Bill, that's kind of you...but it was as much of a learning experience for me as anyone. I'm going to dismantle L'enfant Terrible, take apart the movement and re-assemble it. I think I'll start with the ETA 6497 what went south on me shortly after it was bombed by a runaway iPhone! What could be more fun?! Cheers, Bill

Hi Glen, you can always take it out and put it back together ... and you're right! Costs a lot less! Take care and be safe! Bill 😷

@@watchartsci Thats the plan Bill. I want to use it as a practise watch. If I like it I might even shop around for a real ETA movement to play with!

Hey Steve, thanks man. I've learned to forget what I've ordered from China ....then I get a surprise in the mail!! Cheers, Bill

Hey Muhammad! Thanks man ... now it's your turn! Kindest regards, Bill

Say Thissmithy, join us on Pretentious Watchmakers! Cheers, Bill😎

Isn't that a great watch Abdul! Congratulations! Kindest regards, Bill

@@watchartsci I fell in love with it from the first sight, couldn't hold myself at all :D Thanks!

Hey Dave, I'm glad to hear you and your mom made it out safely. I used to live in San Diego, and the Racho Bernardo fire burned my old house down to the foundation. (Fortunately for me, this occurred shortly after we sold it and moved to Texas.) I have a brother in Grass Valley and a son in Napa, both of whom I'm concerned about. Family, pets, and get out fast...it's the worst it's even been. Best of luck in recovering. Kindest regards, Bill

Hi Bruce, I'm not sure if it's patience I have or just the fact after one thing, I'm pooped out. The amount of concentration is huge, and I suppose that there's a Zen state of watchmaking where everything flows together. I got to that point in programming, and I'd like to do the same with simple mechanical watches like the 6497/8 ... before moving to something more complicated. Kindest regards, Bill

Hey F512 DMX, thanks man! Now if I can only get my blasted Military watch finished! One last screw! Hang in there, Bill

Thank you for that great tip Mr. Dripling. If you're interested, there's a FP group, 'Pretentious Watchmakers,' who are wholly untrained (other than a few watchmaking courses) that you might like to join. We could use your insights. Take care and be safe, Bill😷

Hi Michael, I got the desktop workbench which raises the work area for bracing both arms and working at chin-level. (www.ofrei.com/page241.html). As far as small parts entering some unknown orbit, I got a box of screws and clamps for securing the movement to the watch in case I lost the ones shipped with the movement. For some reason, as soon as I got the box, the tiny case screws and clamps ceased to fly off. However, my small seconds hands decided to take wing... all of this work should be done in a large bubble. Cheers, Bill

The case, dial and movements may be mismatched Herr K. Usually I've found the problem to be with the size of the dial. Take care and get your shots if you haven't, Bill😎

@@watchartsci Thank you. I'll check everything again.

Hi Snorkel ... slowly disengage the click ... a peg wood stick was used..., and once it's unwound it springs right back into place. No adjustment required for the click. Take care, Bill

Hi RP ... I'm pretty sure I said the same thing: buy the movement first, and then order a case and dial that goes with the movement. Anyway let's get on the right track. 1) The cases for the 6498 are bigger than I like...42mm was the smallest I could find from the inexpensive Chinese sources. The best you can do with a 6498 is 41mm from Ofrei: www.ofrei.com/page1494.html : (OFREI-CASE10 - Mineral glass $78 (Domed) OFREI-CASE11 - Sapphire glass $154 (Domed) You can also get a case fro Tourby but they're €300 ... it might even be 40mm. However, for a first watch .... get one with lots of room...I'd even suggest a 44mm. As for dials, same thing. Dials have "feet" and the feet have to fit into the holes in the 6498 that's made for them. And with hands... you want hands made for the ETA 6498 or ST 3620. Here's another link: www.ebay.com/b/Unitas-6497-In-other-Watch-Parts/10324/bn_7022483342 Take your time...there's no rush. Kindest regards, Bill

Nós somos todos sobre relógios mecânicos irmão! Cheers, Bill

Hey Mello, that's exactly right. All mechanical. Cheers, Bill

@@watchartsci Thanks but why not use Quarz?

@@mellonear9130 You can if you want. Different set of challenges with a mechanical watches. Kindest regards, Bill

Hi Joe, I believe it's 42mm. Good tip about the screw...messed up more than one movement by over-loosening. Cheers, Bill

Thank's for the on the watch size .@@watchartsci

Hey FM, I imagine so... but I haven't done anything with automatics yet; so I don't know what similarities and what differences there are. I plan to spend a lot more time with mechanicals before I attempt anything with automatics. The wind-ups are daunting enough! Cheers, Bill

Hi Adam, I use 'AliExpress.com' and 'Ebay' ... depending on what country you live in, there're different ones in different countries. In the U.S. Otto Frei is popular. Cheers, Bill

Hi Andy, I was considering the same thing! Do you know of a good, affordable laser engraver? I'd use it to make dials and engraving. Cheers, Bill

Hi Bill, I work at a much larger scale, but I have clients I can ask. Many shops have gantry-style C02 systems for plaques, etc. But for precision ablating and marking, finding someone with a LaserStar might be a better fit. Jewelers would probably know. Larger details are actually pressed, and setup is costly. Holes are simply drilled. I found this video on dial production, it's very enlightening (and humbling): The Alchemy of dialmaking. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/q898aMihpp2WmYE.html&frags=pl%2Cwn Besides laser, there's machined holes/shapes and hand engraved scrollwork. References that I admire include Fiona Krüger’s skeletal dials and the engraved Rolexes by MadeWorn. The cool thing about LaserStar is that I think we just supply vector artwork, eps files and truetype fonts. Andy

Thanks Andy, LaserStar was one I was looking at.They tend to be a bit pricy compared with some others I was considering but they may have just the one I need. Kindest regards, bill

Andy, could you check with your colleagues at work to see if this one would be appropriate for engraving on stainless steel? www.amazon.com/15000MW-Engraver-Machine-Stainless-Advanced/dp/B07G748N34/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1542025453&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=metal+engraver+machine&psc=1 Thanks, Bill

Hi Krishna, I tried that and it didn't work, but it's not a bad idea. Finally got it fixed though. Cheers, Bill

Mostly from "AliExpress" Dimitrial, but some from eBay. With the pandemic, it's easier to get them from the US via eBay. Take care and be safe, Bill 😷

Hi Ashton, the best thing to do is to enter "watch dial for 6497" or whatever the movement identifier is for a Google search. For example, '6497' is for an ETA 6497, and that's going to show dials for ST 36 (6497 clone) as well as for Unitas 6497 and ETA 6497. The reason I'm suggesting a Google search is because different countries may have different in-country vendors. Often I get my dials from China via AliExpress or eBay, but it takes weeks. If I use eBay (a good source of dials) I check to see whether the dials are sent from the US (even if they're made in China or elsewhere) I will get them in a few days. Also, you can enter the material you want in your dial. For example, if you want an 'enamel' dial, just enter 'Enamel watch dial' (or even try using 'Email watch dial' - 'email' the French term for 'enamel '. Here's a list of the places I've used: 1. Ebay 2. AliExpress 3. ofrei.com (U.S. more expensive but quicker in US) 4. Tourby (www.ebay.com/str/tourby-watches)-great service and products. Also directly from Tourby watches in Germany (www.tourbywatches.com/service/spare-parts/) Better selection and prices from Tourby's eBay store. ; >) 5.dhgate.com (UK) --Another tact is to put in a 'watch dials for sale' search and then click 'images' and look at all the different ones available, and then follow it back to the online store. Good (dial) hunting! Bill

Hello Bryar! You can order a dial with no logo. These are called 'sterile dials.' Kindest regards, Bill

@@watchartsci thanks for such a quick reply. I searched on ebay and somehow did not find that.

Hi Byar, Here's a link on eBay to lots of sterile dials for a 6497 movement. The dials without any writing o them are the sterile ones. Kindest regards, Bill www.ebay.com/itm/36-8mm-Watch-Face-Fit-ETA-6497-Seagull-ST36-Movement-Sterile-Steel-Watches-Dial-/153061391505

I would very much like to see a watch you have made, Saman. Here's a video with all of my contact information: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/q7yhdremppPSkas.html Cheers, Bill

Watchdealer, there was no live presentation for this video. This is my regular Sunday video (on Fridays and Sundays there are regular videos; not the live streaming ones with chat that come up now and then....) So, you've missed nothing. I happen to be a fan of the JLC Polaris Memovox, but I think it's stupid (and greedy) for watch companies announce 'limited editions' which can the be 'magically' expanded if the demand is there. If you compare them with companies like Habring2 who create less than 200 watches a year by a master watchmaker and never mention 'limited editions,' such editions look silly. I have a Habring2 Felix, and you can rarely find them either on the pre-owned market or discounted. Probably some market analyst at Jaeger-LeCoultre (aka:' Bean counter ') decided they couldn't sell any more than 1000 or 500, and voila! That's the announced limited edition. Friday, on our regularly scheduled video, I'll be looking at JLC... Cheers, Bill

@@watchartsci Thanks for your quick reply. I would love to have a Habring2 and eventually I will try to buy one. My main interest in the JLC memovox is the 50th anniversary 1968-2018. I was born in 1968, so I'm also celebrating 50 this year. Additionally, an alarm is my favorite complication. It may not be the most interesting to look at, but I find that it is actually useful. I love playing with chrono's like everyone else, but in reality, most have 30-minute counters and that isn't very practical. I find I wear my Vulcain Cricket quite often as it's great to have a reminder alarm. My tastes are changing. I have a Patek 5159G, and I never wear it. It's top heavy and I really don't find much use in a perpetual calendar. A wonderful complication, but almost everyone has one and there is nothing so special about the movement. It's the base 315 calibre with a perpetual module. I prefer my Patek 5196G. That's a great daily wear watch as is my Vacheron patrimony. I had to pay full retail for the JLC. That's what bothers me. It is the first time I have ever paid full retail for a watch. Having owned two high-end watch shops, it's hard to pay retail when you know the discount to any AD is 45% off retail.

Hey Watchdealer...if you were in the watch business, you know better than I the chicanery that is part of the business. So you went ahead and bought the JLC Polaris Memovox. How do you like it? (A Vulcain Cricket is on my list too... unfortunately with my crappy hearing I couldn't hear it or the Memovox ... and Big Ben doesn't fit on my wrist.) Cheers, Bill

@@watchartsci The business has changed a lot in the past ten years since I owned two stores. We were Ad's for Ulysse Nardin, IWC, Oris, Fortis and many others, but not JLC. IWC was pretty easy to work with as was UN in those days. They wanted to sell watches. We used to discount almost every watch, that was the business back then.

@@watchartsci I don't have it yet. There is a 6 to 8 week waitlist from JLC. I wasn't able to get it at any AD. I'm looking forward to its arrival in the mail. That's how I get all my watches, somehow it's via the mail. Saves you tax too.

Yes Roger, it's called a 'sterile' dial. I'm thinking of getting an engraving machine using a laser and putting my logo on the dial...something along the lines of "Montres par Bill" with a 'MpB' logo. Cheers, Bill

@@watchartsci exactly bill, something classy like old english scroll

@@rogerthomas2132 Yes, or French formal script...it will have to be pretentious for my watchmaking group, La Société des Horlogers Prétentieux. Cheers, Bill

Hemant, I don't know of any MOOCs that have everything you ask for, but here's a link to a MOOC that will introduce you to watchmaking: www.timezonewatchschool.com/WatchSchool/ Let me know what you think. Kindest regards, Bill

Me too...