Okay, here’s my take on sharing my AP dress watch project, just like I’m chatting with you about it.
Alright folks, so I finally got around to finishing up this AP dress watch build I’ve been tinkering with. Man, it was a journey!
First off, I sourced the parts. This was probably the most time-consuming part. I spent ages scouring different forums and online stores trying to find a decent case that looked close enough to the real deal, without breaking the bank. Ended up finding one on a site I’d never used before, took a gamble, and luckily it paid off! It wasn’t perfect, had some minor imperfections, but nothing I couldn’t live with.
Next up was the movement. I went with a reliable Miyota 9015. It’s a workhorse, thin enough for a dress watch, and pretty easy to work on. I’ve used them before, so I knew what I was getting into.
Then came the dial and hands. This is where I wanted to add my own little touch. I didn’t want a straight-up replica, so I opted for a clean, minimalist dial with simple baton hands. Found a supplier on Ali Express that had some decent options. The quality was surprisingly good for the price.
Assembly time! This is where things got interesting, and where I almost lost my mind a couple of times. First, I carefully mounted the dial onto the movement. Making sure it was perfectly aligned. Those dial feet are tiny! Then pressed on the hands. Getting the hands parallel and not touching each other is always a bit of a nail-biter. Used a hand press, took my time, and breathed deeply.
After that, it was time to case the movement. The case fit was a bit tight. I had to do a little bit of filing to get it just right. I was super careful not to scratch anything. Once the movement was snug, I secured it with the case screws.
Strap time. I decided to go with a simple black leather strap to keep it classic and understated. Snapped it onto the lugs, and boom!
Of course, there were a few hiccups along the way. Like when I accidentally scratched the dial while trying to install the hands. Ugh! Had to order a replacement and start all over again. And there was that one time when I dropped a tiny screw into the carpet and spent a solid hour crawling around trying to find it. But hey, that’s all part of the fun, right?
But in the end, it was all worth it. I now have a pretty sweet AP-inspired dress watch that I built myself. It’s not perfect, but it’s got character. Plus, I learned a ton in the process.
Here’s a quick rundown of the key steps:
- Sourcing parts (case, movement, dial, hands, strap)
- Dial and hand mounting
- Casing the movement
- Strap installation
Would I do it again? Absolutely! It’s a rewarding hobby, and I’m already planning my next build.
Lessons learned? Patience is key! And invest in good tools. They make a world of difference.
Anyway, just wanted to share my little project with you all. Hope you found it interesting!
