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Today I slipped on my Pam homage I made myself from eBay parts. I fell in love with the Panerai PAM00672. The classic shape of that case and the eye catching engraving caught my eye. I happened to see a "replica" of that case on the Bay and picked one up. I also grabbed a Sea-Gull 6498 movement and a sleek black California dial with matching hands. The strap came next and I chose one that looked the part. The correctly engraved clasp was ordered last to make it complete. I get compliments all the time on it.

My advice for the novice, avoid watches with broken balances. You need specific experience and tools that both take time to acquire. It is truly a more advanced skill. Finding complete balances is an option or a donor movement, but generally speaking, avoid them. As has been mentioned getting into pocket watches first is a great start as everything is bigger, especially if you begin with size 18 movements. Avoid English Fusee movements as the majority of them were all hand made and all the parts were hand fit. Almost no parts are "drop-in" like the Americans pioneered. You will make mistakes, you will ruin parts or lose them, as we all have. You will curse and sweat and have nightmares, but when you succeed, you'll know the joy of watchmaking.

No, it is not. Double check the pictures above.

A touch of silicone can also help.

Clean well both parts and inspect under the eyeglass for sign of thread damage, especially at the start.

No problem...I appreciate the conversation.

This little watch I have had a very long time and has been worn every day I go to work. It’s had an absolute hammering as I’m in the engineering business, it’s had multiple straps and the latest one is a stingray

Hopefully these 3 pictures will explain the use to you on how they are used to remove and insatll the cylinder plugs show in John's post This is from Archie B Perkins book Antique Watch Restoration Volume 1 which is just 1 of 4 great books from Archie if you have the money spare as they are not cheap.

Essence (French) == Petrol (UK English) == Gasoline (US English) == Benzine (Italian, German, many others languages) == Naptha (Argentina Spanish). Chemicals for sale in the UK must make available composition and hazard info, so check there. My knowledge of chemistry is rudimentary, but I believe that purity affects boiling point, however not making a difference for our purposes.