My First Custom Watch: Hand-painted Beach Watch Transformation (NamokiMods - Amateur Build)

Witness the transformative power of passion and perseverance as a beginner crafts their first custom watch (NamokiMods / Seiko NH35A movement). So I wanted to have a go a building, designing, and painting my own watch - A limited edition artistic watch. I am not a watchmaker. I have no experience of anything like this. So let’s see how I get on. To create my watch I used a watchmaking kit from Namoki, and acrylic paints. The watch's automatic movement is a Seiko NH35A - commonly used in Seiko watch modding. #customwatches #customwatchmaking #watchmodding #namokimods
Tips and advice:
1 - The Namoki kits come with almost non-existent guides for the build, so be prepared to use UA-cam a lot - there are many great video tutorials out there.
2 - Placing the watch hands, especially the seconds hand, can be a real nightmare - check UA-cam tutorials, use the correct tools, and be prepared to practice your patience. Also be careful, the seconds hand can fly off the dial, and can be difficult to find, so I fitted it, from with an empty box.
3 - You may have to trim the winding stem, and if you do, take it slowly, shorten it bit by bit.
Namoki watchmaking kit - first impressions:
Seemingly good quality parts and tools, but lacking in the build guidance side.
My exact watchmaking kit - www.namokimods...

[@nlberglov8458]

I like it!

[@rockymntdan1]

Namoki is a solid company to purchase from. Especially for beginners.

[@SketchbookExplorer]

Yep, the parts are good quality. The only thing I would add, is that the supplied guidance material could do with a lot of improvement for absolute beginners.. Luckily, UA-cam is there to help.

[@rockymntdan1]

@@SketchbookExplorerAny suggestions for supplier of dials ? I wish they had more creative dials.

[@SketchbookExplorer]

I have seen large selections of dials available on both eBay and Aliexpress, but I can’t vouch for their quality. Also there are a few other modding online stores out there too.

[@mattsutton8804]

Great work keep it going. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@SketchbookExplorer]

Thanks :)

[@GAlvarado]

Very nice! Well done!

[@SketchbookExplorer]

Thanks :)

[@jackochainsaw]

Nice colour scheme!!! My suggestion if you are doing this again is to mask the hour markers (you could use solder heat tape and cut it to size) but otherwise lovely job. I'm crap with putting on hands. I obliterated a few second hands by accident so am nervous doing this again. Namoki have a good selection of parts, I've looked on their website before.

[@SketchbookExplorer]

Thanks :) Yep, I have been looking into ways to mask the markers, when I decide to leave them in place. Thanks for the tip. And yes, the seconds hands are a very tricky.. Though, once I started opening up movements to fix them, I discovered a whole other world of trickiness.

[@rockymntdan1]

​@@SketchbookExplorerI wouldn't bother masking the seconds. Almost impossible in my opinion.opt instead for a chapter ring with second markers.

[@loqueteniaquedecir]

@@SketchbookExplorer markers are easy to remove, turn the dial, clean the glue, pop them out using a needle. Then to reattach them pop them back on and glue from the back

[@SketchbookExplorer]

Thanks, I will look into that option in the future

[@SketchbookExplorer]

Nice suggestion. Thanks

[@libaty6438]

Loved the outcome of your video. Keep up the good work ^^
Do you mind sharing the link to your watchmaking tools? Thank you in advance :)

[@SketchbookExplorer]

Thanks :) I got the tools as part of the complete watch parts / toolmaking kit - from www.namokimods.com ... I have also found similar tools on diywatch.club ... and even other sites.
My exact watch kit - www.namokimods.com/en-eu/collections/watchmaking-kits/products/nmk-wk14-diy-watchmaking-kit-gs-dress-watch
I hope that helps.

[@AliReza-do5my]

Awesome 🔥 do you use any special paint?

[@SketchbookExplorer]

Thanks :) Standard Acrylics - just be sure to fully clean the dial before painting, and paint in layers. Hope that helps.

[@AliReza-do5my]

@@SketchbookExplorer thank you

[@Emilmarch]

Sorry, don’t wanna be the one, cause everyone here said nice stuff as I see but for me its a no, no. Summary of how I wasted my money. Good thought but very bad application IMO.

[@SketchbookExplorer]

Hi, Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and tastes. Feel free to let me know If you have constructive suggestions on how the application process could be improved in the future from any of your own experiences on similar projects.