Do-it-yourself used to mean spending hours getting inspired by the Discovery channel and then either starting a project you really didn’t have time for, or getting roped into one you completed just so you would stop hearing about how you don’t listen. On more than one occasion, these endeavors ultimately led to singed eyebrows, hammered thumbs or a trip to the emergency room. David Sokosh of Clinton Hill Clocks isn’t similarly afflicted, so he decided to start DIY-ing watches from vintage watch parts as Brooklyn Watches. Each piece is powered by a vintage 17 jewel manual wind movement from a pocket watch (no batteries required) mated to a collection of different vintage faces, hands and cases from high-end manufacturers like Panerai and Breguet. The back of the case also has a display window so you can admire Sokosh’s handiwork. They’re the hot rods of the watch world.
More Watches
The Irresistible Charm of the Birth-Year Watch
Why many modern collectors are hunting for their “twin watch”—a timepiece with shared history.
Our 15 Favorite Watches Under $100
Luxury goods offer heritage, stories, and style. But those qualities are not mutually exclusive to affordability.
Uncovering Fiction’s Mystery Watches, From Bond to Gatsby
We’re unpacking the real-world inspirations behind the most enviable—but unnamed—timepieces throughout fiction.