Watch Engraving Question

davidshe

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2012
Messages
658
Location
Santa Barbara, CA
Was wondering if any of you watch engravers out there would recommend an inexpensive watch that would cut pretty well? By inexpensive I don't mean a throwaway watch but something perhaps under $250. A bit more is ok but less would be better!
I have seen some fantastic engraving on this forum on Rolex and other high end watches but I have a client that would like to wear a hand engraved watch and would be happy with something simple. The engraving may cost more than the watch but that is ok. I would guess that a number of you have tried engraving on various watches that cut well and some that did not. Thanks in advance for your input!
 

vilts

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2007
Messages
512
Location
Estonia
There's probably a million of those out there. Just make sure it is with stainless case, but all $100+ ones should be. Then there's a question of the style, whether quartz or mechanical etc.

I haven't done many, but all the stainless ones I've touched are pretty hard, so be prepared to sharpen often.

Two of the inexpensive ones I've done are Sottomarino in pilot style and Invicta in "chronograph" and gold plated. Both were not too pleasant, but nothing very bad either (or I've already numb, done too much stainless lately, dunno).

final_DSCF5366.jpg

invicta2.jpg

final_DSCF5370.jpg
 

Beladran

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2013
Messages
345
Location
mississippi
i have a rolex sea dweller that i have always wanted engraved but my skill set is not there yet
 

zahar

:::Pledge Member:::
::::Pledge Member::::
Joined
Feb 24, 2013
Messages
161
Location
USA
I do not quite understood a question, but if we talk about watches, here, stainless steel, gold-plated background.
 

Attachments

  • iwc01f.jpg
    iwc01f.jpg
    151.7 KB · Views: 263
  • iwc01a.jpg
    iwc01a.jpg
    131.2 KB · Views: 266
  • 2.jpg
    2.jpg
    55 KB · Views: 262
  • 3.jpg
    3.jpg
    52.2 KB · Views: 264
  • pp001c.jpg
    pp001c.jpg
    86.5 KB · Views: 264
  • pp001b.jpg
    pp001b.jpg
    66.2 KB · Views: 263
  • pp001d.jpg
    pp001d.jpg
    68.7 KB · Views: 263

Ron Spokovich

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2012
Messages
436
Always have a competent person remove the movement before beginning your work--numerous reasons for doing so. Make the right filler pieces from aluminum or brass before chucking, as engraver's vises have lots of power. A customer won't like to have a watch that quits shortly after getting his exquisitely crafted timepiece back. There's nothing like a beautifully done timepiece.
 

monk

Moderator
Staff member
::::Pledge Member::::
Joined
Feb 11, 2007
Messages
10,998
Location
washington, pa
never have done hand cutting on a wristwatch. not enough area on one to interest me. i've done quite a few pocket watches by hand. lots of work area, and none of that pesky stainless steel to fiddle with. i have done some cheapo work on wristwatches on the panto and laser. no real skill needed there, just quickie "money". newbies--- most cheap wrist watches have a brass or base metal case. hand cutting thru plating, whether high end or low-- cutting thru plating can produce flaking. a real mess.
 
Last edited:

davidshe

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2012
Messages
658
Location
Santa Barbara, CA
Vilts- very nice work!! Thank you for sharing. I have engraved plenty of titanium and stainless knife bolsters so I understand about having to resharpen and I don't mind. Have you noticed any difference in engraving more expensive watches such as Rolex?

Beladran - maybe you should go for it!

Zahar - nice work! Are those watches popular with your clients?

Ron - thanks for your input! Can you expand on how you use "filler pieces"?

Monk - thanks for your input... do you have any pics of the pocket watches you have engraved?
 

Ron Spokovich

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2012
Messages
436
The term "filler pieces" refer to disks lightly pressed, by finger pressure, that have been lathe turned after careful measurement has been obtained from the empty watchcase. They would occupy the space that housed the movement, and the crystal. Probably, you'd need two disks. Best material would be aluminum or brass, to prevent much scratching, and for ease of turning. You could file down some roundstock, if necessary, and maybe find flat washers at the auto parts stores. You don't want to distort the case. The same goes for firearms, as engraver's vises have a lot of power. You don't need much to hold, though, just enough to hold and you can use dry tablet paper on the pins to increase friction as long as it's dry.
 

Andrew Biggs

Moderator
Joined
Nov 10, 2006
Messages
5,035
Location
Christchurch, New Zealand
Nope, you don't need any of that to hold a watch. In fact you don't need anything complicated at all.

A piece of round dowel that is about the same size of the watch. Melt thermolock a decent amount over the end and then press the watch into it and hold in vise. That covers the top side, bezel and lugs.

A piece of 1/2" wood that fits between the four lugs on the back and some leather covers the sides.

You can engrave while it is together or in parts.........preferably in parts as it's easier an less worry about damage control. But, if you do have to engrave it in one piece then a bit of imaginative use with thermolock over the crystal and the bit of wood mentioned above will do the trick.

You can engrave just about any stainless watch. Some will be better than others to cut. Some miserable and some pleasant and everything in between. :)

Cheers
Andrew
 

davidshe

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2012
Messages
658
Location
Santa Barbara, CA
Thank you Andrew for your explanation. I would assume that the quartz movement watches would be less subject to internal damage if they were engraved without taking them apart? I would guess it may not be cost efficient to have a $100 watch taken apart? Or maybe it is real easy to do yourself?

Vilts - can I ask if you took apart the Scottomarino and Invictus watches or did you engrave them in one piece? Thanks.
 

vilts

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2007
Messages
512
Location
Estonia
Vilts - can I ask if you took apart the Scottomarino and Invictus watches or did you engrave them in one piece? Thanks.

I engraved the Sotto as assembled, just figured something out for the fixture, like Andrew described. The Invicta I had disassembled, just in case.
 

Dimas

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2011
Messages
222
Location
Valladolid, España
Thank you David, it is my personal clock, as he had never recorded a clock, I encourage some work of the Forum,
I'm working on another, soon upload it.
 

zahar

:::Pledge Member:::
::::Pledge Member::::
Joined
Feb 24, 2013
Messages
161
Location
USA
Thank you, Davidshe. Yes is. Some of these watches are made individually by the client. Starting from the mechanism to the corps.
 

jiwilliams

New Member
Joined
May 29, 2015
Messages
2
David

eBay is a possible source of midrange watches. I recently picked up a 1969 Bulova with a great case for engraving for not too much money. I also see new stainless cases for sale that take standard movements. You can essentially build your own watch.

JW
Houston
 

davidshe

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2012
Messages
658
Location
Santa Barbara, CA
David

eBay is a possible source of midrange watches. I recently picked up a 1969 Bulova with a great case for engraving for not too much money. I also see new stainless cases for sale that take standard movements. You can essentially build your own watch.

JW
Houston

Thank you JW. I will have to look into that. Looks like I will be learning a lot about watches along with engraving them!
 

monk

Moderator
Staff member
::::Pledge Member::::
Joined
Feb 11, 2007
Messages
10,998
Location
washington, pa
Vilts- very nice work!! Thank you for sharing. I have engraved plenty of titanium and stainless knife bolsters so I understand about having to resharpen and I don't mind. Have you noticed any difference in engraving more expensive watches such as Rolex?

Beladran - maybe you should go for it!

Zahar - nice work! Are those watches popular with your clients?

Ron - thanks for your input! Can you expand on how you use "filler pieces"?

Monk - thanks for your input... do you have any pics of the pocket watches you have engraved?

i think i sent a pic up to the archive quite some time ago. it was done in some really weird font. i think it was a monogram.
 

Latest posts

Sponsors

Top