Recommended Free Tools
Alan Birchall’s Pièce d’Essai No.00 is a prototype, not a watch currently offered for sale. In a 2025 interview, the watchmaker described a design shaped by French and English traditions, a movement he says he made largely with hand-operated machinery, and 2.5 years of work from first sketch to finished prototype. His account also offers a clear view of the craft—and the limits of what is known about the project’s next steps.
Who is Alan Birchall?
Birchall told MONOCHROME Watches that he is French and British by background, grew up in France, later lived in the UK and Australia, and is now based in Japan. He said he had worked as a watchmaker for 16 years at the time of the interview, published on 17 September 2025. His father and grandfather were watchmakers too.
He studied watchmaking in France for five years. His early professional work was at a Swiss-brand service centre in the UK, where he serviced in-house movements, module complications and perpetual calendars. In Australia, he worked on a broader range of watches, including recent and vintage Rolex and Omega, as well as Chopard and Patek Philippe. These details come from Birchall’s interview account, rather than independently verified employment records.
What is the Pièce d’Essai No.00?
No.00 is Birchall’s handmade watch prototype. He described it as a meeting of French and English watchmaking influences, drawing on British pocket watches and French clocks. He wanted the design to reflect the manually operated machines used to make it and to put the movement’s components on display.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
- UPGRADE COMPLETE 155 PCS WATCH REPAIR KIT suit for professional and general use, which can solution for most watch repair requirements
- MULTIFUNCTION DELUXE WATCH TOOLS SET has every tool you need, 3 point watch wrench case opener (extra large), watch band link remover tool, pin punch, hammer, pliers, spring bar removal tool, band holder, 5x screwdriver, tweezers, case pry
- INCLUDED XL WATCH WRENCH CASE OPENER up to 55MM, easy to open groove type oversize watches. This kit is perfect for common watch trouble, like opening watch back cover, watchband adjustment, changing watch batteries, watch band remover, watch resize, watch pins remover. You will never pay pricey watchmaker fees again
- THE METAL WATCHMAKING TOOLS are made of high quality solid 304 stainless steel, they are sturdy, portable, practical and very easy to use
- EXCELLENT WEARABILITY NYLON STORAGE BAG holds the whole watch repair set neatly, and this portable zipper case is easy to carry, you can transport it to fix your watch anywhere you want
A front-facing balance wheel is one of the watch’s defining visual features. Birchall said the movement measures 30 mm and the case 35.40 mm. He linked those compact proportions to his preference for small, elegant watches and to his own small wrist. The dimensions are the maker’s figures as reported in the 2025 interview, not measurements independently verified by the publication.
How did Birchall make the prototype?
Birchall said the movement has 81 individual parts, excluding the jewel, crystal, hairspring and mainspring; he said those four items would always be outsourced. He reported making 80% of the parts in-house without CNC, using a hand-operated milling machine and lathes, with the remaining 20% outsourced. He also said he made the dial, hands and case himself.
Rank #2
- 【Watch repair tool kit】- JOREST watch repair tool kit contains common tools required for repairing watches, suitable for adjusting and replacing watch straps, opening watch covers, replacing watch batteries, gaskets, etc., and has detailed operations Manual to help you solve watch problems at home and save expensive repair costs.
- 【Adjust the strap】- Metal watch band link remover, watch band holder, pin punches, double-headed hammer and spring bar tool with scale are used to replace various watch straps, adjust the length of the strap to fit your wrist.We are equipped with 15PCS spare needle to improve the service life of the tool, suitable for pin punch and metal watch band link remover.
- 【Suitable for different watch covers】- Watch back case opener is used for watch cases with grooves；watch case opening pry is used for the watch case with a pry opening；Screwdriver is used for watch case fixed by screws；tweezer is used to remove the battery.The use range of the watch back case opener is 15-55mm, and the drill bit spacing is set by rolling the adjusting wheel to fit the groove of your watch back.
- 【Five-in-one watch screwdriver】- Five types of screwdriver bits are suitable for many situations: watch battery fixing screws, watch case screws, watchband screws, and can also be used for glasses screws. The cover at the end of the screwdriver can be opened, and the inside is hollow for storing other screwdriver bits.
- 【The purpose of the watch case holder】 - The watch case holder can be used with other tools in the kit to help fix the watch and reduce the risk of sliding and scratching the watch. It is suitable for watches of various sizes, and can be used for watches with a diameter of up to 50mm.
Materials and finishing
The dial is satin-finished German silver. The stainless-steel case uses a three-part construction with four separate lugs. Birchall’s finishing description includes gold-plated brass components with delicate anglage, mirror-polished train wheels and balance wheel, and mostly poli-noir steel bridges and parts.
The most demanding component
Birchall singled out the pallet fork as especially difficult. He said he milled it with a 0.25 mm endmill and drilled it with a 0.105 mm drill before finishing it by hand. He described time as the biggest challenge: “The biggest challenge was time; it took me 2.5 years from the first sketch to the final watch.” Both the tooling dimensions and the project duration are his reported figures.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #3
- 【Perfect Set Match】 - The package contains a set of 3 different specifications and configurations to fit all purposes you need. The straight head contains 1pcs, curved head contains 1pcs, flat head contains 1pcs.
- 【High Quality Stainless Steel】This craft tweezer set is made of high strength stainless steel with anti-static non-magnetic paint on the surface, and acid-base protection. Please put the protective tube back on the sharp tweezers for safe.
- 【ESD Safe Handles】 - These ESD Tweezers set with ESD (Surface Electrostatic Discharge) finish to protect the components and handles from the damaging effects of static.
- 【Wide Application】 One set of 3 different specifications and configurations to fit all purposes you need. Excellent for electronics, medical and laboratory work, jewelry and other fine crafts.
- 【Better Protection】- Each tweezer tips are well-packed by transparent plastic covers. and the set comes with a professional plastic storage bag, it is convenient to carry and store these sharp tweezers.
Is the Pièce d’Essai No.00 available to buy?
No. Birchall told MONOCHROME Watches that No.00 was not available for sale. He said he wore the prototype to identify changes and improvements. The 2025 interview does not establish a current price, delivery time or live ordering route.
At the time, Birchall was working on “number 1,” which he expected to resemble No.00 while allowing clients to influence finishing and potentially choose a larger case. He also said he was working to bring outsourced components in-house and hoped eventually to take individual orders, one by one. Those were plans described in 2025, not confirmation that orders are currently open or that the plans have since been completed.
Rank #4
- 【6 DIFFERENT SIZE】(Flat:0.6mm,0.8,mm,1.0mm,1.2mm,1.4mm,1.6mm,1.8mm,2.0mm. Phillips:1.4mm,1.6mm) 10pcs different sizes of flat and Phillips for you choose.Also this jewelers screwdriver set comes with 2pcs spare blades for each model.
- 【MULTI FUNCTIONAL】Watchmaker screwdriver set is suitable for daily maintenance of tools, such as the disassembly of watch,computers, glasses, toys, jewelry,etc.
- 【 PREMIUM QUALITY】The precision screwdriver set adopts a hardened blade and anti-rust treatment, and the all-metal blade is not easy to be damaged. Box packaging, sponge storage to prevent damage during transportation.
- 【EASY TO USE】The screwdriver has a groove design, which is convenient for screw fixation and easy installation and disassembly. Grid design, disassembly is not easy to slip. Quickly distinguish models by color.
- 【100% GUARANTEE】High quality precision flat screwdrivers watchmaker repair tools.If you have any question,please feel free to contact us.
What Birchall hopes to build next
No.00 is both a finished prototype and a way for Birchall to refine his approach before a potential next watch. His stated aim was to continue making watches individually, with room for client input, while bringing more of the work in-house. He framed the project’s audience this way: “I hope I can connect with people who are interested in this kind of watchmaking and who support independent watchmaking.”
For readers considering a future order, the interview leaves practical terms unresolved: it does not confirm availability, price, case options, delivery timing or the scope of any client choices. A present-day offer would need to be verified directly with Birchall.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsQuick Recap
Best Value
- Complete Six-piece Cleaning Kit: this comprehensive set includes all essential tools: dust cover, cleaning putty, repair mat, air blower, watch cushion, and case opening ball; The coordinated collection addresses multiple aspects of watch maintenance without requiring additional purchases
- Six-compartment Dust Cover for Organization: the watch movement dust cover features six separate storage compartments that help maintain order during cleaning and repair procedures; This organizational system prevents small components from becoming misplaced or mixed together while working on intricate mechanisms
- Watch Cleaning Putty: formulated for horological applications, this cleaning putty effectively removes fingerprints, stains, and excess oils from delicate watch parts; The material safely cleans balance wheel pivots, plates, bridges, dials, and hands without damaging precision surface
- Non-slip Watch Repair Mat: the repair mat features anti-slip backing that securely stays in place during intricate work; The static-resistant surface prevents small parts from shifting while providing a clean, organized workspace for watch maintenance and assembly tasks
- Protective Leather Watch Cushion: designed with a leather surface and central groove to securely hold watch cases during servicing; The non-slip base stabilizes timepieces while working on bracelets, or crystals, preventing scratches and accidental movement
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
