely well done!
Wow, thank you so much Jonathan! High praise, especially putting it above the Moser. And you're certainly not the first person to mention they would like to commission one!
@@JackSpiggle work out the price and get back to us
There's only one awesome Apple watch and this is it!! Great job!!
Wow that’s so sick!!
Just the right about of subtlety. A passing glance followed by an eye raise and a much more thorough look. Great execution and creativity. I’d be proud of that one for a long time
Hahah yeah, I have noticed a couple of my friends go through that same process. No one in public yet but I am patiently waiting. Thanks for the comment my friend!
actually a smart idea!
The way you use the button to change the stem position is genius. I am making one myself, but in a slightly different approach but got lots of great ideas from your video, thanks!
Love it! Would love to see any updates if you end up sharing them anywhere!
I'm amazed, i'm so glad the algorithm suggested you. One thing I would say is it would be nice to have a little bit of explanation for each of the things that you're doing, because I have no clue what's going on, but I loved the video regardless
Thank you Flecca! The video was already quite a lot of effort to make and I didn’t know if anyone would watch it or enjoy it. So once it was at this stage I was just quite unmotivated to do more work on it and just sent it out =) will certainly do more talking next time as I like those kind of videos too and I appreciate the feedback!
Beautiful masterpiece
You should take this to the Apple store and get their opinion. Great video, love it when UA-cam shows me small creators and their epic projects.
I wanted to do a video taking it to the Apple Store but they wouldn't allow me to film in stores. Still got some good reactions just not on camera.
I too spend a long time scrolling youtube, waiting for the algorithm to feed me small makers so I am so glad this video has been reaching people!! Thank you so much for the comment
So beautiful! Amazing!
That's 100% the coolest apple watch ever
I think this could be a business tbh. Looks incredible
Just speechless....rest....your skills speaks out loud. Great job buddy.
Thank you so much Mohammad 😁😁😁😁
The crown pulley is genius
How was this not a trending video....!?!? *ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!* 💙
I only had a couple hundred subs when I posted it, so took quite a while to get picked up. Can’t believe how many people have seen it now!
@@JackSpiggle The video was fantastic, but the idea is genius! You really made it look cool. I love when I come across a true artist like this. 😊
It's nearly like the watch from H. Moser & Cie. Great work!
it looks amazing. the first smart watch worth buying.
That’s badass. I’m not into smart watches but a seiko powered Apple Watch is sick. Even better than the h mosier. Obviously not as meticulously finished but still awesome.
After learning more about watches since this video, I feel like I should have put more respect into the finishing =P. Maybe on the next one if that day ever comes! Thanks for the comment!
awesome work!
This is simultaneously one of the most impressive and most cursed watches I've ever seen and I absolutely love it
That was EXACTLY the goal 😉
Excellent work and superb result-I’m sure the unexpected extra costs and time don’t matter much to you now.Definitely worth it and great to see the deserved appreciation from all the viewers.Thanks for the video (you could slow it down a bit)
Oh yeah, doesn't matter as much now! Can definitely slow it down next time, when I was editing I didn't know that anyone would watch so I was trying to keep it as "unboring" as I could. Appreciate the comment =)
this is one of the coolest things i have seen in a while
Hey thank you so much mate =D
This is ABSOLUTELY amazing!! Your skills are incredible. The final product looks like a cross between an Apple Watch and older Rado watches that just had hands on a black face.
Thank you Karen! I am not a watch guy so I never saw those style Rado watches, thanks for pointing them out! More design inspiration for next time =D
You could literally make a profitable business out of this with that level of skill (as long as the laws in your area allow it)
Thank you so much Blaine! I am working toward making more for sale but I am quite focused on my day job at the moment so it has been slow. Appreciate it though =)
The final result looks amazing. Great work bro, you are very talented!
This guy is a genious, taking a worthless Apple watch and putting a very nice automatic, mechanical watch inside it!
Thank you thank you for the kind comment my friend
My god now that’s what you call a smart watchmaker. you have great skills and what an amazing piece.
Thank you so much! I don't even know that I would consider myself a watchmaker yet but maybe one day. Appreciate the comment =)
Looks definitely like super modern Cartier Santos. I love it.
Thank you! When I was playing with ideas for indicies I was definitely thinking of some kind of Cartier railroad track style markings. Don't know if it would have suited in the end but still.
Finally, an Apple watch I'm interested on wearing
Incredible job, I used to say that normal watches (not smart ones) were boring but by watching this kind of content I can see how much effort a mechanical watch needs to be build and all the engineering that it needed to work on such a small piece, also that mechanical apple watch looks very beautiful, congratulations!!!
I think that is the only reason that I personally would wear a mechanical watch. They are strictly worse than quartz/smart watches on paper. And I think a lot of people just wear them to admire the engineering. Thank you for the kind comment =)
This is bloody brilliant man, super impressed!
Keep up your fantastic work, it definitely takes genuine skill to achieve what you created.
I literally have 2 dead apple watches I would definitely be down to donate mine for a project like this when you are ready mate! This is genuinely such an epic use case for dead apple watches and your craftmanship and execution just made it look more real ! Less E-waste should be a thing ! Bug love from Johannesburg South Africa !
Thanks so much mate! I definitely thought it would be a much better e-waste saving project before starting. Took a lot lot more effort than I anticipated though!
Hard to add anything that hasn't already been said. This project kicks A$$. So clever and well done.
High praise from a man named Mr. Critique! Really appreciate the comment
This is brilliant! You fulfilled what Jony Ive wanted the watch to be, a piece of wearable art. You’ve inspired me to try this myself! Love the craftsmanship
Thank you my friend! Do try let me know somehow if you end up making one for yourself as I would love to see it
can't belive you integrated the original crown, just amazing!
Nor can I really! Thank you
I think we would all LOVE a how to video!!! That would be awesome if you made one. Great work!
I might make more videos of a similar nature but probably not a detailed how to. I did do a very detailed how to as a write up on instructables though which you can find a link to in the description. Thank you!
Everyone wants something like this, it is really cool, I am happy because I am already subscribed to your channel
Oh wow thank you! Were you subscribed from the electronics videos? I am curious
As someone who love smechanical watches, and had an apple watch for a fortnight before giving it away as I missed my mechanical watches, I find this brilliant!
Yeah, from posting this it definitely seems like there is a market for a nice, proper mechanical watch that also does basic tracking. Casio? Samsung? Somebody please step up! Thank you so much for the comment =D
thats honestly one of the coolest things
That is some excellent craftsmanship and ingenuity right there.
Thank you so much Amrinder! It took a lot of thinking but I think I ended up with the best solution for my tools and skillset!
tebrik ederim. harika bir iş çıkartmışsın ve bu çok etkileyici. bir tane sahip olmak isterdim. :)
Thank you my friend 🙏🙏. I put some information about selling them in the pinned comment
This solves all my issues with the Apple Watch, I might make one.
This made me smile. I always loved the look of an Apple Watch, but also love how automatic watches feel. This is such an awesome build, and you did a really good job!
Very glad to hear it. Your profile picture made me smile =). That was definitely one of the big motivators, these watches are still aesthetically nice and iconic, even when they are bricked.
Thank you for being honest with the timeframe and process of making this watch. It is DOPE. I want one lol
Hahaha yeah it was not what I expected at all time wise. Everything takes so much longer at this scale just trying to to move too fast and break something.
Appreciate the comment, maybe one day I can sell them! Still thinking hard about it