My Favourite Watchmaking YouTubers
One of the main reasons I first got into watchmaking was YouTube. I can’t remember exactly who the first person I watched was, but at the time I found videos of people repairing watches incredibly relaxing. I’d often put them on while working or just before bed. Over the years, I’ve followed all kinds of watchmakers—from seasoned professionals sharing their craft to enthusiastic amateurs making videos purely for the joy of it.
This list is by no means definitive, but here are some of my favourite YouTubers to watch (in no particular order). For each one, I’ve included a link to a favourite video and explained why it stands out to me. Thanks for reading!
1. Nekkid Watchmaker
What I love about Joe, The Nekkid Watchmaker, is how he strikes the perfect balance of entertainment, humour, and serious skill. Joe is from Birmingham and showcases his watchmaking expertise with an easygoing style and genuine modesty that make his videos a pleasure to watch. The Video above showcases Joe’s full repair of the nicknamed ‘Omega Jedi’ and i love this video as it clearly shows a master at work.
Unlike many on this list, Joe is actually a professional watchmaker with years of experience at the bench long before his YouTube channel took off. This really shows—not just in his impressive collection of tools and machines, but in the depth and range of his skills. He handles everything from highly complex movements to full, meticulous restorations including case refinishing and strap work. He uses serious kit too, from expensive cleaning machines to large lathes that probably take up half a room.
My favourite aspect of Joe’s work isn’t just his horological knowledge but his incredible ability to restore watch cases and straps. He makes them look factory fresh while also ensuring the movement runs perfectly.
Joe introduces his channel with characteristic warmth: “Greetings and a warm welcome to you all. The mission of The Nekkid Watchmaker is to strip away all the BS and snobbery in watchmaking and to encourage a new generation of watchmakers into this wonderful art. In essence, we are all Nekkid watchmakers.”
He describes himself as a watchmaker specialising in service and restorations. Though he jokes he’s a bit late to the YouTube party, he started his channel for anyone who loves watches and wants help, advice, or just good conversation about them. With so many years of daily hands-on experience, he brings a level of insight that really sets his videos apart, offering reviews, tutorials, and discussions about the many interesting watches that pass through his hands.
Check out their YouTube Channel2. Weekend Watch Repair
As someone who bought a Seiko Pogue for my collection back in 2015—a watch that, truth be told, has never actually worked—I was immediately drawn to Weekend Watch Repair. The channel’s creator shares my fascination with Pogues and Seiko watches in general, which made his videos especially compelling to me.
My own Pogue has always been temperamental and tends to stop frequently. One of the big motivations behind learning watch repair myself has been the dream of one day fixing this chronograph. Obviously, tackling a chronograph movement is on another level entirely, and I’m nowhere near ready yet—but watching Weekend Watch Repair has been both inspiring and educational.
His channel is dedicated to bringing old watches back to life, one project at a time. Whether it’s a vintage piece from the bargain bin or something that hasn’t ticked in decades, every watch gets a chance at redemption. He’s a hobbyist watchmaker learning as he goes, sharing the entire process along the way—from teardown and troubleshooting to casework and reassembly. What I love most is that he doesn’t just show the successes; he’s also transparent about the mistakes and unexpected problems that come with working on old mechanical watches.
If you’re into the technical side of watch repair, enjoy seeing how things work, or just appreciate the art of restoring something broken, his videos are a perfect fit. He aims to make each one as informative as it is satisfying, sharing tools, techniques, and even a few tricks you don’t always see elsewhere.
The video I’ve linked above is an excellent example of someone truly at the top of their game. I return to it often to watch a great watchmaker in action.
Check out their YouTube Channel3. Wristwatch Revival
Probably the most popular watch repair channel on YouTube, with over a million subscribers, Wristwatch Revival is run by Marshall—a hobbyist with no formal qualifications or training in watchmaking. Despite that, he’s slowly become a true master of the craft, showing exactly how motivation and dedication can help anyone develop serious skill without ever taking an accredited course.
Marshall also has some of the best production values you’ll find in the watch-repair space. If you want to see detailed, up-close footage of intricate watch work—filmed with real passion and professional polish—Wristwatch Revival is an excellent place to start. My personal favourite of his videos is his beautiful restoration of a vintage Rolex Submariner.
Marshall introduces himself simply and honestly: “I’m Marshall. I love watches and found a passion for watchmaking. I like to find broken or neglected vintage watches and bring them back to life, restoring history and letting someone enjoy them for years to come. I’m not a watchmaker by trade, but I do love the hobby and I hope you’ll see why on this channel!”
That spirit really comes through in every video. His enthusiasm is infectious, and his channel is the perfect blend of entertainment, education, and sheer appreciation for the art of watch restoration.
Check out their YouTube Channel4. Watch Repair Tutorials
My favourite watchmaker on this entire list, Watch Repair Tutorials—just as the name suggests—is a channel dedicated to actually learning how to become a watchmaker. It’s by far the best resource I’ve found for newcomers to the craft. Alex, the man behind the channel, brings serious credibility to his teaching thanks to a long career that stretches all the way back to the 1980s. His depth of skill and experience really shows in every video.
My favourite of his videos, which I return to often, is his complete service of the ST36 movement. This calibre is often recommended as one of the best practice movements for beginners, and Alex’s hour-long, detailed tutorial is absolutely invaluable—especially considering it’s free. Honestly, I don’t think I’d have learned half as much as I have without Alex’s videos.
Alex shares his own story with characteristic humility and clarity. He attended the Emily Griffith Technical College in Denver, Colorado in the early 1980s, studying watchmaking for two years under the great Archie Perkins before Perkins’s retirement. Archie Perkins was a true leader in the horological world, having taught at the Elgin Watch Factory and then spending 32 years instructing at EGTC.
After finishing school, Alex worked under another watchmaker for eight years before buying that business himself in 1990 when his mentor retired. He continued working as an independent watchmaker right up until his own retirement in 2020.
That depth of hands-on experience shines through in every video. If you’re serious about learning watch repair, Watch Repair Tutorials is an essential channel to follow.
Check out this YouTube Channel5. Watch Repair Channel
I discovered Watch Repair Channel through the video I’ve shared above. Back in May, I decided to take the plunge and buy six “spares and repair” Seiko movements from eBay. These movements all date from the 1960s and 1970s and include such classics as the Seiko Lord Marvel, famous for pioneering the high-beat movement (Caliber 574OC). Hoping to fix this watch myself, I found the video invaluable—it offered excellent tips and let me follow along step by step.
Admittedly, I haven’t actually finished fixing the watch yet (mainly because the mainspring turned out to be missing when I disassembled it). But in the process of researching and learning, I stumbled onto a fantastic resource in Watch Repair Channel.
I don’t think Mark Lovick—the watchmaker behind Watch Repair Channel—is still making new videos. His last upload was over a year ago and his Patreon page is now closed. That said, his existing library is an outstanding resource for budding watchmakers and hobbyists alike. His videos are a great mix of live repairs, tool reviews, and clear, practical tutorials. Even without new content, they remain one of the best places to learn the craft and pick up the essential skills needed to take on your own watch projects.
Check out their YouTube Channel