Complete Beginner Watchmaking Tool Buying Guide

This is great, but where’s the hammer? That’s a critical component of any beginner tool kit.

Thank you very much

A black or dark red mat would probably be easier on the eyes over long periods of time, but a subdued green is easiest on the brain. It's the color of foliage and has been shown to reduce stress hormones, subconscious fidgeting, and negative thoughts. When your workday consists of tedium, delicacy, and stillness — things humans just aren't made for — having a subdued green background works wonders for your health, mentally and physically.

lol id get these, then buy a nice watch and then look at it for a while and put it next to the speaker crossovers I don't know how to recap..

That was extremely helpful. It is lovely to see that you aren't a tool snob and saying it's not a sin to not buy high end gear straight away. Thank you very much

Lighter fluid is rebranded Nahptha. Lighter fluid is $6/12OZ ($60/Gallon), whereas Naptha is $24/Gallon at Home Depot. It might say VP&M Nahptha on the can which stands for (Varnish Makers and Painters) but is still just Nahptha and I have been putting it in my lighter and as a cleaner for 30 years, is the same stuff.

I liked this video a lot. No unnecessary talk just the important things. Since you read up the names of Petreon I'm thinking of making one and changing my channel's name to Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz.

I want to make a 300 dollar watch , with 50 bucks worth of tools..

Are the screwdrivers Philips or flat,metric or standard?

Hello there, another great and fashinating video! Bravo! May I ask you as is it called that tool that holds the stem so that you can unscrew the crown to replace it?

Do you know what aluminum screwdrivers might be preferred in some instances? I just got started with buying my tools and inadvertently purchased a Bergeon 2mm aluminum screwdriver. The rest of my set is stainless steel. Thank you for posting such a great video and for any advice to this question.

Hi, Marshall,
In reference to the color of your work surface / mat: Yes, the green color is much easier to spend long hours working on under bright illumination. How do I know this?
Well, I am a dinosaur. I am a registered architect and began my drafting career in 1980, about 12 or 13 years before computers were capable of efficient precision drawing and annotation of drawings. Our drafting pads/surfaces (Borco) were probably the same material as your work pad. About 3/32" or 1/16" thick. One side green (same shade as yours) and one side white. We covered the entire drafting surface with it, usually 5'w x 42"h. I don't recall anyone using the white side up, though I am sure somebody probably did.
It was not uncommon to spend 12-14 hours per day drafting when a project deadline was looming or just really tight.
Also, high quality tools / instruments are a must when long hours are in the offing or when accuracy and durability are important in any serious endeavor. Most hobbyists do take it serious. 😉

Can you help make a pouch kit video please.

What microscope do you use?

How can you remember with 100% confidence how to reassemble all the single screws and little pieces?

What's your opinion on Novostar lubricants?

Markup on those lubricants is about 2000%

Thank you for this awesome list!

This is a great intro to watchmaking tools. Thank you for sharing, awesome stuff.

If you were to use only one type of lubricant for very simple 1-jewel wristwatch movements with a full metal pallet fork, as much as rough it sounds, what would that be? Thanks!

Isn't D5 mostly replaced by 9104/2 HP 1300 by now?

This is video (and all the others !) is very helpful, thank you very much :)

Hello, thanks for the videos, I would like to know your opinion about high-end quartz movements such as omega caliber 4564 and if they are any different than ordinary quartz movements and worth the price? Thanks

DON'T USE ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL IN THE ULTRASONIC CLEANER!!!! OR LIGHTER FLUID!!!!. Ultrasonic cleaners get hot when operating and they also vaporise some of the cleaning fluid, this is a HUGE FIRE HAZARD and you can easily set your cleaning fluid on fire. This will almost certanky warp and tarnish anything being cleaned at the time and possibky burn your house/shop down too!

if you charge your buddy 100 to 200
help maintain his watch, all these
are free after your 5th to 10th watch
and many will last for generations

❤ absolutely awesome 👌

The ultrasonic cleaner is no longer available, do you have any recommendations?

Any specific tools for working on watch bracelets?

Muy bonita la herramienta e interesante, yo siempre he tenido ganas de comprarme esa herramienta, pero ya con los precios que comentaste, ya no me dan ganas de comprarlas, y todavía falta una infinidad de herramientas como las que usted tiene señor Marshall..!! Aparte hay que saber usarlas para que es cada una..!! Mejor te mando mis relojes para que me los arregles, y hagas unos magníficos documentales, y excelentes videos como los que sabes hacer Mr. Marshall..!! Excelente explicación y muy buen video..!! Saludos brother..!!

What would be the best main spring grease to purchase? The choices are overwhelming. Also, I need to purchase a cannon pinion remover. He likes the Bergeon one but even those have different models. Which is a good basic one? These are for my husband and he is just beginning this watch repair journey. Thanks!!

thanks ! I noticed you did not mention tools for mainsprings? is it that those don't need service that much?

I realise this is an older video. Might I ask what you use for magnification, when you are making your videos? Are you using a microscope/pcb board display or what?

Which mainspring winder and barrel closer are you using? I have started in the hobby and like it. Just trying to plan my next tools. I typically try to get midrange grade tools and will upgrade as needed so i can let the hobby carry itself without huge investment to start

Pretty new to the whole watch thing, but these videos are very fascinating to watch. I would love to get into the hobby and found this video rather informative. But what I would love to see is a video completed with using nothing but the "bare minimum" tools of servicing a watch from top to bottom. This way, those of us looking to dip our toes into the hobby pool have a little bit better of an idea of what to expect. Love the content though, please keep it up.

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Green is tried and true to be easy on the eyes. In the marines, we learned green keeps the eye strain down. Our shooting books, shooting mat, and even our night vision goggles help reduce eye strain due to green being easy on the eye. Red is good for low light.

What I also really would like to see is a clip about oiling and greaseing for beginners. Maybe also a guide where to by.
That would be very appreciated! 🇸🇪

No mainspring winder?

Sir I am from India and my company name in Roshan industry i wanted to do collaboration of my product we manufacture watch reparing tools

Thank you very much for this indtructional video. It's very good for hobiests an beginers. I would like to see a vidro about watch repair books. I looked on line and there are not a lot of books and 3 D diagrams with steps and how do you aproch a movement maintanence/ repair. I am sure you have a lot of books and you are an expert in recomanding for people like me and also if possible to include pictures of these books. Thanks again for a nice video.

Thank you for doing this video. I'm considering diving into this as a hobby and this video was a very big help.

Get the China made ones for everything. Even if they don’t last as long, you can just buy another one. If you really want, get the chia made ones and then if/when they need replacement, get the burgeon replacement tips … screw driver tips for example.

For things like the wood sticks … Starbucks coffee stirrers, toothpicks, or satay skewer sticks works well.

For others tools, you can look at dental and nail manicure sets. They are high quality and more options and way cheaper.

Basically, don’t waste money unless you really don’t care.

For magnifying, use a big magnifying glass with a light and arm to secure it to your desk. Again, look online for thr type that facial cleaning professional use. The kind that squeeze pimples and such.

Get some thermal tape to protect parts of the case thet you don’t want accidentally scratched if s screwdriver should slip. Also get some painter tape. It works well for bigger areas to protect and it can be reused.

Get some bluetac for the sticky plasticine-like thing to clean and such. Any office max has them.

Have you ever tried to make a video of a basic service with only those tools? Would be nice for the beginners. Greate tip.

Very nice and to the point, thanks. Harbor freight tools has a decent ultrasonic cleaner, I have abused one for about 10 years now. Wera makes some nice precision screwdrivers.

Thank you Marshall, a great informative video and a great help for me as I have just retired and starting to "gather" tools and great advice. I follow you as you explain in layman terms and you are a craftsman.

HI Marshall, Love your videos. One question please: I'm just getting started and am struggling with focal length, having to get really close for the loupe to focus. Do you do most of your work under no magnification and then use a loupe, visor or similar for specific detailed work. If not, why isn't your head right down over the movement all the time?! What am I doing wrong?! 🙂 Thanks again for your fabulous videos.

Thanks, Marshall, for the insight!

Once you reached £200/$230 I gave up. Just get a new watch.

…plus a nice video camera to video the tear down to make sure you know where all the parts go!