Welcome to wristwatcher
WristWatcher is my personal journal chronicling a novice’s deep dive into the world of vintage watch collecting and restoration. I’m not a seasoned horologist—just a curious hobbyist learning as I go. Here, I’ll share my experiences, discoveries, and missteps. Whether you’re a fellow enthusiast, someone facing a tricky restoration glitch, or just love the look of a vintage timepiece, I hope you’ll find something here that sparks your interest.
How it all started?
It began in early 2025. I came across an ad for a type of watch where you could see all the tiny gears spinning inside. That sight got me thinking: How are all those parts connected? Where did watchmaking even begin? And before modern electronics, how did people make sure their watches kept accurate time?
At the same time, I was exploring AI tools online. Out of curiosity, I dropped the URL of that watch into ChatGPT and quickly fell into a fascinating rabbit hole—learning how watches work, the styles that exist, and what makes one “junk” and another “a keeper” in horological terms. Turns out, the watch that caught my eye was a “skeleton watch”… and, well, not exactly a masterpiece.
But that spark of curiosity turned into a passion. I started researching what makes watches respected, discovered the possibilities of doing your own servicing and repairs (who knew!), and decided to dig deeper.
Since then, I’ve picked up a few pieces that caught my eye—and a good handful more intended for restoration. Like many beginners, I’ve taken the advice to start with the Seiko 7009 movement, which means I’ve now got a growing collection of those… and a lot of learning ahead!