First successful service
I posted a few weeks ago that I had some project watches. I have finished the first. Mistakes were made. I’ll bet that I disassembled it almost 3 times until I finally got it all back together. Almost at the very end of the first reassemble, I lost one of the cap jewels from the Inca bloc jewels on the balance wheel. I then had to find another movement on eBay to scavenge parts. It takes a lot of patience working with pieces that small as I’m learning. My shortcuts were buying a NOS mainspring to just put in as I don’t have a set of winders. I don’t have a timegrapher yet either so I am using an app on my mobile phone. I’d love to replace the crystal but I don’t know how to go about determining the material. Any suggestions would be welcomed.
I’m interested in vintage watches right now and trying to learn basic watch servicing. Need more time.
One thing I forgot to mention, the original crown stem was rusted pretty bad so I am temporarily using one from my donor movement until I get my pin vice to be able to swap the old crown onto the new stem winder.
I am always impressed and more than a little jealous when I see people teach themselves this skill.
I am always impressed and more than a little jealous when I see people teach themselves this skill.
It is a way to distract me from buying another watch.
Well done.
Adam Savage, maker extraordinaire, says he typically builds things 3 times before he's completely happy with the end result, so you're in good company.
Nice watch. I wish my eyes where good enough to take up the servicing side of the hobby.
Nice watch. I wish my eyes where good enough to take up the servicing side of the hobby.
I’m blind in my left eye so it is a struggle with depth perception.
Well done. I took a few tries to get my first service done.
I haven’t waded into mainspring replacement yet. Where did you source your new mainspring?
Well done. I took a few tries to get my first service done.
I haven’t waded into mainspring replacement yet. Where did you source your new mainspring?
EBay. You can search by the movement and mainspring and you usually find them. Mine are always 50+ years so it might be different for newer. I know Esslinger.com Carries mainspring for newer movements.
I’m blind in my left eye so it is a struggle with depth perception.
I lost sight in my right eye. Have had cataracts and get treatments to not lose the left. I have cased a watch but the screws I am not sure I could see well even with a watch makers loop. I wonder if a jewelers head set might work.
EBay. You can search by the movement and mainspring and you usually find them. Mine are always 50+ years so it might be different for newer. I know Esslinger.com Carries mainspring for newer movements.
My tools have come from Esslinger. I think I can find a mainspring replacement from measurements but have to disassemble one. Not sure it’s worth the trouble/cost for my Standard Time movements, but probably is for my recently acquired Gruen.
My tools have come from Esslinger. I think I can find a mainspring replacement from measurements but have to disassemble one. Not sure it’s worth the trouble/cost for my Standard Time movements, but probably is for my recently acquired Gruen.
On my Gruen, it actually had an AS 1686 which was branded as a Gruen. You can always look up the movement on http://Ranfft.de and it will tell you about the mainspring size and other details.
Well done sir. Welcome to the club
I'd suspect the crystal would be acrylic but can't guarantee.
If you hold it to your forehead and its not cool its probably acrylic, cool and it's probably mineral. Cold and it's likely sapphire
Amazing, well done!
Great job.
Congratulations!!!! I am not that patient.... or organized
Thanks
Well done sir. Welcome to the club
I'd suspect the crystal would be acrylic but can't guarantee.
If you hold it to your forehead and its not cool its probably acrylic, cool and it's probably mineral. Cold and it's likely sapphire
Thanks. I try that on the crystal
Congratulations!!!! I am not that patient.... or organized
Thank you
👍