Most women (or men) probably prefer to get a traditional diamond (or some jewel) in a box when it comes to engagements. But there are also couples who prefer to do something unique for their marriage proposals and connected to that, get something that is more personal and different than a jewel. Geeky couples in particular probably are looking for something different and tailor fit to their interests and if they’re LEGO enthusiasts, then this would be interesting to them.
A video posted on the LEGO South Africa account shows how you can create your own DIY ring box. It doesn’t seem to be any special, new LEGO set that you will have to purchase in order to make this special box. The man demonstrates how you can use spare bricks to build your own ring box, although you probably have to pause the video a few times as there are no written instructions on how to do it step by step (although there are step-by-step screenshots).
The tutorial walks you through the whole process of constructing a ring box. He even makes a tiny, plastic ring to show that it can fit inside and it will not fall out no matter how many times you shake it. The main colors used in the video are green and yellow but in the end he shows that there are countless customizations that you can do by using different colors and pieces, although you will have to figure it out on your own.
If the couple are both LEGO fans, this will be an interesting way to have a unique proposal. And even if you have an actual diamond or jeweled ring with which to propose, putting it inside a DIY box made from LEGO bricks is pretty sweet.
The devices and gear we own today are vastly different from the ones our grandparents owned. Back in the day, products could be pulled apart, tinkered with, and repaired without much of a fuss. Radios lasted decades, toasters from that era still work today, but the devices of today are a little too complicated to repair or tinker with. In fact, the companies that make these devices don’t even want you looking under the hood – try tinkering with a Tesla car and the company can remotely disable your entire vehicle for tampering. Mess with an Apple phone and its warranty gets voided. If you bought a Spotify Car Thing, regardless of your efforts, the company is planning on bricking the device globally at the end of this year.
The reality is that we aren’t intimately familiar with the stuff we own today, and it’s time we changed that. The folks at Rotate Watches believe the only way to change this is to make tinkering more accessible. This beginner-friendly 50+ piece kit lets you build your own working, automatic watch movement from scratch. Modeled on the Seiko NH36, this kit has everything you need to be an amateur horologist. A guide helps take you through the various processes, and at the end, not only do you have a working watch that you can keep on your table to tell the date and time, but you also inherit an innate understanding of how timepieces work… and that’s just priceless, isn’t it?!
The Seiko NH36 is a popular and reliable automatic movement known for its accuracy and durability. With a diameter of 29.36mm and a height of 5.32mm, it’s a compact powerhouse featuring 24 jewels for reduced friction and a smooth operation. This kit includes the movement itself, along with a set of specialized tools to handle the delicate watch parts. Screwdrivers, tweezers, finger cots, and pliers are all included, ensuring you have everything you need to handle the intricate components.
One of the highlights of this kit is the beginner-friendly guide. Rotate, the company behind the kit, understands that watchmaking can be intimidating for newcomers. Their detailed instructions break down the disassembly and assembly process into clear steps, accompanied by numbered pictures for easy reference. The guide goes beyond just the mechanics, explaining the purpose of each piece and offering helpful tips and tricks throughout the process. For those who prefer a greater challenge, Rotate also offers the option to receive the movement disassembled. This allows experienced hobbyists to dive right into the reassembly process, testing their watchmaking skills.
Not everyone can afford a Breguet, Rolex, Richard Mille, or Audemars Piguet. Not only are they ridiculously expensive, they’re also gatekept from us regular folk by an arduously long waiting and approval process. You don’t simply go buy a Patek Philippe, you need to be ‘approved’ to buy one. This artificial scarcity makes it difficult for any watch enthusiast to appreciate great watchmaking, but the folks at Tèfo Clockwork have a clever solution – their laser-cut DIY kits allow you to build some of the most beautiful movements and complications found on luxury watches. Instead of splurging millions on a timepiece, Tèfo’s DIY kits let you build working mechanisms for a few hundred dollars, turning them into functional table clocks instead.
Created by a team of hardcore horology-enthusiasts, Tèfo Clockwork’s kits bring million-dollar timepieces to the masses. Their laser-cut wooden kits are highly detailed, and are scaled up so you don’t need Swiss-level precision to assemble them. Their current kits come in 4 complication styles – a Center Tourbillon, a Minute Repeater, a Fly-back Chronograph, and a Perpetual Calendar. These complications can be found in some of the most high-end watch brands, but with Tèfo, they can be bought, assembled, and admired at a much lower price. The complications aren’t the watches themselves, so Tèfo isn’t infringing on any intellectual property. The mechanical movements are open for all to build (although some of them like the tourbillon are so complex on a small scale that only a few companies can build them), and that’s pretty much what the Tèfo Clockwork kits hope to achieve.
The center tourbillon
Back in the late 18th century, Swiss-French watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet developed the tourbillon, a watch complication that was designed to counteract the effect of gravity on the watch’s accuracy. This was a concern back in the days of the pocket watch, but as wristwatches gained popularity, a fixed direction of gravity wasn’t really a concern because of the wrist’s constant movement. Tourbillons soon began fading away (given how complex they were to manufacture), although some brands retained them as a work of luxurious art and a symbol of craftsmanship. The Tèfo TC-01 table clock scales up the classic tourbillion, which can be visible right behind the TC logo on the front. The entire contraption measures approximately 10 inches tall and wide, featuring a skeletal design of multiple wooden components that assemble together to create the TC-01 table clock. More than 300 parts come together to build the TC-01, taking over 15 hours (think of it as a highly complex 3D puzzle). The clock draws power from a 12V motor, which is designed to run 24/7, and when you’re not admiring the constant movement of the tourbillon inside, you can actually use the TC-01 to read the time thanks to an hour and a minute dial that rotate with the same accuracy you’d expect from a haute Swiss-made timepiece. At the center is the Tèfo Clockwork logo, which rotates precisely once every second.
The minute repeater
You can build on the TC-01 by adding a minute repeater to it. The minute repeater was originally developed to help tell the time in the dark by chiming every hour, quarter, or minute depending on its setting. Originally used by aristocrats in the 1600s, this too disappeared ‘with time’, becoming just a mechanical luxury found on high-end watches. Tèfo Clockwork’s Minute Repeater module comes with more than 400 parts, requiring over 24 hours of work to put together. Once assembled, it can be paired with the TC-01 by plugging into its side and connecting using a series of pins. Similarly, Tèfo is working on two more complications – the fly-back chronograph (found on ultra-premium Richard Mille watches) and the perpetual calendar (which can be found in Patek Philippe’s watches that cost up to 9 million a pop) that can both be plugged into another side of your TC-01 clock, building on its intricacy, complexity, and accuracy. Both the fly-back chronograph and the perpetual calendar come with 150 parts, and take roughly 8 hours to put together.
Tèfo Clockwork’s entire kits come made from precisely laser-cut wood, with a combination of both light and dark woods to help highlight certain features and increase contrast between different parts. Load-bearing components or parts subject to wear-and-tear are made of metal, while ball-bearings ensure gears, hands, and other components like the tourbillon can rotate freely without any sort of friction. The kit is available as a central module that serves as a clock, with the option of plugging two more modules into its left and right sides to create a larger-than-life functioning luxury clock! Who says you need to sell your house, car, and kidney to afford a Richard Mille or an Audemars Piguet complication?!
The Tèfo Clockwork TC-01 starts at $249 for just the center tourbillon clock, or $749 for the tourbillon clock and two more complication modules. Tèfo offers global shipping with all units expected to ship by November, making these kits a perfect DIY project for you, or a Holiday Gift for a watch-loving friend or family member!
For everyone who loves DIY and spaces, this one’s for you! The Eames Office just pulled off the ultimate nostalgia move by resurrecting The Little Toy, a blast from the past that hasn’t seen the light of day since 1961. Charles and Ray Eames, the dynamic design duo, cooked up this gem in 1952 as a tabletop spin-off of their iconic creation, The Toy. And trust me, it’s not just a reissue; it’s a time-traveling invitation to creativity for both the OG fans and the newbies.
The Toy was for playing “in,” but The Little Toy is all about playing “with.” It’s like they miniaturized the fun, letting you build tiny sets, tents, and houses to jazz up your toy collection. Unlike its flexible predecessor, The Little Toy uses sturdier cardboard panels. It is a DIY dreamland for kids and grown-ups.
The Eames magic remains intact – freedom to build whatever your creative heart desires. The Little Toy consists of colored cardboard panels that are tougher than ever, replacing the old plastic-coated paper which is also a gesture towards sustainability. And forget the dowel rods; they’ve jazzed up the assembly with wireframes, making it a breeze to dive into the creative process.
Back in the day (1952-1961 to be exact), The Toy was the answer to space issues and a game-changer when paired with other toys. Tigrett Enterprises of Kansas made sure this mini marvel was a hit. It’s a testament to the Eameses’ knack for turning everyday materials into something extraordinary.
Fast forward to now, and The Little Toy is back, sporting a retro price tag of $79. This reissue isn’t just about reliving the good ol’ days; it’s an open invitation to explore prefab architecture and modular magic. With its vibrant panels and snazzy wireframes, you can go wildcrafting toy houses, funky sculptures, or even desktop architectural wonders.
This revived Little Toy isn’t just a relic; it’s your golden ticket to unlocking creativity, just like it did over fifty years ago. The Eames Office has not only resurrected a classic but handed you a chance to embrace that timeless spirit of play and innovation. So, what are you waiting for? Dive into the past and let your creativity run wild!
