independent watch projects

Born in 1971 in Köln, Germany, master watchmaker Dirk Maier went to work within the Swatch Group (Omega, Longines and Rado) before starting his own business.
He registered the brand Rheinmeister by taking cues from the Rhein (Rhine), one of the most important European rivers that serves as natural border between Switzerland and Germany.

Maier tries to source all of his parts in Germany and Switzerland and assembles himself the watches, which can be purchased directly from his workshop or through selected retailers in Germany. Prices for 2010 range from EUR 1630 to EUR 2230. Besides his collections, Meier can assemble custom pieces and source bespoke engine-turned dials.

Besides classical watches with the Rheinmeister signature hands, Maier has been working on a new diving watch resistant to 100 bar (static depth of 1000 m).

Motor City Watch Works offers services in the customization of watches. Besides repair, servicing, refinishing, crystal replacement and pressure testing, they also have spare parts to use for your watch modding project. The staff can also apply bead-blasting and Cerakote ceramic coating.

Based in Bologna, Italy, North Eagle Military Watches sells Italian armed forces-themed watches. They offer the possibility of using custom dials and their automatic range starts with a Miyota automatic at EUR 220 up to a Dubois-Dépraz modular chronograph for EUR 850.

Watches can be ordered directly from their Website at www.northeagles.com.

Getat Watch Company is an e-store run by a watchmaker who specialized in custom watches and parts inspired by military timepieces of the Pact_of_Steel countries, namingly German and Italian.

Unlike most eBay sellers, Getat Watch ensures that all dials are coated with Swiss luminous compounds. The cases are available in different sizes and with different surface finish. The movement catalog features affordable Chinese UNITAS clones.

Straps are hand-made, and there are several colours of thread to choose from.

The watchmaker behind Vintage Watch Parts is specialized in fitting vintage movements into new cases, but he also does restoration on all watch components: movements, cases, dials, hands, crowns… you name it.

The website is also intended as a resource for handy men and Panerai afficionati who are not afraid to compromise the manufacturer’s warranty of their expensive Italian watch… okay, actually Panerai watches are Swiss made and the tutorials rely on aftermarket parts.

The Website features tutorials by various authors addressed to aspiring watch modders and the main watchmaker shows some of the one-off projects he was commissioned with.

This is not fresh news per se but Bill Yao (founder of legendary MKII watch company) announced on February 10th 2010 his decision to stop selling parts (dials, hands and case parts) to focus on complete watches only.

Mr. Yao started his business by selling modding parts for ETA-based watches (mainly dials and hands), and success allowed him to move towards the design of complete watches and the acquisition of the legendary Tornek-Rayville trademark.

The entrepreneur eventually found himself overwhelmed by the combined demands of development, orders fulfillment and family life. This new focus on complete watches seems logical to me. I bid Mr. Yao good luck on his new endeavour.

From left to right: Bill Yao, Watchuseek moderator Mike Stuffler and Watchuseek founder Ernie Romers (credit Watchuseek.com)

D.O.T. watch works is the official dealer/assembler for Noah Fuller’s 10watches.

Here is their presentation:

Dawn Of Time Watchworks offers a wide range of services to give your watch a new look, or new life. We offer beadblasting, aluminum oxide blasting, case refinishing, crystal replacement, minor repairs such as crown replacement, customization/modification work, pressure testing, battery replacement, and more. If there’s something you want…just ask. We will provide the best customer service humanly possible, with prompt replies, helpful advice, excellent communication, and minimal wait times. We love watches just as much as you do, and our goal is to make you happy by making the world a better place, one watch at a time. I am also happy to announce that D.O.T is now an authorized dealer and assembler of http://www.10watches.com/ products and watches. Please see rates page for intro offers.

Bob Thayer Jr. does custom work, modifications, repair and restoration. He also uses NoctiLumina, a luminous material that glows for up to 36h.

Noah Fuller (noahfuller@hotmail.com) offers ETA and Seiko original or aftermarket parts and custom dials on his web store.

An anonymous entrepreneur going by the nickname yobokies@yahoo.com.hk (“Seiko Boy” reversed) offers some great-looking mod dials and hands produced for Seiko

Check out his gallery.