Wearer/Repairer/Modder/Watchmaker?
Inspired by YouTube channel Wristwatch Revival, I just bought a vintage mechanical watch that needs some TLC with the hope of doing some hobby watchmaking myself.
I’ve had a case back press and changed many batteries but this will be my first movement disassembly.
How about you? How many of you have tools and get into the workings to some level?
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NotThatNeil
Engineer, Technical Trainer, lapsed pilot, nerd of many stripes.
Colorado Springs, CO
Member since
Last active: 50 min ago
16.51 cm
Somebody once said: " Take a good, working movement, disassemble it and put it back together. If it still works as before, you learned something . If you break a broken watch, you don't learn anything."
I think it was in some video on YouTube. Anyhow. Many tools, always in need of more. Be careful, go slow and if you ain't sure to remember how/what/where was, take photos. First few times is the hardest.
Been restoring watches on YouTube myself for over 6 years now. You will need plenty of tools, magnification that makes your hands free be it a optivisor or loupes with a head band.
Patience , lots of ! Buy the best tweezers you can afford. Dumont are the best. Perhaps buy a crap £20 set to find the size & style you like and then invest in a good pair.
For most of my work I only use one pair. Cheap ones are made of crap steel and when pinched sometimes open at the tips which make parts fly.
It’s a very rewarding hobby but takes some experience.
Take photos of everything. Stripping a watch is a 5 minute job but putting it back together takes a lot of time. Photo record of everything so each time you take a part off you have a record of its position and orientation.
Buy movements with a minimum of 7 jewels. Jewels are only to keep friction down so movements with 30 are just for decoration as realistically you only need 15-17 .
Reason for this is plates are not easy to fit especially if the pivot is passing through a metal hole. This is where you will struggle at first as it takes practice, jewels to help plates locate a bit easier.
Lastly never force anything if you do you will break a pivot. If it’s not going on then it’s out of alignment. Sourcing parts can be a challenage and if you want to work on Swiss stuff then be prepared to open your wallet as there is restrictions on parts like Omega which as made them hard to find or stupidly expensive
Somebody once said: " Take a good, working movement, disassemble it and put it back together. If it still works as before, you learned something . If you break a broken watch, you don't learn anything."
I think it was in some video on YouTube. Anyhow. Many tools, always in need of more. Be careful, go slow and if you ain't sure to remember how/what/where was, take photos. First few times is the hardest.
I concur. I'm the sort of hobbyist who tries out lots of things. I have nominal tools which cost more than the $25 vintage watch. Supposedly runs, but not for long, so movement seems free and suspect mainspring or grime. But won't be out much if I don't learn anything and I'll have tools for basic maintenance of the collection.
Been restoring watches on YouTube myself for over 6 years now. You will need plenty of tools, magnification that makes your hands free be it a optivisor or loupes with a head band.
Patience , lots of ! Buy the best tweezers you can afford. Dumont are the best. Perhaps buy a crap £20 set to find the size & style you like and then invest in a good pair.
For most of my work I only use one pair. Cheap ones are made of crap steel and when pinched sometimes open at the tips which make parts fly.
It’s a very rewarding hobby but takes some experience.
Take photos of everything. Stripping a watch is a 5 minute job but putting it back together takes a lot of time. Photo record of everything so each time you take a part off you have a record of its position and orientation.
Buy movements with a minimum of 7 jewels. Jewels are only to keep friction down so movements with 30 are just for decoration as realistically you only need 15-17 .
Reason for this is plates are not easy to fit especially if the pivot is passing through a metal hole. This is where you will struggle at first as it takes practice, jewels to help plates locate a bit easier.
Lastly never force anything if you do you will break a pivot. If it’s not going on then it’s out of alignment. Sourcing parts can be a challenage and if you want to work on Swiss stuff then be prepared to open your wallet as there is restrictions on parts like Omega which as made them hard to find or stupidly expensive
Thanks for the advice. I may never do another but I'm the type who wants to at least try it out. A major contributor to success is low expectations. 😉
Somebody once said: " Take a good, working movement, disassemble it and put it back together. If it still works as before, you learned something . If you break a broken watch, you don't learn anything."
I think it was in some video on YouTube. Anyhow. Many tools, always in need of more. Be careful, go slow and if you ain't sure to remember how/what/where was, take photos. First few times is the hardest.
To the "good, working movement" part of the quote, I've been considering tearing down one of my three 90s vintage Vostok Komandirskies. Working, yes. Good? ...
I will do anything to avoid doing a complete teardown myself. I've destroyed so much stuff over the years that I leave the overhaul/teardown duties to someone qualified. That being said, I can and do perform quite a few minor things like regulation, bracelet adjustment, and battery changes. I've changed a crown & stem before and I am no stranger hand polishing the watch. My hands are not made for detailed micro mechanical work.
Vostok could do. Or even better, NH35. Ton of videos on it, how to repair and reassemble it etc so you have a good reference if you get stuck. You could get just the movement or a cheapo watch with the movement already inside, for example something from Pagani design, and they try keeping it alive.
Probably not the best place to admit this, but I don’t even fully understand how the mechanics really work. I just like wearing watches 🤷🏻♂️
Vostok could do. Or even better, NH35. Ton of videos on it, how to repair and reassemble it etc so you have a good reference if you get stuck. You could get just the movement or a cheapo watch with the movement already inside, for example something from Pagani design, and they try keeping it alive.
Funny you should mention that. That thought was part of the rationalization, I mean reasoning, behind my purchase of a cheapo Tandorio a few weeks back. Great minds think alike! 😉
Probably not the best place to admit this, but I don’t even fully understand how the mechanics really work. I just like wearing watches 🤷🏻♂️
No issue there. We use tons of things everyday that nobody understands. Smart phones? Magic is the only possible answer... 😉
Been restoring watches on YouTube myself for over 6 years now. You will need plenty of tools, magnification that makes your hands free be it a optivisor or loupes with a head band.
Patience , lots of ! Buy the best tweezers you can afford. Dumont are the best. Perhaps buy a crap £20 set to find the size & style you like and then invest in a good pair.
For most of my work I only use one pair. Cheap ones are made of crap steel and when pinched sometimes open at the tips which make parts fly.
It’s a very rewarding hobby but takes some experience.
Take photos of everything. Stripping a watch is a 5 minute job but putting it back together takes a lot of time. Photo record of everything so each time you take a part off you have a record of its position and orientation.
Buy movements with a minimum of 7 jewels. Jewels are only to keep friction down so movements with 30 are just for decoration as realistically you only need 15-17 .
Reason for this is plates are not easy to fit especially if the pivot is passing through a metal hole. This is where you will struggle at first as it takes practice, jewels to help plates locate a bit easier.
Lastly never force anything if you do you will break a pivot. If it’s not going on then it’s out of alignment. Sourcing parts can be a challenage and if you want to work on Swiss stuff then be prepared to open your wallet as there is restrictions on parts like Omega which as made them hard to find or stupidly expensive
Just wanted to say thank you for your content! I’ve learnt so much and you’re a joy to listen to :)
Serviced a few vintage Watches, and a "Homage" Radiomir.
Achievement Unlocked :)
Just wanted to say thank you for your content! I’ve learnt so much and you’re a joy to listen to :)
Thank you. glad you like the videos.