I Made a Watch… Again. This Time, I Really Went for It…

‘Time’ … get it… no… I’ll get my coat…

Alright, cards on the table, this was not some sort of epic “journey of discovery” where I would find myself and see the light, becoming inspired to give it all up and sell everything I own to become a watchmaker… like me, it is a lot simpler. I just really wanted to build another watch. As you may know, I have made a couple before, these were from the DIY watch club and I thought, “Can I push myself a bit more this time? Can I make something that properly hits that sweet spot of style, function, and personal meaning?” So, I gave it a go. I learned a bit more along the way. Had fun with it. Got nerdy about titanium. You know the drill.

I’ve always loved watches, but after getting a Garmin Tactix Charlie and later an Apple Watch Ultra, I kind of stopped wearing “proper” watches. Unless it was a wedding or something, I just didn’t bother. Convenience won. Smartwatches are cool and all that, of course they have their place, but they slowly turned into glorified step counters for me. Notifications? Off. Fitness tracking? Meh. They told the time, and that was about it… oh, I liked seeing the temperature too… but, it’s not a necessity as I can get that information from the phone in my pocket anyway… granted, it’ll take me about four seconds to do it though. 

But there’s just something about an analogue watch. The craftsmanship, the weight, the tiny gears doing their thing it feels real, tactile. It feels intentional. Unlike a screen buzzing at you all day, a proper watch just sits quietly on your wrist, doing its job, looking good while it’s at it.

So yeah, I decided to make myself one.

 

Why This Watch Exists

As you are well aware, I am one of the folks behind the EDCCooperative and again, as you are aware, that is a community of everyday carry (EDC) geeks who love well made, practical stuff. So when it came to building a watch, I wanted it to reflect the whole ethos: function first, no fluff, built to last but also a bit of style in there too.

Oh, and titanium. It had to be titanium. If you know me, you know I’ve got a thing for the metal. It’s been the go to material in EDC circles for years. It’s tough, light, doesn’t rust, and it just feels right, cool to the touch, solid but not heavy. Plus, it looks clean and minimalist, and if you want to anodize it with colours, it’ll play ball.

Titanium’s that one material that ticks all the boxes and if you’re into EDC, it’s basically a bit of a flex without trying too hard.

So, once I decided the case would be titanium (as I say, there was no other option really, titanium or bust), everything else started to fall into place.

Not the actual watch, but this is a Spinnaker Fleuss, a lovely analog watch that has always been an inspiration.

The Build: Simple, Tough, and Very Me

I went for a classic field style watch. Clean, legible, nothing flashy just a straightforward, rugged design with a modern twist. The case I picked is 40mm with a 20mm lug width, so it’s nicely balanced and doesn’t take over your wrist.

One of the things that drew me to it was the off-centre crown at around 3.8 (if we’re being nerdy about it). It’s just slightly lower than the usual 3 o’clock spot, which makes it more comfortable on the wrist and it adds a nice little asymmetry to the look. I say nerdy… I didn’t even realise it was a thing until I started to look at cases I could potentially use for my watch. It is a detail that you might not notice at first, but it makes a difference, it is practical, deliberate and a little bit cool.

A Nod to the Home Slice’

This wouldn’t be my watch without the EDCCooperative touch. I added the coop logo to the dial. Seeing it there for the first time, yeah, that was a bit of a moment. It felt personal, like I wasn’t just building a watch for me, but something that represents all the people who’ve been part of this little EDC adventure over the years.

We’re not just a group that likes titanium gear and cool knives, we are a proper community. And now I get to wear a tiny reminder of that every day.

Enter the Hawkrigger Strap: The Cherry on Top

Strap wise, I knew from the start I was going with Hawkrigger. No contest. I once sat in a hammock, in the woods on a ‘business call’ with Stuart from Hawkrigger Gear for well over an hour when we were first starting out with our ‘Maker Monday’ segment and he was one of the first people that jumped onboard for that, lovely bloke. Anyway, that aside, I’ve used their stuff before and it’s always top quality. The hard part was choosing which strap.

I landed on the Huey 2-piece, it’s got that rugged, functional vibe that suits a field watch perfectly. Built tough, super comfy, looks smart without trying. It’s the kind of strap that works just as well at a family gathering as it does on a hike. It doesn’t try to outshine the watch, but it still feels premium and is a part of it. 

Plus, it’s made in the UK, which is always a win in my book.

Honestly, when it arrived (two days after I ordered it. Hawkrigger doesn’t mess about), I chucked it on the watch straight away. No hesitation. It just worked. The combo of the titanium case, clean dial, offset crown, and that Huey strap… Perfection.

Would I Do Another One?

Maybe. Yes. It’s got that special meaning behind it. If enough cooperators are interested, I wouldn’t rule out doing a small batch or even just the one. Same values, same vibe, durable, practical, thoughtful design. A little something extra for the EDCCooperative crew.

 

Final Thoughts

So, yeah. That’s the story of this watch. No marketing fluff, no soul-searching “journey”  just a titanium loving bloke who wanted to make a watch that felt right. One that looked good, worked hard, and meant something.

It turned out better than I expected, and I wear it every single day now. Not because it’s fancy. Not because it’s flashy. But because it’s mine. And it tells a story not just about me, but about all of us in the EDC world who love this kind of stuff.

And if you’re thinking about making one for yourself? Do it. You’ll love it. And if you want one like mine? Well… you know where to find me.