Let's talk about screwdrivers
So, just to maintain my skills, I took the back of a movement apart and put it back together over the weekend. During this fun exercise I noticed that my inexpensive screwdrivers are probably more cheap than inexpensive.
There is of course the Bergeon 30081-S09 set, which costs a pretty penny, but it seems that the sky is the limit in the world of screwdrivers. For somebody who is an amateur, do you think there is any reason to go beyond a Bergeon 30081-S09 set? Or would you recommend something altogether different?
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Like all tools, there is low end, perhaps use once and hope it does not damage what you are working on. High end which may work like magic, or may simply be over priced (looking at you Snap-On), or those that are good value somewhere in the middle. Sadly there is not a Project Farm for watch tools!
After shredding a bracelet screw with an inexpensive set, I found a set of Bergeon 6899 for sale for like $120. I forget the name of the store, but if I can find it I will post it. Marshall did a great video about tools that was super helpful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tl7xNPvmyM
I really think that typically you get what you pay for. That said, I bought an inexpensive no name brand off Esslinger and I've completely disassembled and assembled/rebuilt 3 vintage watches so far and made numerous smaller repairs on other watches with no issues. I have a Arkansas stone and have dressed the tips a little to keep them sharp and precise.
I really think that typically you get what you pay for. That said, I bought an inexpensive no name brand off Esslinger and I've completely disassembled and assembled/rebuilt 3 vintage watches so far and made numerous smaller repairs on other watches with no issues. I have a Arkansas stone and have dressed the tips a little to keep them sharp and precise.
Probably a good point. I also have a sharpening stone, and could try to take care of the tips myself.
I have a set of Bergeon screwdrivers, I am not at all impressed. I can appreciate the precision but they are soft and bend quite easily when a lot of torque is needed to unscrew a bracelet, so they are no good for that. I guess for some uber tiny screws inside movements it could be useful though.
I personally use a set of 1.2mm, 1.4mm and 1.6mm hollow ground (I guess?) drivers from AliExpress which work like a dream for Rolex (1.4mm Jubilee and 1.6mm Oyster) as well as Grand Seiko (1.2mm). They call them T Blade over there. I think they are knock offs of the Rolex OEM tools. Indeed, my AD messed up my GS bracelet a little when they insisted in sizing it... so these are probably better than what that particular GS shop has. With a screwdriver fit is everything, steel (even quality steel) is cheap. I also have some Wera precision screwdrivers which come in different thickness for the screws where the T Blades don't fit (they are quite thick). Oddly enough all that was quite a bit cheaper in total than the 5 Bergeon screwdrivers... which I most recently used to remove a spring bar when the tool I had was too wide.
I have a set of Bergeon screwdrivers, I am not at all impressed. I can appreciate the precision but they are soft and bend quite easily when a lot of torque is needed to unscrew a bracelet, so they are no good for that. I guess for some uber tiny screws inside movements it could be useful though.
I personally use a set of 1.2mm, 1.4mm and 1.6mm hollow ground (I guess?) drivers from AliExpress which work like a dream for Rolex (1.4mm Jubilee and 1.6mm Oyster) as well as Grand Seiko (1.2mm). They call them T Blade over there. I think they are knock offs of the Rolex OEM tools. Indeed, my AD messed up my GS bracelet a little when they insisted in sizing it... so these are probably better than what that particular GS shop has. With a screwdriver fit is everything, steel (even quality steel) is cheap. I also have some Wera precision screwdrivers which come in different thickness for the screws where the T Blades don't fit (they are quite thick). Oddly enough all that was quite a bit cheaper in total than the 5 Bergeon screwdrivers... which I most recently used to remove a spring bar when the tool I had was too wide.
Yes, I would need the type of screwdrivers similar to the Bergeon ones you described. I have another set for resizing bracelets, and I have no issue in that regard.
The ones that I'm looking for are working for small screws in movements, and would use relatively low torque. I have a set of those from AliExpress, but the quality is not the best.
I have a set of Bergeon screwdrivers, but not the 30081-S09. Mine are the 5970 set with the stand from Esslinger. The first set I had was a really cheap one from Amazon, but they were so soft they kept chipping and I was spending more time shaping them on the sharpening stone than actually working on watches!
I bought a cheap set of screwdrivers (Amazon) and an expensive set of blades from Esslinger. The blades from the cheap set went straight into the rubbish bin. Cost-effective solution.
Thanks @ayadai , @emaamodt , @enrico.tutti , @UnsignedCrown , @1Jewel and @AllTheWatches . Looking at all this feedback, the price of the Bergeon sets, I might give Esslinger a try, which is still well within my watch tinkering budget.
Thank you very much!
I have a set of Bergeon screwdrivers, I am not at all impressed. I can appreciate the precision but they are soft and bend quite easily when a lot of torque is needed to unscrew a bracelet, so they are no good for that. I guess for some uber tiny screws inside movements it could be useful though.
I personally use a set of 1.2mm, 1.4mm and 1.6mm hollow ground (I guess?) drivers from AliExpress which work like a dream for Rolex (1.4mm Jubilee and 1.6mm Oyster) as well as Grand Seiko (1.2mm). They call them T Blade over there. I think they are knock offs of the Rolex OEM tools. Indeed, my AD messed up my GS bracelet a little when they insisted in sizing it... so these are probably better than what that particular GS shop has. With a screwdriver fit is everything, steel (even quality steel) is cheap. I also have some Wera precision screwdrivers which come in different thickness for the screws where the T Blades don't fit (they are quite thick). Oddly enough all that was quite a bit cheaper in total than the 5 Bergeon screwdrivers... which I most recently used to remove a spring bar when the tool I had was too wide.
Those are good,so are wiha and Klein tools.
So far, with a few uses, I've been impressed with these.
10 pcs Precision Slotted And Phillips Screwdriver Set Different Sizes With 20 Extra Replace Blades Watchmakers Tools for Watch,Jewelry,Eyeglass https://a.co/d/5Pq1436
Amazon shared link, no affiliate or anything.