Every watch has to have a "stem", even when it a battery powered electric watch. The ones that I use are called a swivel-type "Document Hanger". I find them in the picture hanging hardware section at Michael's, or one of the larger Ace Hardware stores. They are also available on-line or through the Woodcraft catalog as part no. 09G14. Search for either the part number or "Pocket Watch Pull" from their Home Page.
Klockit has a similar item they call a "Coupler", part no. 38409. It is a round-topped stud with a through hole for the chain. It is different, but it looks good with the watch and it does the job.
Both carry a gold watch chain that is a reasonable quality considering that the cost is only $5.95
Eyelets
The womens watch uses an eyelet so it can be used on a chain. I have never resolved the question of which is the better to use, solid brass or gold plated eyelets. Brass eyelets will have to be buffed occassionally to keep them from tarnishing in my inventory, but they will stay polished during use. The gold plated eyelets stay brighter while I have them, but the plating wears easily. I will leave it up to the reader to determine which they want to use. I can usually find the gold plated steel eyelets in the "Jewelry Findings" section at JoAnn Fabrics. I tried fitting the eyes from fishing hooks, but they are stainless steel, and folks would rather see a "gold" color when they are buying a watch.
I use this "Bessey" drill press vice to hold the watch for drilling. I made a clamping plate from a piece of wood. The plate has a boss that fits into the recess of the watch, and it is notched on the bottom to fit between the two rods of the vice. A line drawn on the clamping plate makes it easy to center under the drill, and a strip of wood clamped to the table keeps it there.
Clamp the watch in the vice, using a piece of paper towel to prevent it from being scratched. Sight from the side to get the proper location for the hole across the curvature of the watch. Drill a 1/4" recess with a brad-point drill, and just deep enough to present a full flat surface for the watch "stem".
The center spur on the drill will center the smaller drill for the next step.
For installing an eyelet, this will be a single hole drilled with a bit that is 1/16" or less.
Put a 1/8" bit in the drill, and drill through, using the center-spur hole from the previous drill to center it in the recess.
Remember back when I said that we should turn the watch with a small "flat" around the recess, but "not to worry" if we didn't, or maybe we later sanded it away.
We can put that small flat back again by rubbing the edge of the rim across a piece of 280-grit sandp
aper followed doing the same on 600-grit..
Time For A Decision -
There are only two decisions to ponder when making a pocket watch. The first was at the beginning when we determined which side of the block would make the better presentation on the back of the watch. The other is now, where we decide where to drill the hole for the "stem". Give this some thought because, once done, there is no going back.
Three Rules
There three (3) rules for the location of the "stem" or eyelet. If you don't believe me, break any one of them and see if that watch is selected over one that obeyed all the rules, even though it may have the better "grain picture".
Visualize the watch as it would be seen, hanging on a chain for a women's pendant, or being held in the hand for a man's pocket watch. In either case the "stem" will be on top.
The First Rule: All curved lines, or any general curvature in the overall wood pattern, should open upward. Any curvature that opens downward will have the appearance of sadness or of spilling its contents.. In other words, the "U" shape of the grain pattern should open upward.
The Second Rule: Any dark or highly figured area should be located anywhere but on the bottom or the top of the watch. At the bottom it has the appearance of "heaviness" and that it fell under its own weight. Put it on the top, and it has the appearance of being unstable. Anywhere in between these extremes will "work". Use your judgement, and get a women's opinion.
The Third Rule: Straight lines should be vertical, sometimes diagonal "works", but NEVER horizontal.
Screw the "stem" into the top of the watch. Remove it again to grind off any excess length. Put it back in with a drop of "Medium" CA glue to keep in place.
