So today I finally got around to modding that old watch I found – wanted a tiny face look, like those fancy Rolex small face ones everyone drools over. Let me tell ya, it wasn’t smooth sailing.
What I Used and Why I Maybe Shouldn’t Have
- Cheap watch off eBay (shoulda known better)
- My kid brother’s precision screwdriver set (mostly just the tiny flathead)
- Super glue (don’t judge)
- Paperclips bent outta shape for poking things
- A toothpick for the delicate stuff (ha!)
- Bright desk lamp and an old magnifying glass
I just thought, “How hard can popping the back off a watch be?” Famous last words, right? Pried for ages with the screwdriver, almost stabbed myself twice. Finally popped open with a scary crack sound. Peeked inside – looked like a tiny robot city in there. All shiny gears and those tiny springs that try to murder your eyes.
Right. Goal: Smaller dial. The original face was way too busy. Took the tiny flathead screwdriver, held my breath, and gently pried the dial off its tiny posts. Felt like defusing a bomb. Set it aside.
Next problem: The chapter ring thing – the metal bit framing the glass. Too big now. Needed it smaller. Brainwave: Sandpaper! Got a tiny bit off an emery board. Started gently rubbing the back edge of this metal ring to make its inner diameter wider. Sanded my finger way more than the metal. Progress? Not much. Said “screw it” and just carefully bent the tiny tabs holding it. Ugly? Yeah. But functional.
The Stupidly Tricky Part
Putting the dial back on was the worst. Those tiny posts? Minuscule. Hands shaking like crazy. Used the bent paperclip to try and nudge it onto the posts. Sneezed once and almost launched the dial across the room. Nearly gave up ten times. Finally managed to get it kinda crookedly on. Close enough. Looked at the hands. Decided I hated them.
Tried taking ’em off with the toothpick and paperclip. Scratched the stupid dial like crazy. Broke the seconds hand clean off trying. Genius move, eh? Glued it back together with a dot of super glue, made a mess, smeared glue on the dial. Wiped most off with a dry paperclip point. Still looks foggy under the glass now. Whoops.
Put the hands back on roughly where “12” might be. The hour hand scrapes the dial now and sometimes sticks. Classic.
Fought with the back case again. Those stupid grooves wouldn’t line up. Pushed down real hard till it snapped shut. Heard a crunch. Fingers crossed it wasn’t vital.
So Yeah, My “Rolex Small Face”
It runs! Mostly. Keeps time surprisingly okay. Looks okay from three feet away? Yeah, kinda. Up close? Oof. Scratched dial, glued seconds hand, scraped case back. But! It does have that smaller dial look. The face fills less space. Mission technically accomplished?
Final thoughts: Maybe just saving up for the real deal is smarter. Or practicing on more junk watches first. A lot messier and more annoying than those fancy YouTubers make it look. But hey, now I got a slightly ugly “small face” watch and a story. Wife says it looks cheap. Can’t argue with that.
