Monty Python Ministry of Silly Walks Watch Mod
The Monty Python Ministry of Silly Walks watch has seemingly been popular, probably as a nostalgic purchase or gag gift, but what if we make it the Holy Grail of watch mods? Join me on an epic journey in this mini-series.
The first video has me dissembling and assessing the original watch. The second video describes the components I purchased, altered, and created to build the watch. The third video shows me testing components and putting it all together. The result is seriously funny.
The original watch can also be found on the Philosopher’s Guild website.
So just how much work was involved in this watch build? I would say it is the most “modded” watch I have done, as opposed to watches I have made. I’m not even sure I’d call it a mod at this point. The only parts from the original I haven’t changed are the hands. Here is a list of the work:
- Swapped the quartz movement with a mechanical movement that had matching hand sizes, the Miyota 6T33, which is a discontinued movement.
- Custom black PVD cases made in Germany that were just about the right size. Every tenth of a millimeter matters.
- Shaved dial diameter down just a hair, about 0.1-0.2mm.
- Drafted and printed a custom spacer for the back of the dial to accommodate the hour wheel yoke on the Miyota 6T33 movement.
- Epoxied the spacer to the dial.
- Milled and set new dial feet for the different movement.
- Drafted and printed a custom movement holder.
- Extended the stem.
- Found a decent strap that matches the dial and case perfectly.
- I think that’s most of it…parts cost was $300. (I am making five more with some slight changes which I pre-sold for $500 each, which is a super fair price given the labor.)
This project was so much fun! I ended up ordering enough parts to build five more, but with sapphire crystals and the automatic version of this movement in white, the Miyota 6T28. That entire line of movements was discontinued in 2016 and they can rarely be found on the open market or via watch parts distributors. I happened to get the last of the cases from the German manufacturer, which was a custom order with what they had left from previous runs. Needless to say, the watches have already been pre-sold. But I will publish some more content of their making.
