Nowadays, watches perform not only the function of viewing the time, but also the role of a stylish accessory, which is why their appearance is very important. Probably, few of you have thought that creating a wristwatch with your own hands is a very exciting activity. This way, you will save not only money (after all, a good watch costs a considerable amount), but also make an original design that you will like, and most importantly - in size.
Watches with leather straps
In this section we will tell you how to make a classic watch with leather straps.
For this we need:
- old watches (if you don’t have any in stock, buy the most budget ones);
- straps made to look like leather (about 70 cm, be sure to pay attention to the fact that the width of the strap corresponds to the dimensions of the original watch strap);
- a small chain with decorative elements;
- hole puncher;
- rivets.
Once you have collected everything you need, you can get to work. So, let's begin.
The first thing you need to do is trim your new leather strap. You need to cut to the last hole in the belt. If the edges look sloppy and are frayed, then be sure to singe the edges; this usually happens if the material is not natural and you have leatherette.
Now you need to get two 35 cm pieces from the strap, cut it so that one end remains with a clasp and the other with holes. Try it on your hand and, based on your hand size, make the missing holes using a hole punch. Attach the rivets.
So, we have the main frame of the watch, all that remains is to decorate. Attach a chain with jewelry to the side of the strap that has clasps.
You can decorate leather belts with stones or rhinestones. Here you must show your imagination, the main thing is that everything is in moderation and does not look ridiculous.
Such an accessory will decorate any of your looks and give it a zest; only you will have such a watch model.
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For fantasy lovers
This watch is definitely suitable for lovers of fantasy and adventure. Who among you as a child did not read the novels of Jules Verne and Alexander Belyaev? This master class will be very interesting for boys. It will be performed in steampunk style. Perhaps the most difficult thing about this lesson is finding all the necessary materials.
We will need:
- old wristwatch (you can take absolutely any one);
- a new case made of brass, the most important thing is that it matches the diameter of the watch;
- round disk made of stainless steel;
- old watch, you can take an alarm clock;
- several leather straps (you can replace them with leatherette wristbands);
- two watch loops;
- hole puncher.
After you have purchased everything you need strictly according to the list, you can begin to “invent” a steampunk watch.
Take your wristwatch and carefully remove the straps. Now you need to get rid of the remaining tabs that held the straps. You can handle this quite well. If you are afraid of scratching the dial, then it is better to give it to a specialist. Take the prepared stainless steel disk and align it to the diameter of the existing watch; it will serve as the case back. Now you need to make holes for mounting on all four sides of the disk.
To make your watch original, you can make an engraving; you probably have a cherished phrase that you would like to capture. Nowadays there are a lot of specialists who are engaged in engraving, so when our masterpiece is ready, you can take it to the master. Well, let's get back to our craft. Take an alarm clock or an unnecessary watch, open the case and disassemble the contents into individual parts.
In the declared style, it would be very appropriate to look at different gear configurations, but if your gaze lingers on other elements that interest you, then you should not forget about them, in our case everything comes into play.
After this, assemble the watch case and place it face down in front of you. Place the glass and place the dial, gears and other parts on it in a chaotic manner. After that, close the case using the back cover and attach it with screws. Let's take care of the straps. Make one piece, the width of which is six cm, and the length directly depends on the width of your hand (wrist). In addition, cut a couple more narrow belts. For one of them, make two belt loops on one side and holes on the other side using a hole punch.
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Attach the belt loops in such a way that they can be fastened freely on the arm. Assemble the watch and attach the dial to the narrow straps, and attach the resulting watch to the wide part of the strap to create a bracelet with a dial in the center. Your watch is ready!
Secrets of craftsmanship: unique steampunk watches
There are handmade items that go beyond handmade, coming as close as possible to unique works of decorative and applied art, created with great skill and imagination. An excellent example of such a small masterpiece is an original watch in the style of steampunk and machinery, created by the author of our portal, Yulianna Gornaeva-Knigina. Every smallest detail in them is worked out so carefully that you can look at it for hours!
Yulianna spoke about her search for inspiration, working with various techniques and materials, the history of the creation of these extraordinary watches, as well as why radio electronics can be useful for a jeweler in an interview with our editors.
Gas-charged watches
Juliana, I would like to learn more about you and your wonderful work. To begin with, tell us a little about yourself, because not every master knows various materials and handmade techniques at such a high level. Where did you study? How long have you been doing handmade?
Thank you for your kind words. By first education, I am an aircraft radio electronics engineer. But since I had to work part-time in the field of design since school, this gradually developed into teaching, and later into my professional training. Now I am writing a diploma at the Stroganov Academy, specializing in graphic artist. My sister and I are also graduating from jewelry college this year.
I always had to do manual work: the family drew and drew absolutely everything. Of course, not at a professional level, but it was believed that intensive practice in drawing partly replaces any schools. I still adhere to this opinion.
What techniques do you prefer and what objects do you usually create?
I really want everything at once!
Often, techniques have to be mastered after an idea has settled in your head. A lot depends on the tools. For example, I like stained glass as such, but I estimate the resources that will need to be obtained immediately and at one time, and decide: I need stained glass for several projects, or it’s just a small interest.
I have no idea at all what the name of the equipment I work with is called. I interact with wood, metals, glass, paints in any of their subtypes, textiles, polymer clay, ceramics, etc. The jewelry college helped me a lot in this matter, although I still don’t like soldering and working with precious metals.
And I create objects, first of all, those that I like. For the soul, definitely with your own little world. And I try to find suitable, loving owners for them.
What was the starting point and source of inspiration for creating the watch?
The spirit of our student laboratories. Actually, it was from there that the first few IN-14 lamps were brought home. In general, the entire territory of the Aviation Institute, especially in the fall, is an interesting sight: endless brick walls, narrow passages littered with abandoned machines, unwashed huge windows of old workshops. And stairs. Wonderful fire escapes floating in the gray sky overhead. True, these were wonderful moments!
Of course, this is not the largest institute, but it was easy to get lost there. There was something mesmerizing in these deserted passages between buildings.
Do you make preliminary sketches and sketches of the future item, or does everything arise spontaneously in the process of work?
I don't like making sketches. When the sketch is done perfectly, it becomes boring to work. But you can only communicate with customers in the language of sketches, so this is part of working with the client. I usually make drawings right away; they are clearer and more familiar to me.
Clock drawing
Stages of working on a watch
Was this your first experience creating watches or compositions of this kind, or have you already done something similar?
It is the watch case that is not. There was an opportunity to practice some techniques on the “Chemical Fume Hood” jewelry box. It plays on the image of a Victorian era fume hood: small flasks, flasks, an alcohol lamp, ceramic tiles. Everything is real, there are no plastic imitations. We even had to break the glass to match the spirit of antiquity!
The size, of course, dictates its own characteristics (the box is only 9x9 cm, and 6 cm deep); you can only work with tweezers.
How long did the work take? What turned out to be the most difficult and time-consuming?
The difficult part is the creation of the frame of the body, the labor-intensive part is the internal filling. The clocks were collected in free time, so there was an opportunity to think about everything and count it many times. But in the end this did not save us from constructive dead ends. In general, not counting pre-preparation, I assembled and filled the body for about a year (total work time 2 years). And, of course, there were some moments that had to be redone.
Were there any difficulties in finding specific materials, or any new work methods or techniques that you had to master?
I had to sift through a bunch of photographic material from workshops, factory premises, etc., in order to collect an image of a certain plant. For a long time I was looking for rock crystal druses with small crystals (there is a box with crystals on the second floor).
I had to work a lot with glass, I used a whole pack of expired novocaine to learn how to cut off perfectly straight tops from ampoules. I had to order a duplicate flask for seconds from a glass blower from Ukraine, and 3x3 mm ceramic tiles from Germany. I dug up a root tree in the vastness of Spain. It was some kind of quest: “Collect the treasure yourself”!
How would you characterize the style of your work? Perhaps you relied on some historical samples, photographs, works of other authors?
Oh yeah! I love the game "Machinarium". I consider Jakub Dvorsky and the entire Amanita studio to be a unique fusion of soulful, highly professional and wise. I watch the output of each of their works!
Game "Machinarium"
The style of gas-discharge watches is mechanical, in the good sense of the word.
Game "Machinarium"
At the last stages of the work, I turned on music from there, and the sounds in the patina merged with the work, it was even somehow easier to assemble it. Well, little things, of course I love small things, so I often work with miniatures.
Is there any professional advice that you could give to novice craftsmen who are planning to create such large-scale interior compositions?
Perhaps, be patient and take the work more calmly. She herself will tell you how and when to end yourself. I’m not an interior designer, but for me it’s enough to simply arrange the entire composition in my mind in its entirety. Therefore, the most practical advice is to imagine yourself inside this object and examine everything there yourself. What would you like to move or add? It's up to the author to decide!
Will the watch stay at your home or will it look for a new owner?
The question has already been raised many, many times! Especially at fairs, when we took the watches out into the light. I will keep this copy. The case uses parts from my great-grandfather’s watch reserves, this piece is special.
Well, we repeat to everyone again and again that if you have time to wait (the production time is now 9 months) and the material resources to pay for 9 months of painstaking assembly, then we can do it again.
Do you plan to create something similar again, and if so, what are your creative plans?
Now I'm already working on a new building. True, there will be a different building, more glass, light, space, and a different geometry in general. The customer will see it in September. Well, the rest of the world too! I won’t reveal any secrets - the layout itself is still at the development stage.
Do you take part in any exhibitions and events?
As an artist, I have to exhibit quite often. These are both student exhibitions and as part of the international art fund. In one of the last exhibitions, in addition to graphics, several of my applied gizmos even took part, including the Gaia microcard index. It happened completely spontaneously, but was a success.
Card index Gaia
I prefer to participate in various fairs when I can talk with visitors, see their reaction, and exchange warmth.
For you, is handwork a creative expression, just a hobby, or also your main activity?
Lately this has been taking up more and more of my time. However, I never forget about painting (academic and in graphic format), it is my favorite activity. But it’s very nice to bring miniature joys to people, and given the fact that more and more people come to us for them, I want to continue creating in this vein!
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What to make crafts from in the steampunk style
Many apartment owners have already chosen the extravagant steampunk style to decorate their rooms. Non-standard and new, it is suitable for people who are ready to create and create original objects using scrap materials.
The following materials are suitable:
- old wood that has changed color and has cracks;
- copper, brass, bronze, steel parts - steampunk metal;
- leather and glass;
- obsolete, written-off items and equipment;
- metal and glass pipes, valves;
- old mechanisms, which, after disassembly, are reassembled, creating a new masterpiece;
- Don’t forget about gears and gears – the main components of interior style.
Many crafts, made by craftsmen with inspiration and dedication, are used both for decoration and for use in the home.
Sander
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The DEKO DKSD125J1 grinding machine is suitable for a wide range of tasks: for grinding work materials, for carpentry work, for the manufacture of decorative products, etc. The model has a hybrid dust collector, a fairly high power of 350 W and an idle speed of 13,000 rpm. The case is sealed, due to which the service life of the tool is doubled.
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This model of external sound card from the famous UGREEN brand is a godsend for a blogger and music lover who prefers to enjoy his favorite movie or game accompanied by clear and rich sound. A sound card connects your computer, console, or smartphone to your speaker system or headphones. It is possible to adjust the volume using the regulator. You can also connect a studio microphone for sound recording.
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These soft, insulated boots will make you love even the harshest of winters. Inside there is a pleasant-to-touch fur that keeps the cold out, and on the outside there is a rubberized waterproof material. The sole has a grooved coating to make the boots stable in icy conditions. An ideal option for the city and countryside, combining aesthetic qualities with practicality and reliability. You can choose from three colors. Sizes from 34 to 47.
