Wittnauer Professional Chronograph - The Moon Watch that never was. Full Restoration

horologybiology

https://youtu.be/v6m2t-So14s?si=kFvyLO4gojrFlsgw

Horology Biology takes on a sticky Wittnauer Professional Chronograph for a full vintage watch restoration service with the Valjoux 7733 inside. This watch could have beaten Omega to be the Moon Watch in the 1960's. Nasa invited a few watchmakers to submit their watches to rigorous testing in order to be come the watch that would launch with the Apollo missions. Wittnauer was one of them!

#wittnauer #horologybiology #youtube #watchservice
Reply
Mr.Santana
·

Watching it now thank you!!

“It’s not fresh no sir it’s not” 🤣

I really appreciate watchmakers like your self making content like this which is extremely tricky for you to film then edit the voice over after the fact. The service alone is A lot of work to begin with so hats off to you for making it into content!

That was the first time I have seen someone remove the crown from the stem for cleaning. Or maybe I don’t pay enough attention 😅. And that setting leaver spring was HUGE!

Isn’t it good practice to replace the mainspring reguardless of functional performance when doing a service since it inexpensive and basically powers everything or is that not the case? And why not go with a brand new stock part instead of new old stock that is already wound and you can just pop right in?

horologybiology
·
Mr.Santana

Watching it now thank you!!

“It’s not fresh no sir it’s not” 🤣

I really appreciate watchmakers like your self making content like this which is extremely tricky for you to film then edit the voice over after the fact. The service alone is A lot of work to begin with so hats off to you for making it into content!

That was the first time I have seen someone remove the crown from the stem for cleaning. Or maybe I don’t pay enough attention 😅. And that setting leaver spring was HUGE!

Isn’t it good practice to replace the mainspring reguardless of functional performance when doing a service since it inexpensive and basically powers everything or is that not the case? And why not go with a brand new stock part instead of new old stock that is already wound and you can just pop right in?

Thanks for watching and your feedback 🙂

8/10 I do replace but if something is in really good condition why replace it?

If it is even slightly unflat when it's out then I will replace it. (hence the 8/10 times)

I don't always removed the crown from the stem but this was a bit of an extreme watch gunked up.

Regarding the springs, it depends what I get sent. Some are new new like you mentioned but some are definitely nos, this one was for sure as the oil was dried up and looked bad. The spring was good just needed cleaning.

Mr.Santana
·
horologybiology

Thanks for watching and your feedback 🙂

8/10 I do replace but if something is in really good condition why replace it?

If it is even slightly unflat when it's out then I will replace it. (hence the 8/10 times)

I don't always removed the crown from the stem but this was a bit of an extreme watch gunked up.

Regarding the springs, it depends what I get sent. Some are new new like you mentioned but some are definitely nos, this one was for sure as the oil was dried up and looked bad. The spring was good just needed cleaning.

Have you done a video on putting on a secound hand?

I have spent a lot of time practicing and have gotten a lot better but sometimes when I’m trying to put a secound hand on a NH35 movemtnt I have a situation where the pin will spit back out the secound hand after rotating for 5-10 seconds. Have you ever had that issue before? I’m also trying to find the best way to handle the secound hand with the lowest risk to bend the hand.

horologybiology
·

I have many videos showing hand placing etc, not with that movement you speak of though.