It’s Dead Jim — unless there’s a better Watch Doctor in the House
Well, so much for my repair attempts on watches with sentimental value. Think I have currently taken out about five watches over the years. (Though in some cases, they may simply have been beyond my help — including this one.)
It didn’t have the oomph to turn over the date wheel after my last fix attempt, and then on this fix attempt, I have managed to shear the stupid little lock lever than let’s me re-engage the stem after removal. And now I am left with parts, and the hope that I can source and fit a replacement movement. I mean… I think it’s the Miyota 2035, or near enough, but so far my guesswork has not gone well.
Though I did manage to hand re-finish the case and bracelet after a fashion.
So what do I do? Can I fit a new movement? Is there anyone here on WatchCrunch with advice on whether I am barking up the wrong tree? Do I go all in and somehow use the old case and bracelet for a new build? Replace the hands like for like if I do fit a new movement? Or — and this is my preferred option if at all possible — keep everything original as much as possible and find a way to get a new movement that does work?
I wouldn’t mind some advice.
And if this isn’t enough of a challenge, I have two other patients, one of which (Sekonda) is much harder to figure out replacement parts for than the other, because that Lorus is a bit… rubbish. Saw me through the millenium mind you. Part of it at any rate.
So… help me WatchCrunch Collective, you’re my only hope. (And Timpsons. Will have to resort to those for the automatic that failed after five minutes in my hands…)
Fortysomething stay-at-home father. Descendant of tinkerers, engineers, and owner of many pencils, tools, and arcane measuring devices.
Good luck and hope you get some answers, I'm about to go down this route with a couple of mine, got the parts just waiting for a set of screwdrivers from far far away ( slow boat from china 😪)
Good luck and hope you get some answers, I'm about to go down this route with a couple of mine, got the parts just waiting for a set of screwdrivers from far far away ( slow boat from china 😪)
I’m in a conversation with a seller on eBay who I am not sure can tell me if they are selling the right movement.
On the plus side, China make a lot of watches, and a lot of tools, so it’s bound to wok out in the end.
Edit: work out. Not wok out. Sigh.
I’m in a conversation with a seller on eBay who I am not sure can tell me if they are selling the right movement.
On the plus side, China make a lot of watches, and a lot of tools, so it’s bound to wok out in the end.
Edit: work out. Not wok out. Sigh.
Getting the right movement can be harder than fitting it, I've just been trying to source a ronda quartz for my zodiac, thought it would be easy but 99% are one jewelled Chinese copies,found a proper one in Egypt but wanted more for postage than the movement, luckily found one in the US. It can be a nightmare.
Getting the right movement can be harder than fitting it, I've just been trying to source a ronda quartz for my zodiac, thought it would be easy but 99% are one jewelled Chinese copies,found a proper one in Egypt but wanted more for postage than the movement, luckily found one in the US. It can be a nightmare.
Yeah, that Sekonda down there is basically impossible to find unless buying NOS in bulk… which is not my plan.
Every movement I see that looks like it might be right for the diver has zero jewels, and this one has one jewel. I have no idea at this point. Stupid tiny stem lock. It’s not like I could even just screw on a new bridge over that part - not least because pretty sure I was doing something wrong when putting the stem in and out, and was just lucky I hadn’t already broken it.
Have ordered some hand attachment tools, so if nothing else I can try using the case and bracelet, maybe even the dial, and building something almost the same. But that’s not really the point, as it won’t be this watch anymore. And that makes me a little sad.
I understand,its keeping it as original as possible, but sometimes it's not, and you can always keep the original movement as something might pop up later.
A lot of times in that miyota movement the coil goes bad. You can always find a cheap donor watch for that movement. Try replacing the coil first before the whole thing. It's 2 screws. Replacing the entire movement Can be difficult. Removing the hands then putting them back on. The main problem I have came acrossed is even though it's the same movement the dial mounting pins don't line up then you have to figure out a way to mount the dial so that it doesn't move. It's the same thing for the Ronda movement. Replace the coil first. That's 3 screws. That can save a bunch of headaches.
Getting the right movement can be harder than fitting it, I've just been trying to source a ronda quartz for my zodiac, thought it would be easy but 99% are one jewelled Chinese copies,found a proper one in Egypt but wanted more for postage than the movement, luckily found one in the US. It can be a nightmare.
Try replacing the coil in the Ronda movement first. It's usually 3 screws. I have found that this is what usually goes bad. It's a fairly easy fix.
Try replacing the coil in the Ronda movement first. It's usually 3 screws. I have found that this is what usually goes bad. It's a fairly easy fix.
Thanks for the info. I've got a replacement coil and a circuit board with the capacitor and that's my first port of call. But with me ever the pessimist and impatient I've also got the full movement just in case. I will try the coil first then the circuit board, which I'll fo myself and if that fails its a movement swap. Thankyou again.
A lot of times in that miyota movement the coil goes bad. You can always find a cheap donor watch for that movement. Try replacing the coil first before the whole thing. It's 2 screws. Replacing the entire movement Can be difficult. Removing the hands then putting them back on. The main problem I have came acrossed is even though it's the same movement the dial mounting pins don't line up then you have to figure out a way to mount the dial so that it doesn't move. It's the same thing for the Ronda movement. Replace the coil first. That's 3 screws. That can save a bunch of headaches.
The locking piece for the stem is broken as of today. Unless that upper bridge screws on and off, it’s the movement swap for me.
Esslinger has movements cheap.
I’m in a conversation with a seller on eBay who I am not sure can tell me if they are selling the right movement.
On the plus side, China make a lot of watches, and a lot of tools, so it’s bound to wok out in the end.
Edit: work out. Not wok out. Sigh.
Do both! I suggest getting a workout in while you wok out!