Good starter movement to pull apart (to learn!)

Ok, I feel like I'm starting to get hooked (in a good way!) as all this research on watches and movements makes me want to learn more.

I know that watch making and repair is a highly skilled profession (if not art form!) but any suggestions on an old or cheap new movement (regardless of brand) that would be good to take apart and learn from??

(and I'll say it now to all you comedians out there...... NOOOO to learning on a 1967 caliber 321!!)

With two engineering degrees, 5 successfully pulled apart Audi's and all the damn appliances at my girlfriends house fixed by urs truly, I'm thinking a miniaturized mechanical hobby will suit me well but I need a place to start and practice.

Thanks for the tips people!

Unitas 6497/8. Big and not much parts to play for rookie.

Or maybe even manual wind alarm clock for starter. Even bigger parts

Seiko 7S26...
http://www.clockmaker.com.au/diy_seiko_7s26/chapter1.html

Thanks for the tips guys and sorry for the slow response as I'm moving into a new house. I've looked on eBay for some of those movements and will pick up a couple once I get into my new place.

@redpcar I'm over here in California so if you have anything you think I could learn with I'd really appreciate it. I'll send you a PM so that I can provide you shipping info/costs.

Again, all info is very much appreciated people! 😀

HI,

some good advice here already.
I had the same desire since last year, so here are my ideas;

I went through this site first and did some research on nessesary toolkits and its purpose:
https://www.timezonewatchschool.com/

Then i created an Excel list where i wrote down all the Tools and over a period of few months was researching (quality/price) and ordering those.

Then i went through this SEIKO 7s26 instructions:
http://www.clockmaker.com.au/diy_seiko_7s26/chapter1.html

Then i sourced for some information on my SEIKO 7009-876A movement and some videos.

Finally i bought a two cheap ETA 6497/6498 clone watches and did some practising on these. Even though they are worse quality than the real ETA movements, i found working on these much easier then the two SEIKOS mentioned above.

Note, a lot of the information you find online might look like a profesional advice, but in fact be a bad practice, misleading or completely wrong. So i am glad there are some experienced watchmakers here that can at least steer in the right direction.

One thing i learned is that is a long process and one has to take time researching things, especially if you dont have a chance to ask somebody straight away. Every step i did, i realised that you need some new parts/tools/etc. then you have to research, order, wait till it arrives, so might take weeks until you can actually proceed to the next step. Patience is something one has to deal with a lot 😀 But its a fun process!
Good luck!

Definitely the way to go the 6497/8 ETA did my BHI with these, those poor pocket watches taken apart, through the cleaner oiled and back together every week lol.
Highly recommended if you can get on one.