Bugger.
Do you ever get that urge as a watch enthusiast to fieldstrip your watches? Simply as something to do or merely to prove to yourself that you can?
I do. I have a lot of cheapo quartz watches and I'll just sit there with them while watching a film and take the caseback and movement holder out, remove the crownstem, take the dial out, hold it for a little while then put it all back together. I have fun doing that.
I've started venturing into doing that with mechanicals as well. A few weeks ago I did it with my kommandirskie. It was fine. The crownstem was finicky in whether it wanted to go back in or not but it all went back together in the end. About 2 or 3 days ago I did it (again), and the crown was finicky (again) but I put it back together. Or so I thought.
I picked up my kommandirskie today and whoop the crownstem slides straight out the case. Guess I didn't seat it right after all. I take the caseback off, depress the button and...nope. it doesn't lock in. I try again, depressing the button harder. Still no. I try without pressing the button but still nope. I remove the movement from case, push the button and the crownstem goes in and locks in. So I KNOW it does go in. My inner genius decides "Hey, I I take the movement holder out, I can use the extra space in the case to push the crownstem into the movement, then put the movement holder back on!" I unscrew the movement holder and still nope. So I think "fine. I'll put this back on and just ask my watchmaker". There's just one problem. My tweezers are too thick to put the feet back on, and the tweezers are now magnetised. And to add insult to injury that bastard crownstem still won't go in! So I have to go to a watchmaker for a bloody Vostok.
Update: Apparently the keyless works have collapsed. I'm going to have a go at fixing them. At least I have an excuse to buy a new watch now
Far have I travelled and much have I seen Goodison, Anfield are places I've been Maine Road, Old Trafford still echo to the sound Of the boys in red from the City Ground
Collecting for nearly 5 decades and the thought never crossed my mind.
Kudos to you for trying.
Me? I kinda want to, but I know I'll screw something up cuz the parts are so small & delicate.
Hey why not brother, their your toys, so if you want to play with them, go right ahead.
I just wouldn’t try that with your Omega or Rolex 🤣
I 100% do this, but I have test subjects, not brave enough to do with a watch I actually wear. I started with noname Soviet winders too actually. I'm doing a full service with oils and everything. Let see if I dont screw it up too bad...