Who Watches the Watchmen (Our Chit Chat Thread)

Over the last year especially, watches have become a huge part if my life. Starting with my trip to Prague, finding that pilots watch,then a week after getting home, attending the watch talk by Damian Duggan, getting chatting with some great people.

Then in July finding that Dolphin Bell got me chatting with a guy in Australia the past year who is a retired engineer that also repairs watches and has told me time and time again to start repairing myself.

After going to Birmingham to the watch fair, meeting John Bentley I knew I wanted to explore further options regarding getting into watchmaking.

I have watched countless hours worth of watch repair videos on YouTube and have always wondered could I do it myself. Looked into getting some basic tools and old movements to practice on, but without the knowledge the tools wouldn't be of much use to me.

Got the idea to go into town and ask around about how to get started and possibly work with a watchmaker to see if I even have the nack for it before going out and buying loads of tools.

Had a day off from work today and finally made the trip in. My first stop was to Dawson Jewellers, which funny enough, never been inside! Plenty of Rolex to look at! Got chatting with the guy there,who was very friendly and helpful.

Unfortunately as I already knew, there isn't much in the way of training in Ireland, the college in Blanchardstown that I live right beside, closed down. There is a college in Manchester that would be the closest. I asked if it would be possible to work with one of their watchmakers, even on one of my own pieces, the Heuer Stopwatch for example and pay as normal.

Handed me one of their cards and said to send in my CV and go from there.

Before leaving, he mentioned a place along the quays,Dix Jewellery Tools & Equipment [Link] that would give me an idea regarding tools required.

A quick Google search after stepping out showing it closing for lunch, had to get a move on! After making my way to the quays, found a non discript shop front that I must of passed by many a time

Went inside and started talking with the guy, a watchmaker. Supplier of both jewelery and watchmaking tools. As before he mentioned there isn't really much in the way of training anymore in Ireland. I was saying I just wanted to know if it is something I could even do, weither as a hobby or as a job.

He took my details and said he might know someone I could work with for a few weeks. There was also a basic watchmaking tools set for €30 I was tempted but decided to hang on for now. Very happy I finally got around to going in, not sure what will become of it.

And I saved the best for last! I brought along my broken Heuer Stopwatch I picked up in Wicklow. After showing it to the guy at the tools shop..... It's alive!!!

He wouldn't even accept payment! Would need a service, but to see and hear it working for the first time in god knows how long! Yet another chapter in my watch journey!

Delighted to be the first reviewer in the world to get my hands on this. Its quite large at 44mm but the profile is slim enough so it wears very nicely

Christ almighty. I got sent a leather watch strap from the UK from a top quality hand making shop. He filled in the CN22 form and all. Watch got intercepted by Irish customs and returned to sender. And for what? Even the guys in the post office were embarrassed by this anal sort of behaviour by Irish customs :-( They said all was grand until a month or so ago and now Irish customs are deploying these sh1t tactics. And it's not like anyone is trying to defraud the revenue here. The item was properly marked and declared and all required forms were filled in.

Same situation here with a watch from Japan. From looking at the label I think the HS Tariff code is blank and that's the issue I had. Value and description was there, address was perfect.

Postal service from Japan is €22 , FedEx or DHL starts at €50.

Have a week off in October around the 18th, with some normality returning and a good time of year for it, thinking about having a Watch GTG.

Would be in the city center, learned from the last one and will be in a better location this time around that can be arranged via PM or set up a WhatsApp group. Thinking of a Sunday (17th or 24th). No matter what day, someone will miss out so maybe something we can start doing more often if all goes well giving everyone a chance to attend one.

EDIT: Also thinking of trying out the Zoom GTG idea that might be a better solution to allow more people to attend. Thinking of having the first one this Thursday and if all goes well possibly a weekly event.

Vc, jlc x2 polaris and 8 day pc, zenith, iwc Portuguese and dark side