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I'm rather enjoying this thread. It's making me think a bit more about the watch that I put on in the morning. Today it's an Audax.

I think isopropanol is safe to use if cleaning by hand for short periods, but I wouldn't use it in the machine again, the information given to me is probably correct in that 30 min exposure to isopropanol has little effect but at some point beyond that it softens the shellac, and once it's at that point it would attack it very quickly in the cleaning machine because of the constant agitation.. Why the shellac on the Swiss pallets was not effected I don't know they had exactly the same exposure as the Russian ones. I cleaned last week a Sekonda pocket watch a Cyma pocket watch a Regency wristwatch with FHF movement and a ladies Lanco the exposure they received was 15min each rinse and there was no problem. The only conclusion to be drawn from the test is avoid its use in a cleaning machine and don't soak or rinse beyond 30mins as a max which wouldn't happen any way if cleaning by hand unless you where distracted or forgot and left them too long.

Jealous of that Audax. Want it. It's a seiko 5 day for me:

You were right the first time, the hole marked turn is where you remove the stem. Insert a largish screwdriver into the hole that says turn and turn the screwdriver 45 to 90 degrees while pulling on the stem to open up the jaws inside it. It may take a few attempts as you can't really see what you are doing but should feel it open up. Once you spread that clip the stem should pull out easily. Hope that helps.

Welcome Donut50. Thanks for posting a better quality picture. Pull the stem out to the setting position and a lever should appear in the hole you have circled in red. Using a small screwdriver or something similar, press the lever while gently pulling the stem and it should come out. The screw marked turn is more than likely a quarter turn fastener that holds down the top plate.

I have not worked on the caliber but I would say that the screw marked turn needs to be turned 3/4 of a turn & the stem should pull out. However don,t turn the screw too much as it can release the setting lever & the watch will have to be removed from the case & hands & dial removed to re -attach. Someone with more Seiko expertise might know better.

Not my cup of tea either, but if it works for you :) Have you tried with thinner blue paint so that the number markers have a more precise look ? How about a blue dot on the original minute dots ?

I bet than in another 30 years time working vintage LCD/LED watches will be more expensive than mechanical swiss watches.. Fact is these watches have a finite life, LCDs more so...I have encountered so many otherwise perfect watches but with the LCD screens black, either wholly or partially. A competent watchsmith will be able to manufacture practically any part of a mechanical watch but an LCD screen? Anil

Great test & thanks for your sacrifice. It really does prove how in the wrong hands & without the correct information you could be left with a big problem.

I recently bought a watch cleaning machine from a retired watchmaker, when I collected the machine the jars already contained solution, the watchmaker told me the rinse jars contained isopropanol. I did ask him what effect on the shellac holding the pallet jewels would the isopropanol have, saying I would be worried that it would dissolve. He said he had used it since Benzine had been unavailable to use, and as long as I rinsed for no more than 15min in each wash there would not be a problem. He also said it was very quick to evaporate in the drying stage and left no residue. I have ordered new cleaning solution and rinse solution from Quadralene and intend to use these. I have though cleaned 4 watches last week in the solutions in the machine and have not had a problem. Today I decided to test and see how long it took to actually dissolve the shellac, The image above shows 3 Russian and one Swiss set of pallets and the shellac can clearly be seen. I have been using the solution for 15min each rinse and have not had a problem so I put the pallets in a isopropanol rinse for 1hr to see what effect it had On the Russian pallets it has greatly degraded the shellac and almost totally washed it away on one, but on the Swiss pallets it has not even touched the shellac on those. I will not use isopropanol again in a cleaning machine and intend to try a similar test with the Quadralene rinse to see how shellac friendly that is because the data sheet doesn't specify what ingredients are in it, but quadralene did tell me they have many watchmakers who buy their rinse and have not had any problems.

Agreed, the LED watches which are mostly red are not very common these days and hence very desirable to some collectors and change hands at good prices. They are definitely worth holding onto if you have any.

I've not seen one of those before, nice watch though. Today I grabbed this LCD Fossil watch to wear.

I'm starting the week with this one. Certina Waterking 215.

I learned a lot on that movement . I think i have rebuild it 10 times . Look like crap with a lot of scratches from my tweezers . Mostly on the pallet stone bridge . Found some other small things on the way . So this watch will probably run an other ten years or more ..

And its here, what a lovely piece of equipment to add to my forever growing collection. I'm sure I will certainly put it to much use. Untitled by Micky Aldridge, on Flickr Untitled by Micky Aldridge, on Flickr