JustBeginning
Beginner's guide

So you're getting into watch repair

Servicing your own watches is deeply satisfying, and genuinely demanding. The good news: basic quartz battery swaps and introductory mechanical cleaning are accessible to patient beginners with the right toolkit. Here's exactly what you need to start, and what to leave to a professional until you have more practice.

By Colin B. · Published June 7, 2026 · Last reviewed June 7, 2026
Hands assembling a small model with detail.

Photo by Nik on Unsplash

The 60-second version

If you only buy 3 things to start:

  1. 9-Piece Watchmaker Screwdrivers Set — A complete watchmaker's screwdriver set for every job from battery swaps to movement work. The first tool to buy.
  2. SE 10x Triplet Folding Jeweler's Loupe — A 10x loupe is the first purchase. You can't see what you need to fix without one.
  3. WEISHI Timegrapher No.1000 Watch Timing Machine — The timegrapher tells you if a movement is running true. Non-negotiable for any mechanical watch work.
Budget total
$120
Typical total
$350
A basic toolkit (hand tools, loupe, demagnetizer) runs $120-200. Add a timegrapher and you're at $300-400. Real Bergeon screwdrivers and watch oils push the ceiling higher.

We earn commission on qualifying Amazon purchases — see our affiliate disclosure. Price tiers and budget totals shown above are editorial estimates; actual Amazon prices vary.

At a glance

Our top pick in each category

The fastest path through this guide — each best-starter pick by category. Scroll for the budget and upgrade alternatives.

CategoryTop pickPriceWhere to buy
Hand ToolsSTREBITOSTREBITO Precision Screwdriver Set (142-Piece)$$ See on Amazon →
Case & Crystal ToolsUnbrandedAdjustable Watch Case Back Opener$ See on Amazon →
MagnificationSESE 10x Triplet Folding Jeweler's Loupe$ See on Amazon →
Lubrication & CleaningAkozonAkozon Watch Oil Set with Moebius 9010$$$ See on Amazon →
Timing & DiagnosticsWEISHIWEISHI Timegrapher No.1000 Watch Timing Machine$$$ See on Amazon →
Before you buy anything

A few things worth knowing first

Start on quartz watches, not mechanical. A battery swap teaches you how cases open, how parts are organized, and how easily things go wrong, without involving an expensive movement. Buy 5 cheap quartz watches from a thrift store for $5-10 each before you touch anything you care about.

Your tools matter less than your lighting and magnification at first. A jeweler's loupe in good light lets you see what you're doing. A fancy screwdriver set in bad light still leads to stripped screws. Buy a loupe first, then tools.

Watch oil goes bad. The Moebius and Nye-branded oils are the real thing, but buy small quantities. A 1ml vial of 9010 oil is enough for years of work. Don't buy surplus watchmaker's oil sets of unknown age from eBay.

The gear

What you actually need

Hand Tools

Watchmaker's screwdrivers are your most-used tools. You need four blade widths to cover most jobs: 1.2mm, 1.5mm, 2.0mm, and 2.5mm. Anti-magnetic steel matters because a magnetized screwdriver will stick to tiny parts and cost you hours. Blade flatness matters more than most beginners realize: a hollow-ground blade that seats properly in a screw slot is the difference between a clean job and a stripped head. Tweezers come in plastic-tipped (for parts you cannot scratch) and stainless anti-magnetic (for everything else). Start with a decent set and upgrade individual pieces as you identify what you use most.

Hand Tools — what's the difference?

A few common shapes, each making a different trade.

Starter Set

All widths in one box. Good enough to learn on; upgrade specific blades later.

Widths
1.2-3.0mm range
Blades
Replaceable
Material
Anti-magnetic steel

Best for Beginners learning on inexpensive practice watches

Tradeoff Blade flatness doesn't match Bergeon; more stripped screws on precision work

↓ See our pick
Individual Bergeon

Professional grade with replaceable, resharpenable blades. Buy width by width.

Widths
0.6-4.0mm (sold individually)
Blades
Replaceable + resharpenable
Material
Hollow-ground hardened steel

Best for Serious learners; anyone servicing watches they actually care about

Tradeoff Cost adds up; buy the widths you use rather than the full range at once

↓ See our pick
Best starter
STREBITO

STREBITO Precision Screwdriver Set (142-Piece)

$$

A 142-piece precision screwdriver kit that covers every watchmaker's width from 0.5mm through larger sizes, plus ESD-safe tweezers and a magnetic work mat. STREBITO is not a watchmaker brand, but the tools are anti-magnetic and the bit range covers every job a beginner will encounter. A practical way to equip yourself fully before committing to dedicated watchmaker tools.

What we like

  • Covers the four most common screwdriver widths plus tweezers in one box
  • Anti-magnetic steel keeps your movements running true after service
  • Replaceable blades extend the set well past the initial learning period

What to know

  • Blades are not as flat-ground as individual Bergeon screwdrivers
  • Bundled tweezers rarely match the feel of dedicated watchmaker's tweezers
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Unbranded

9-Piece Watchmaker Screwdrivers Set

$

A watchmaker-specific set with exactly the blade widths you need (0.5-2.5mm). No extras, no frills, just the screwdrivers. Good enough for battery swaps and basic case work. If you want to confirm the hobby is for you before investing in Bergeon tools, start here.

What we like

  • Under $20: almost zero financial risk to finding out if watch repair sticks
  • Wide width range means you will find the blades you need most

What to know

  • Blade quality is inconsistent; plan to replace individual blades within months
  • No anti-magnetic guarantee; keep away from movement mainsprings
See on Amazon →
Upgrade pick
Bergeon

Bergeon 30081 Individual Watchmaker Screwdriver

$$$

Bergeon is the industry standard. The 30081 series screwdrivers are hollow-ground, exactly the right hardness, and come with spare blades. Serious hobbyists own nothing else. Buy them one width at a time as you identify which blades you reach for most. The 0.50mm and 1.20mm are the first two to get.

What we like

  • Hollow-ground blades seat perfectly in screw slots, zero camming out
  • Replaceable, resharpenable blades last a watchmaking career

What to know

  • Each screwdriver runs $15-25; full width coverage gets expensive fast
  • Overkill for your first months of battery swaps and basic quartz work
See on Amazon →

Case & Crystal Tools

Almost every watch has a case back, and you need to open it for any internal work. Snap-back cases (most quartz watches) open with a case back knife pushed into a small notch. Screw-back cases (most mechanical watches) need an adjustable opener that grips and turns. Crystal replacement requires a crystal press to seat the new crystal without cracking it. A spring bar tool is essential for any strap change, and you will change straps constantly once you get into watches.

Best starter
Unbranded

Adjustable Watch Case Back Opener

$

An adjustable 5-prong case back opener handles both screw-back and snap-back cases. Adjust the jaw width to match the case diameter, grip the lugs, and turn. Works on Seikos, ETA-movement Swiss watches, and most fashion watches. This is the one tool you need before you can access any movement.

What we like

  • Adjustable jaws handle a wide diameter range and both case back types
  • Works on the Seikos and ETA movements beginners start with

What to know

  • Lower quality openers slip on polished or chamfered case backs
  • Doesn't handle every proprietary Rolex and Omega case; those need dedicated dies
Find on Amazon →
Specialty pick
BTSKYTM

BTSKYTM Watch Crystal Press Set (13-Piece)

$$

A crystal press seats mineral and sapphire crystals without cracking them. The press uses interchangeable dies sized to the crystal diameter; you press down evenly and the crystal snaps into the bezel channel. Without it, a new crystal is a $5 part you will crack trying to fit by hand.

What we like

  • Even, controlled pressure seats crystals without cracking
  • Interchangeable dies cover the 20-40mm range most hobby watches fall in

What to know

  • Overkill if you're not planning to replace crystals in your first year
  • Cheap press sets have soft dies that deform; check metal quality before buying
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Bergeon

Bergeon 6767-F Spring Bar Tool

$

Every strap change requires a spring bar tool. The forked end compresses the spring bar so you can lift the strap lug. Without it, you are prying with a screwdriver and scratching lugs. Under $15 and you will use it every single time you change a watch strap.

What we like

  • Essential for every strap change, which you will do constantly
  • Under $15 and widely available when the tip wears out

What to know

  • Cheap tips scratch lugs; practice on a beater watch first
  • Single job; doesn't help with case backs
See on Amazon →

Magnification

You cannot do watch repair without magnification. At 10x, a jeweler's loupe shows you the detail you need for most basic work: reading screw heads, checking gaskets, inspecting crystal condition. At 2.5-3.5x, a headband magnifier lets you work hands-free for extended periods. Most beginners underestimate how much magnification matters and try to work naked-eye, then wonder why screws are stripping.

Best starter
SE

SE 10x Triplet Folding Jeweler's Loupe

$

A 10x triplet loupe is the first tool every watchmaker reaches for. Triplet design corrects for color and edge distortion that single-element loupes have. You hold it against your eye socket and the world shrinks to the detail you need. Master using a loupe before buying anything more expensive.

What we like

  • Triplet design corrects color and edge distortion that cheaper loupes skip
  • Small enough to pocket; always with you at the bench

What to know

  • Takes a week of practice to hold against your eye consistently
  • Not hands-free; you need to set it down to work with both hands
Find on Amazon →
Upgrade pick
Donegan

Donegan OptiVisor DA-5 Headband Magnifier 2.5x

$$

A headband magnifier keeps your hands free for extended assembly work. The 2.5x to 3.5x range is ideal for watchmaking: enough to see what you need, not so much that you lose working depth. Once you start servicing movements, you will wear one of these constantly.

What we like

  • Hands-free operation lets you work with tools on both hands simultaneously
  • The 2.5-3.5x range covers movement assembly and jewel inspection cleanly

What to know

  • At 3.5x working distance is short; takes adjustment to find your sweet spot
  • Not great for quick inspection; you'll still reach for the loupe for that
See on Amazon →

Lubrication & Cleaning

Every moving watch part needs the right lubrication at the right point. Using too much oil, too little oil, or the wrong oil destroys a movement just as surely as dirty parts do. The three oils you'll use most: 9010 for the gear train, 9415 for the mainspring barrel, and D5 grease for the keyless works. Rodico is the watchmaker's cleaning putty: a small piece on a pegwood stick removes old oil from jewels without solvents. Pegwood sticks are the disposable applicators you'll use constantly.

Best starter
Akozon

Akozon Watch Oil Set with Moebius 9010

$$$

Includes genuine Moebius 9010 (the essential gear-train oil) with applicator pens for precise dosing. 9010 is the first oil every watchmaker needs; this kit gets you started without sourcing individual vials. When you need 9415 and D5 grease, source them from Cousins UK or Esslinger, which have better oil variety.

What we like

  • Three-oil set covers gear train, barrel, and keyless works in one purchase
  • Small quantities mean you won't be stuck with a shelf of expired stock

What to know

  • Genuine Moebius oils are expensive; knockoffs damage movements
  • Still requires research to know which oil goes where; no shortcut exists
See on Amazon →
Specialty pick
Bergeon

Bergeon Rodico Cleaning Putty

$

Rodico is the watchmaker's blue-tack: a small piece on the tip of a pegwood stick picks up dust, old oil, and debris from jewels without leaving residue. You will use Rodico more than any liquid cleaner for basic work. Buy a fresh tin; old Rodico loses its tackiness and becomes useless.

What we like

  • Removes debris from jewels and surfaces cleanly without solvents
  • Safer for sensitive parts than liquid cleaners; no residue left behind

What to know

  • Dries out quickly if left open; buy fresh and keep the lid on
  • Takes practice with a peg stick; first attempts leave bits behind
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Unbranded

Watchmakers Pegwood Sticks (24-Pack)

$

Pegwood sticks are sharpened wood dowels used to clean jewel holes and remove old oil. Sharpen the tip to a point, insert into the jewel, rotate, and the wood absorbs the contaminant. Cheap, disposable, and irreplaceable for basic movement cleaning.

What we like

  • The standard tool for cleaning jewel holes; nothing else works as cleanly
  • Cheap and disposable; use fresh tips every time, no cross-contamination

What to know

  • Must be resharpened constantly; takes prep before every session
  • Lower-quality sticks leave fibers; buy name-brand pegwood
See on Amazon →

Timing & Diagnostics

A timegrapher (timing machine) tells you a movement's rate: how many seconds per day it gains or loses. You cannot verify a service was successful without one. The affordable timegraphers (Weishi and similar, $30-80) are genuine instruments accurate enough for all hobby work. A demagnetizer is a $15-20 device you'll use before every mechanical service: magnetism is invisible and causes erratic timekeeping, and a two-second pass clears it. Buy the demagnetizer immediately; the timegrapher can wait a month or two.

Best starter
WEISHI

WEISHI Timegrapher No.1000 Watch Timing Machine

$$$

A timegrapher listens to the tick of a movement and tells you rate (seconds per day), beat error (whether the balance is centered), and amplitude (how much power the mainspring has). Without it, you are guessing. The Weishi and similar affordable timegraphers are real instruments, accurate enough for all hobby work.

What we like

  • Rate, beat error, and amplitude in one reading tells you everything post-service
  • Pays for itself the first time you catch a service that didn't take

What to know

  • Requires learning to interpret readings; join r/watchrepair for guidance
  • Signal clip placement matters; loose contact gives misleading results
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
QEES

QEES Professional Watch Demagnetizer

$

Magnetism is invisible and causes erratic timekeeping: a magnetized watch can run 30 or more seconds fast per day for no apparent reason. A demagnetizer costs $15-20, takes two seconds to use, and should be your first pass before any mechanical service.

What we like

  • Fixes invisible magnetism causing watches to run 30+ seconds fast daily
  • Two-second operation; run every watch through it before opening the case

What to know

  • Doesn't fix mechanical wear or damage; magnetism is just one cause of errors
  • Very cheap units may not fully demagnetize thick steel cases
See on Amazon →
Going deeper

Your first month of watch repair

Watch repair starts simpler than you think and gets harder faster than you expect. Here's how to spend your first month building skills that will last a lifetime.

Read the guide →
Save your money

What you don't need yet

Beginners get pressured to buy a lot of stuff that doesn't help them play better. Here's what we'd skip on day one.

  • Ultrasonic cleaner — Essential for proper movement overhauls, but overkill for your first six months of battery swaps and basic case work.
  • Watchmaker's lathe — For machining and modifying parts. Professional-level equipment you won't need for years, if ever.
  • Pressure testing equipment — Water resistance testing is important but not relevant until you're doing full case resealing. A good skill for month six or later.
  • Stereo microscope — Better than a loupe for fine escapement work, but a $25 triplet loupe handles everything you'll do in your first year.
  • Pro-grade Witschi timing equipment — The Weishi timegrapher is 90% as useful at 10% of the cost. Professional Witschi machines are for production watchmakers.
First week

Your first seven days

A short, real plan to get from gear-on-doorstep to actually playing.

  1. Order your starter screwdriver set and 10x loupe so they arrive before the weekend. · Buy
  2. Source 5-10 cheap quartz watches from a thrift store or Goodwill for $5-10 each. These are your practice pieces. Don't skip this step. · Action
  3. Watch Wristwatch Revival's battery replacement video on YouTube before you open anything. Understand how cases open before you force one. · Learn
  4. Open your first practice watch case. Don't remove anything. Look at how the movement is held, where the screws are, and how the parts sit. Close it back up. · Action
  5. Change your first battery. Look up the movement number on the case back to find the correct battery size before you go to the store. · Action
  6. Order a demagnetizer and run your first practice watch through it. This costs $15 and takes two seconds; it should be part of every future service. · Buy
  7. Join r/watchrepair and browse the wiki. Introduce yourself and post a photo of your first practice piece. · Learn
FAQ

Common questions

How much does it cost to get started with watch repair?

A practical starter kit runs $120-200: screwdriver and tweezer set, 10x loupe, case back opener, spring bar tool, demagnetizer, and pegwood sticks. Add a timegrapher ($40-80) when you start on mechanical watches. Real Bergeon screwdrivers and Moebius oils push the ceiling to $350 or more, but those come later.

What watch should I practice on first?

A cheap quartz watch from a thrift store, ideally with a snap-back case. Something from a Goodwill or Salvation Army for $5-10. Practice opening the case, looking at the movement, and closing it again without damage. Once you can do that cleanly, change the battery. Then repeat on five more watches before you touch anything you care about.

Do I need a timegrapher right away?

No. For your first month of battery swaps and basic case work, you do not need a timegrapher. Get one when you start on mechanical movements, because you cannot verify a service was successful without measuring rate and amplitude. The Weishi-style timegraphers in the $40-80 range are accurate enough for all hobby work.

Can I service a mechanical movement as a complete beginner?

Technically yes, practically you should build up to it. Start with quartz: battery swaps, case cleaning, strap changes. After a few months, attempt a simple ETA movement like a 6497/6498 (a popular first mechanical service). Seiko 7S26 and NH35 movements are also beginner-friendly. Vintage Swiss movements with jeweled trains are intermediate work.

Where do I buy watch parts and supplies?

Cousins UK (cousinsuk.com) is the go-to parts catalog for hobbyists worldwide: crystals, gaskets, batteries, hands, movements. Jules Borel (julesborel.com) is the US equivalent. eBay has a massive vintage parts market once you know what you're looking for. For tools, Esslinger (esslinger.com) has most professional-grade items.

How long does it take to learn watch repair well?

Battery swaps and strap changes: an afternoon. Basic quartz movement servicing: a few weekends. Competent mechanical movement servicing: six months to a year of regular practice. The skill ceiling is genuinely high. Professional watchmakers train for three to five years. But useful hobbyist skills come much faster than that.

Going further

Where to next

Related hobbies

Browse by category

Authoritative sources

  • r/watchrepair — Active and beginner-welcoming. The wiki has movement-specific service guides and a recommended tool list. Introduce yourself and you will get real answers.
  • Wristwatch Revival (YouTube) — The best beginner watch repair channel. Clear technique, honest about mistakes, covers everything from battery swaps to full movement overhauls. Start here.
  • Mark Lovick Watch Repair Channel (YouTube) — Detailed, methodical tutorials on specific movements. More technical than Wristwatch Revival; watch after you have a few services under your belt.
  • Cousins UK — The go-to parts and tools catalog for hobbyists. Crystals, gaskets, batteries, movements, and professional tools. Ships internationally.
  • Jules Borel — US-based watch parts supplier. Good for movement parts, mainsprings, and finding movement-specific components you can't source elsewhere.
  • The Watch Repairer's Manual by Henry Fried — The classic English-language reference for mechanical watch servicing. Dense and technical, but worth having once you move past quartz into mechanical movements.
grayscale photo of person holding pocket watch

Photo by Travis Essinger on Unsplash

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