The Best Watch Bench Mat

[@vladimirpenev9127]

Thank you Brian, what an amazing review! I am so glad I found your channel. Immediately subscribed.

[@WatchComplications]

cool! glad you liked the video and perhaps you'll enjoy some of my other content. thanks for watching!

[@albert290371]

Outstanding and exemplary video for what I wrongly considered to be a simple decision. Thank you from the UK

[@WatchComplications]

Glad it was helpful. :)

[@ianmaw66]

Thanks for the video. I have the 6808 and didn't know about the 7808. I will buy one thanks to you.

[@WatchComplications]

Very good. I came across it randomly as part of trying things out and I've been surprised by how many people aren't aware of it...or that there are different colors. Another example I didn't mention in this video is that most people would recommend the 6767 springbar tool (which is certainly great), but the 7767 exists and is better because it's easier to grip.

[@ianmaw66]

@@WatchComplications Thanks. I think I already have both types but I will check. I have built up a collection of some really nice tools, mostly by Bergeon.

[@TheSteveGullick]

Anyone who pays bergeon prices for a mat needs their head examining. Bergeon do make quality tools, but their prices are a real rip off.

[@WatchComplications]

In some cases their prices are too high, but you’re also paying for precision and longevity. Anyone with any experience knows this. The mat is $30-$40, off brands are about half, $15 or so. It’s not like a major investment, especially in the world of watch tools. I don’t buy Bergeron everything, but regarding some tools it’s absolutely the way to go.

[@TheSteveGullick]

@@WatchComplications I don't disagree that they can and do make high quality tools. But some of their stuff is generic with a burgeon overprint (mats being a typical example) anyone paying this stupid money for a mat deserves to be ripped off.

[@WatchComplications]

I started with a mat I put together myself for like $1.50…it was ok. I’ve looked at some of the cheaper alternatives, this is better. And I wouldn’t presume to call a great many watchmakers stupid because they choose to use certain Bergeron tools. I’d wager the 6808 is probably the most used mat on the planet. Several people I’ve talked to weren’t even aware there was a 7808. Regardless, it’s a good mat, and so far the best one I’ve used, hence the video. If you have a lower cost alternative that you think is better in quality and price, say what it is and I’ll take a look at it for comparison, maybe even another video.

[@TheSteveGullick]

@@WatchComplications it's a mat. It's not a precision tool. It needs no top end engineering, it's just a mat. The ten quid ones from cousins do exactly the same job, and are probably the same mat without the logo. Bergeon do a small hand held dial duster and brush and charge twenty quid for it. You can buy EXACTLY the same one from a camera shop (minus the bergeon logo) for a tenner.

[@24hourgmtchannel64]

Yes I agree. As a watchmaker hobbyist I have a love hate relationship with Bergeon due to their prices since I took up watchmaking. When I started I bought a $11 Esslinger house brand watch mat and it was thick and soft. Same mat is now $17. Like an idiot I used it on a soldering project and burned it. Want to replece it and I'm going to try out the Jules Borel house brand for $12. I also use $5 Vetus ST-10 tweezers and they work very well.

[@tomh8782]

I wonder does anyone know how this Burgeon watch mat compares with the Horotec self adhesive watch mat?

[@WatchComplications]

I haven’t looked at that specific mat yet, maybe another follower has. Usually horotec stuff is pretty good and not far from the original tool. I have several of their other tools.

[@david.9633]

Thank you for the review.

[@WatchComplications]

Thanks for watching.

[@wristwatchtalk]

Thank you for the informative video. I actually took the advice from another commenter and bought the mat from Prometheus design and although it’s nice looking and has Handy compartments it gets extremely dusty. And the dust kind of sticks due to the material so I either have to wet wash it or use tape or a clothes roller to remove it. Kind of irritating. I read some negative comments about the Bergeon price so was put off. I ordered one yesterday though and just arrived. From having it briefly in hand I think it’ll be a much better experience. I’d have gone initially for the 6808 if it wasn’t for your video so cheers. But learning watch repair is extremely hard. I have taken apart three movements so far and failed to put any of them back together.

[@WatchComplications]

Yeah, I think I mention in the video somewhere that if you go with silicone you will have to keep it clean with painters tape or something because they attract dust. The surface of the 6808 is the best, and easy to keep clean, you'll be glad you got it. And yup, watch work is a challenge! Thanks for watching :)

[@msmalmasri2680]

Big thanks to you

[@2Death9]

Just below "Bergeon", is that a crease or where the facing material is coming away from the backing?

[@WatchComplications]

just a crease. this one had it from shipping. it’s the main one i use. it’s flat, just looks a tad strange. my other one is perfectly fine, no creases and also flat. neither is coming away from the backing.

[@EricBishard]

I have the same one in black. But i kind of wish i wild have got the green. I've heard that it's the most pleasing on the eyes, which is BS marketing, what it's better at is finding little pieces of whatever 😂. The black is fine though. I might get a green one for a second station.

[@WatchComplications]

i have three of the green at this point, for different spots I do work. Certainly a good color for parts and seeing things clearly.

[@angusquiggles1]

Hey man, love the channel - I have a really off-topic query... I'm trying to build a watch with a blank brass dial and an NH35 movement - I want to try and adhere washi paper to the dial for a kind of Chronomaster look - is this completely unfeasible or somehow workable? How would you go about it? Otherwise I can just use standard paints

[@WatchComplications]

Hey, thanks for watching. That sounds like an interesting idea! I've not tried it before, but I expect you could give it a go with some sort of adhesive. Maybe a thin layer of GS hypo cement or something like that. Would have to test a few alternatives. I might have to try this myself in the near future :)

[@angusquiggles1]

@@WatchComplications Thanks! I might try diamond glaze adhesive so it's a bit more spreadable and even; might even work as a glaze on the top to give it a bit of extra sheen, but lots of experimentation can be done on a big sheet of good paper :)

[@WatchComplications]

cool. let me know how it goes

[@angusquiggles1]

@@WatchComplications It's going well, at least on the dial side. The paper is porous and so any adhesive changes its texture and colour slightly, but it looks like a pebble which is quite a neat effect! Epoxy resin with a bit of watercolourist's varnish to waterproof it slightly. Can I ask, is there any reason why an NH35 movement would just... not wind? Or rather, the keyless works are fine and the hands set correctly but no matter how much you wind the mainspring the balance wheel will not move. It arrived in the mail really battered and with the plastic glass broken but cosmetically it all looked fine. My best guess is that the balance wheel is out of beat but it's beyond my skill to fix.

[@WatchComplications]

glad to hear the dial side is going well, sounds cool. as for the movement, if the stem won’t wind the spring then it sounds like something might be out of whack with the keyless works.

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

Question for you-I know it's been said green is easier on the eyes but how about the black one?

[@WatchComplications]

Black won’t be particularly hard on the eyes, but I appreciate the contrast of parts against the surface that green or white provides. Personal preference of course.

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

Thanks. The green has always worked for me it's just that my local vendor is out of this one in green but has the black one but I've never used one. What to do?

[@saillaw2]

I’ve stopped using my 7808 in favor of this: prometheusdesignwerx.com/collections/werx-shop/products/spd-benchtop-work-mat I really like the sunken compartments that do a great job of keeping little screws and bits from falling on the floor. (No relation to that company btw, just a happy customer.)

[@WatchComplications]

Looks interesting. Might have to give it a spin.

[@WatchComplications]

Well I was going to try one of them, price was reasonable $29, but then they wanted over $20 for shipping as well. They're really padding the cost so you spend more to hit the $150 mark for free shipping. Hate when companies do that.

[@saillaw2]

@@WatchComplications ahh yeah i originally found that site because i had read a review of their nato straps, so I think I hit the $150 mark with straps and then added the mat. The straps are good, but I see where you are coming from. Maybe try emailing them, they were very responsive to my questions. Oh in addition to straps I bought some good nylon cases that I used for travel. But yeah, this is all adding up, sorry :)