Question about pocket watches

[Asmusei]

I know that this will be a very long-shot on this site, but I'm going to post it anyways.

Since I am in the Army and perform tonnes of mechanical tasks in my job, I'd like to have a watch that 1) is rugged to the point it would stand against being in the Middle East, though being shot and an IED are perfectly reasonable things to completely annihilate it. And 2) I'd like to make the watch, at least the body, by hand as a family heirloom to pass along one day. Ideally, I'd like o make an automatic (self-winding) because batteries wear out and manual ones tend to be too sensitive for even day-to-day military life.

Any suggestions?

[DXnobodyX]

The longest lasting watch I've had would be one of those plastic childrens ones where its just a digital time.

[Asmusei]

DXnobodyX

The longest lasting watch I've had would be one of those plastic childrens ones where its just a digital time.

I get that, but back at where my parents live there's an antique shop that is a main hub for pocket watches. They have nothing younger than fifty years old, everything works and unfortunately go for at least $160. if I make my own I know damn well that everything will work as well as I can get it to and can make it to last longer than anything store-bought. Everything made for the past thirty of forty years has planned obsolescence, to either fail outright of become inferior quickly, and I'm not going to fall for that garbage especially when I want to make something for my own kids one day.

[chainmailleman]

Asmusei

Any suggestions?

Well they will be pricey. About a hundred bucks starting just for a mechanical pocket watch. Most I see are etched, inlaid, plated, etc. I haven't come across anything that would meet your specs just yet.

[Asmusei]

chainmailleman

Asmusei

Any suggestions?

Well they will be pricey. About a hundred bucks starting just for a mechanical pocket watch. Most I see are etched, inlaid, plated, etc. I haven't come across anything that would meet your specs just yet.

Well, I've also been looking for kits for just the mechanical bits as converting one that uses a battery and motor to load a spring can be easily converted, thus the casing itself and creating a shock-absorption of sorts would be easy as hell to make by hand.
Know of anything like that, at least?

[chainmailleman]

Asmusei

chainmailleman

Asmusei

Any suggestions?

Well they will be pricey. About a hundred bucks starting just for a mechanical pocket watch. Most I see are etched, inlaid, plated, etc. I haven't come across anything that would meet your specs just yet.

Well, I've also been looking for kits for just the mechanical bits as converting one that uses a battery and motor to load a spring can be easily converted, thus the casing itself and creating a shock-absorption of sorts would be easy as hell to make by hand.
Know of anything like that, at least?

I rarely admit it but this is getting beyond my expertise. If I had one in front of me I could figure it out, but I have never seen the inside of a pocket watch, new or old. (I take that back, I haven't seen the inside of one that was in 'functional' condition).

[Asmusei]

chainmailleman

Asmusei

chainmailleman

Asmusei

Any suggestions?

Well they will be pricey. About a hundred bucks starting just for a mechanical pocket watch. Most I see are etched, inlaid, plated, etc. I haven't come across anything that would meet your specs just yet.

Well, I've also been looking for kits for just the mechanical bits as converting one that uses a battery and motor to load a spring can be easily converted, thus the casing itself and creating a shock-absorption of sorts would be easy as hell to make by hand.
Know of anything like that, at least?

I rarely admit it but this is getting beyond my expertise. If I had one in front of me I could figure it out, but I have never seen the inside of a pocket watch, new or old. (I take that back, I haven't seen the inside of one that was in 'functional' condition).

Well, it's what I'm looking to do. I know the mathematical ratios needed to gear up and down for the seconds, minutes and hours, but it's a complete pain in the a** to do and even harder to do at such a scale by hand. However, I have only found one site gears for watches and that was simply a mixed pile of them, no real order to it all. I just might have to ask my father if he can get at a CNC machine to rough-cut the needed gears out of brass sheet metal...