Personalized GMT Watch for my dad – The How

Introduction: From Concept to Creation

In Part 1, I laid out the blueprint for my custom GMT watch project – the inspirations, the design choices, and the artistic vision centered around a hand-painted Impressionist dial intended for my father. Now, we move from the drawing board to the workbench. This second part chronicles the “how”: the actual process of sourcing components, acquiring new skills, the meticulous steps of fabrication (especially the nerve-wracking dial painting!), and the final assembly that transformed a collection of parts into a functional, personal timepiece. It was a journey filled with learning curves, unexpected challenges, and ultimately, the satisfaction of creation.

The Project Timeline: A Semester’s Journey

While a project plan provides a roadmap, the actual path often involves detours, pauses, and sprints. Below is a breakdown of how the semester actually unfolded, encompassing exploration, skill acquisition, sourcing, fabrication, and documentation.

• Week 1: Exploration & Conceptualization
  • Activities: Deep dive into GMT watch types (Diver vs. Dress/Sport), gathering inspiration (Vacheron Constantin, Patek Philippe, Monet), initial rough sketching, defining the core concept (Dress/Sport GMT with artistic dial for Dad).
  • Focus: Exploration, Design.
• Week 2: Specification, Sourcing & Initial Design
  • Activities: Finalizing key specifications (Seiko NH34 movement, target case style/size), researching compatible components, navigating sourcing options (identifying AliExpress as a budget-friendly source), encountering initial constraints (specific 43mm case availability, date window dial requirement). Began refining dial design concept (Monet’s Cliff Walk). Considered CAD for dial but pivoted fully to hand-painting. Placed orders for movement, case, bracelet, blank dial, hands.
  • Focus: Shopping/Sourcing, Specification, Design Refinement. Skill Acquisition: Understanding component compatibility (movement spacer rings, hand sizes, dial feet).
• Week 3: Anticipation & Skill Building
  • Activities: Waiting for parts delivery from overseas. Proactive Skill Acquisition: Researching watch assembly tutorials online (hand setting techniques, movement casing), researching miniature painting with enamels (surface prep, paint types, brush choices, sealing methods).
  • Focus: Skill Acquisition, Waiting.
  • Documentation: Compiling research notes, bookmarking tutorials.
• Week 4: Parts Arrival & Initial Validation
  • Activities: Parts arrived! Unboxing and inspection of all components (case finish, movement condition, dial quality). Fabrication (Prep): Conducted a basic test of the NH34 movement to ensure it ran. Confirmed the movement fit correctly within the 43mm case using the appropriate spacer. Skill Acquisition: Practiced painting techniques on a spare surface, getting a feel for enamel paint consistency and fine brush control (as mentioned in previous post).
  • Focus: Receiving Parts, Initial Fabrication Prep, Skill Application (Practice).
  • Documentation: Took initial photos of components (Here).
• Week 5: The Core Fabrication Sprint
  • Activities: This became the most intensive period.
    • Dial Painting: The main event. Included surface preparation of the blank dial, sketching a faint outline, meticulous layering of enamel paints to replicate the Monet scene around the date window, drying time between layers, inevitable corrections , and final sealing/gloss coat application. This required significant patience and concentration.
    • Watch Assembly: Followed the painting. Attaching the finished dial to the movement, the delicate process of setting the hour, minute, seconds, and GMT hands , cleaning the case, casing the movement/dial assembly, installing the crown/stem, and attaching the bracelet.
  • Focus: Fabrication, Skill Application, Looping/Problem-Solving.
  • Documentation: Took photos/videos throughout the painting and assembly stages (see below).
• Week 6: Final Testing, Reflection & Documentation
  • Activities: Final functional checks (timekeeping accuracy over 24-48 hours, date change function, GMT hand setting and tracking). Final cleaning and polishing of the watch. Compiling all notes, photos, and videos. Writing the blog posts (Parts 1 & 2). Preparing for final project presentation.
  • Focus: Testing, Documentation, Reflection.

The Fabrication Process: Step-by-Step Creation

Bringing the watch together required patience, a steady hand, and navigating the learning curve of intricate assembly. Here’s a detailed look at the key fabrication steps:

1. Painting the Monet Dial: This was the most creatively demanding phase.

   • Preparation: The blank metal dial was carefully cleaned to ensure no oils or dust would interfere with paint adhesion.
   • Painting: Using fine brushes and enamel paints, I began layering colors, starting likely with the sky and sea, then building up the cliffs and figures, constantly referencing the Monet painting. Working around the small date window at 3 o’clock required extra care. The scale was incredibly challenging; capturing the Impressionistic style meant focusing on color relationships and suggested forms rather than photorealistic detail. This involved multiple sessions, allowing layers to dry, and likely some moments of frustration and correction (Looping). The nervousness I mentioned in my previous update was real!
   • Sealing: Once the painting was complete and fully cured, a clear sealant (likely a gloss varnish suitable for enamels) was applied to protect the artwork and provide a finished look.
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2. Movement and Dial Union: The finished dial was carefully aligned and attached to the Seiko NH34 movement. The dial feet (small posts on the back of the dial) were secured into the corresponding holes in the movement’s plastic spacer ring or clamped by small rotating clips on the movement itself.

3. Setting the Hands: Arguably the most technically fiddly part of watch assembly. Using specialized hand-setting tools (and magnification!), each hand was precisely pressed onto its respective post on the movement.

   • Hour Hand: Typically set pointing at an hour marker while the date is changing or just finished changing (around midnight).
   • Minute Hand: Set pointing directly at 12 o’clock.
   • Seconds Hand: Set pointing at 12 o’clock.
   • GMT Hand: Often aligned with the hour hand initially, or set to a specific offset depending on the desired second time zone tracking relative to the main hour hand upon first setting.
   • Clearance Check: After setting, I had to carefully rotate the hands using the crown to ensure they didn’t touch each other, the dial, or the underside of the crystal once cased (Looping: If they touched, they had to be carefully removed and reset). This required patience and precision.

4. Casing the Movement: With the dial and hands installed, the entire assembly was ready to be placed into the watch case.

   • Case Prep: The 43mm case interior was meticulously cleaned with compressed air and Rodico putty to remove any dust specks – the bane of watch assemblers!
   • Installation: The movement (held in its spacer ring) was carefully inserted into the case.
   • Stem Insertion: The winding stem with the crown attached was inserted into the movement through the case tube.
   • Securing: Case clamps or screws were used to secure the movement firmly within the case.
   • Case Back: Ensuring the rubber gasket was properly seated for water resistance, the case back was screwed down tightly using a case back tool.

5. Final Checks: The completed watch was wound, and the time, date, and GMT hand were set. I then monitored its timekeeping over at least 24 hours to ensure the movement was running consistently and the date changed correctly. A final wipe-down removed any fingerprints. The watch was finally alive.

   Conclusion: Reflecting on the Creation

Comparing where I started – with a vision for an elegant, personally meaningful GMT watch inspired by Vacheron Constantin and Monet – to where I ended, the journey itself became as significant as the final product. Aesthetically, the goal was to create a piece that felt refined yet deeply personal. The final 43mm case provides a modern presence, while the hand-painted dial undeniably achieves the goal of making the watch unique and artistically focused.

Did the painting perfectly replicate Monet? Perhaps not to a museum standard, but it captures the essence – the colours, the light, the feeling of The Cliff Walk at Pourville. On the wrist, it’s less about a perfect miniature and more about carrying a piece of art, a conversation starter, and a token of affection. The slight imperfections inherent in hand-painting at this scale arguably add to its charm and authenticity as a hand-crafted object, differentiating it from a mass-produced piece. It embodies the intersection of my technical effort and artistic intent.

If I were to do things differently, perhaps I would have dedicated even more time to painting practice on differently primed surfaces to better anticipate how the enamel would behave on the final dial blank. Sourcing components also taught me valuable lessons; while AliExpress was budget-friendly, researching specific sellers for quality control might have saved some apprehension. Aesthetically, while the 43mm case suits my father, a future personal project might see me return to a slightly smaller 38-40mm case for a more vintage dress feel.

What happens to the watch now? Its purpose was defined from the start: it is a gift for my father. Presenting it to him will be the true culmination of this project. I hope he sees the effort, the learning, and the personal sentiment embedded within it, and that it brings him joy – and helps him track a second time zone!

This project was far more than assembling parts; it was about learning, problem-solving, and pouring intention into an object. The final watch isn’t just a time-teller; it’s a narrative of a semester’s worth of challenge and creation, blending the mechanical precision of horology with the expressive touch of art.

I want to make watches one day. In a few years look up “Rys Watches” and see if I’ve made it yet.

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Video of the watch ticking ^