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Hello there everyone, This is an update from this thread: I am returning to update as promised to those interested. I took it to my watchmaker to get repaired and to verify the movement. He was pretty excited to work on it, and said it's all original and there hasn't been any messing around. It was gunked up bad with old oils and dirt. He took it apart, cleaned it all, and put it back together. Success - it works. My next venture was to to take to a casemaker. This wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. I scoured the forums for suggestions and found a few. None of them wanted the job. Too far gone, they said - but I wasn't giving up that easy. I found a casemaker suggested on watchuseek. I gave him a call, he said he'd see what he can do. The watch was packed and sent to him. I asked for the following: New buttons to replace these worn and beaten old boys (see image: http://imgur.com/9LdnjJf) Case refurbishment (see image: http://imgur.com/sRnknpK) Re-threading to the caseback (this was the hardest part. The case itself was actually worn away. He managed to do it, but it's not ever going to be flush. At least it doesn't pop off anymore! See image: http://imgur.com/4znGVnd) Gold plating (Wrist shot: http://imgur.com/LawvWB3) In terms of monetary value, this was in no way worth it. In terms of loving a watch, it was. I am so pleased with the outcome, and glad I went hell for leather on this piece. Hope you enjoyed the pictures, here they are in an album (in random order) - http://imgur.com/a/4TdOd Cheers & Happy Holidays V

I must consider myself lucky as I would have done the exact same thing except that the spring exploded in the barrel before it had a chance to let down. The clock had been fully wound but not running for at least forty years. As soon as I pulled the click away from the ratchet wheel there was a awful noise and all the tension was released. I believe that spring came out in about six pieces. Worst thing I've done to myself working on watches amounts to stabbing my index finger with a fine oiler. I've done that twice now. Boy will that make on angry.

Did almost the same. An old clock and i hold the key and let go of the spring? Full wind hit my tumbs nail. A big blue nail was what i got. Didn't sleep that night. And in the morning i had to drill a small hole in the nail to let go of the pressure? Burn myself i have done so many times? But the worst i did was when i was a small child? I put the match back in the matchbox before the match had burnt up? So all the matches in the matchbox burned up in a big fire. In my little hand?

Hi The attached tool has recently arrived from China. I saw it on Aliexpress and thought I might as well buy it as I haven't seen one before ;). It's for holding the balance wheel instead of having to grip it in your fingers when working on it, whether suspended or otherwise. Not really needed, but I thought it was interesting and it only cost £7 - imagine what it would cost if Bergeon was stamped on it? It's a bit rough around the edges and needs a bit of work, and maybe a different handle, but I reckon it could be quite useful as it's adjustable to cover most wristwatch sizes. I'm thinking initially of using it when adjusting the hairspring collet. Stephen

Sell them on and put the money towards better watches and you will have money to improve your tools and improve your hobby.

Usually a beat error is the cause for a movement not to fire up after at least 8 winds. When there is no beat error, and the movement is running perfectly, the movement usually fires up into action after 5 to 8 manual winds.

Just a wee reminder to everyone. Please do not make any posts that either directly or indirectly constitute a sales advert, as it contravenes the long established forum rules and it will be removed. Thank you.

Thinking about this for my xmas present to myself. Invicta Men's 9094 Pro Diver, now before there is any gnashing of teeth, it is an auto NH35A, I still have a eta quartz Invicta on the bench awaiting a $15 crown, from Invicta. I swore I'd never consider the brand, but the price is making it very attractive, ,<$70 USD. Just wanted to get some opinions on this one. At 40 mm case it's about good on my skinny wrist. Yeah, it's a blue dial too! Made in USA or Imported Blue-dial watch featuring numbered unidirectional bezel, magnified date window at 3 o'clock, and logo-accented, 40 mm stainless steel case with mineral dial window. Movement Components: Japan, Caliber: NH35A Stainless steel link bracelet with fold-over clasp and safety closure Water resistant to 200 m (660 ft)

Firstly, thank you to everyone who offered advice under the topic... Below is a picture of my new working environment with better ambient lighting; a bright LED light with vertical and horizontal tilt plus some better quality eyeglasses crucially of a more reasonable magnification than the OTT eyeglass I have previously used. [This picture was taken on my mobile 'phone which has adjusted the exposure so actually it is a lot brighter than the picture makes out]. So my first weekend foray was with an MST 522. Looking pretty original but very grubby I carefully dismantled for cleaning. I was concerned I had somehow lost the winding pinion along the way as this was missing but a careful search of my working board and no sign. Mmm. But then look at the click spring ... it seems someone has previously messed around in here. I'm sure the watch never left the factory with that spring! Okay let's park that watch ... ... and move onto an AS 1716. Again a careful dismantling for cleaning and service showed this movement to be in pretty good condition; I really liked the separate little automatic module too! However the keyless works highlighted another click spring issue! This time with a spring that has broken. Not the end of the world ... ... but after getting about 95% through putting back together and putting back the calendar ring slide spring. Carefully, carefully ... PING! I then spent 20 minutes recreating a scene from CSI trying to find this on the floor and surrounding area. No luck. The good news is that the watch is running though - yay. So three spring issues in a weekend!. What are the chances...?! :-)

Went to grab something out of the oven but there wasn't enough folds of tea towel (no oven mitt) between my index finger and the tray. heat shot through to my finger in less than a second. Due back in work tomorrow... how am i going to repair any watches with a serious burn on the top/flat of my dominant hand's index finger? I guess I just have to see it as a challenge, during the Christmas rush no less.... so ridiculous that such a small injury would cause such a big problem. Ah well, I've vented my frustrations now, my finger still hurts but that makes me feel a little bit better.

I started my watch repair hobby about 8 months ago, got my desk setup and started buying non-running watches off of Ebay. Now I have literally a pile of running watches that are ugly but keep good time. Wondering what most do with the watches that they get running. Just ordered a #1000 Timegrapher, so I can spend time going through the running movements and get them as close as possible but after that don't know what to do with them.

That's why some of us go through all the trouble to restore! BEAUTIFUL watch wear it with pride!

oh boy reminds me of when I first started mucking around with watches, thought I'd try my hand at a cheap clock movement, well little did I realize at the time that if you have a keywind clock movement, (fully wound) that when you release all that tension it has to go somewhere, well the winding key darn near took off my finger and left a pretty good impression on a ring on my right hand, I wear the ring to remind me of how stupid I could have been to try to let down a spring with key attached! I know how you feel.

If you live in the UK, get in touch with the B H I look on there web site email them tell them what you have and where you live, they will get back are recommend someone who will be able to help you.

I forwarded it to UPS fraud department immediately. It will be interesting to se if I get a reply...........I bet I don't! Micky tried to credit me with drink for helping but I politely refused. It would have ended up being very very expensive laminate!

There is an Advent calendar giveaway at NOMOS Glashütte where i was winning the day 7 surprise item... a super awesome professional antique steampunk Eibar el Casco pencil sharpener... which actually belonged to the company's founder, Roland Schwertner Sure i made a video of it.

Which GS ? ....

Never EVER tell the misses what any tool cost. Could end a great relationship!

Ah thank you. Somehow that makes me feel better inside (as well as provoking laughter on the outside). Related- I serviced my father's Accutron about two weeks back. I spent more time on my hands and knees than I did sitting at the workbench. This is not an exaggeration!

I recently upgraded screwdrivers and tweezers, since I don't do a lot of screwturning, I started with some cheepos and they served me well, tweezers, well new ones are from CHA-ina, while not high grade, they serve the purpose, just had to learn not to pry plates or anything else with them, They should last a while even with dressing. (<$25 on Amazon) I got a BIN off the bay for <$100 USD for the Bergeons, new in box, and man what a difference! and when the missus saw them, she only said, "new screwdrivers eh?", she didn't ask how much and I didn't tell her!

Oh, that's normal

That Zodiac is something else Im not a fan of gold watches but that's really nice Today's new arrival from Japan, a little xmass prezzie to my self In my favourite colour and a retro design but with a hacking 4R37 movement ( handwind too ). I want the Black & gold version also but they are harder to find

Citizen Wingman

epos originale 3420 A bit sorry but this slim boy will have to go. Too large for me even if just 40,5mm.

Wearing a 70's German Helbros cal R75 today. Was a non runner just needed a good clean service and crystal and now is another one for my collection.

Well after some 30 years without a service this 1977 Seiko was in desperate need of tlc, luckily the cosmetics of the dial and hands are quite good and the inner bezel has aged like they all do . Timing is the same as it was the day it was made New favourite in my collection ( long overdue ) Not quite as nice as that Favre

Hi Everybody, I just want to clarify that I have absolutely no problem with members, who have their own websites, linking to that website (non commercial). If you could kindly link to the site in your signature rather than in a post then that would be very helpful. If you have a webpage which is highly relevant to a topic already being discussed then, again, you are more than welcome to post a link to that page