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I'm sorry, I've got to disagree. This guy has no idea how to oil a train, or how much oil to use, as he was painting the stuff onto every post. Completely missed out on the winding stem, put cap jewels on a dirty surface then put it together with the chaton. The way he put on the wheel over third was quite shocking to watch and then gave the wheel a good push from the side to get it at the same level as the sweep second pinion which more than likely bent the third wheel arbor, that's not including handling every part with his fingers and holding down bridges and parts with his sharp tweezers. Apart from putting it together, I can't see what he did right. I was shocked at the great tools he had but his technique and his practices are abysmal. This watch is going to end up on someone else's bench within a year. What the hell was he doing oiling the jewels and then putting the wheels in place? WTF! How much grease did he put on the centre wheel? Enough for ten centre wheels! This should have been titled 'I almost killed this Rolex Explorer' And to top it all, the amplitude for a serviced watch with a new mainspring was crap! I too don't like to judge other's work, but come on! This was one of the worst service videos I have ever seen. I keep saying to my students 'Just because it's on YouTube, doesn't make it the truth' and the worrying thing is he has thousands of subscribers who will think this is the way to service a watch. Jesus!

Hi all, I recently had an 8-day watch/clock to service and found that the winding stem fell out of the watch very easily. It is a pin-set movement, so the winding stem shouldn't be able to move. It should only wind the movement. My first thought when I was handed the watch was that there must be a part that was broken for this to happen. The movement doesn't have a setting lever, as the watch yoke is pushed toward the motion work to set the hands, but it does have a part that clamps over the indentation in the winding stem and is held by what can only be described as a winding stem clamp screw. This screw when loosened will allow the winding stem to be removed from the movement. Anyway, when I started to disassemble the movement my guess was true that the clamp that held the winding stem in the movement was broken. It looked like in the past someone had fabricated this broken part as a replacement for the original and had used metal that wasn't hardened and then tempered, so the inevitable had to happen and it broke. Probably when someone thought to set the hands that the winding stem should be pulled out and not realised that it is a pin set, or what is commonly known as a nail set watch movement. I decided to get out my tool steel sheet and fabricate a new clamp and then harden and temper it, only to find that once I had spent some time cutting the shape with a coping saw and filing it to the correct size and shape the sheet that I bought from Cousins wasn't tool steel, or what Cousins refer to as 'Carbon Steel' but some crappy sheet of mild steel that their Chinese supplier had ripped them off with. So, a word of warning here. If anyone is intending to buy a sheet of this crud from Cousins to make keyless work or tools etc. you'll be wasting your time and money.

As I'm one of the old buggers that never used finger cots I always used Radico, always handled parts with tweezers and I couldn't get on using watch mainspring winders. I learned how to put a spring in its barrel without touching the spring by using tissue paper. I expect now I'll be sent to Coventry for the rest of my time on this forum. Happy Christmas.

To be honest, Rolexs are well-made watch movements and that's why they are expensive, as well as the hype. They have lots of patents and features that you won't find in other watches. The reason something like a submariner is a lot of money is because it's not just the name on the dial and a fancy bracelet. Half of what you are paying for is the remarkable engineering inside, not just the bling that you can see. You can spend 8 grand on an IWC only to find out it has a 300 quid ETA movement inside. That's like buying an Aston Martin only to find a VW engine under the hood. Rolex doesn't pull these stunts as it's all in-house movements. When you work on a modern Rolex 3135 or 3285 you'll know why you're paying large sums for it. They are an absolute joy to service in my experience. Personally my favourite to service is the 1530 Air King from the 60's. They never had a chronometer standard but you can easily get them running like it. Patek Phillipe is the same. Total quality! When you work on one, you know what you are paying for and it isn't a crappy ETA 2892-2 modular chronograph that Breitling sticks in their pieces of crud.

A couple more washers for those of us that like to potter around making gadgets. The small one just a a cheap dremmel type tool , this one is cordless which is handy. Mounted on a very cheap lab stand, i should have spent a few more quid really, the locking nuts and brackets are a bit pants, the clamp is sort of ok, but its completely stable because there's no weight to any of it and its extremely quiet when running. Another 15 quid would have got me a much better stand. But all in all i like it, the lowest setting on the dremel is perfect and a touch above that to spin off the cleaner. The big one is a drill and press bought this year at a carboot for a fiver. Very stable and the voltage regulator for 15 quid gives it plenty of speed adjustment. The travel on the press is 75mm which is perfect for lowering the baskets i made, i just had to remove the big return spring in the press and tighten up the travel mechanism. It took a little while to find all the right nuts bolts and couplings and some adjustments had to be made but not a headache. I was thinking of adding an impeller to the spindle of the drill but there already seems to be a bit of a vortex going but adding some wave breakers will be an Idea.

I have filled in the contact form and hope to get in touch with the owner. Reading through the About document - this looks like a great initiative and I would be keen to contribute to a site that is open source and contains copyright free content. Imagine if we had a site where you could submit a photo of your movement and it could identify it for you and tell you all about it. Or one where you specify the movement you are working on and the part you need and it will tell you all the other movements that used the same part?

Makeshift parts dryer if anyone wants a cheap hack . Just until the dc windscreen motor i ordered arrives to knock something better up. I normally use a food dryer but this is much quicker. A 2 pound travel hairdryer from a carboot that runs at 1000 watts and a microphone stand for 7 quid off ebay. The dryer is on low so just a good steady heat about 4 inches below the basket, within 10 seconds the basket of parts start to swing, that aids the drying. Obviously put all small parts in mesh baskets and check that the height and heat output below the basket suits requirements

I finally took action to fix my Formula 1 Haikonen bumpers. I keep thinking how Tag could put plastic outside the watch? And on a Formula 1? The perfect everyday watch? Well I imagine some people wont agree with me on that... I removed the broken ones and that rubber was just so dry and broke like chalk. Had to try so many prototypes till I could get the perfect fit. The resin 3d printer is just amazing the amount of detail you can get at home. Also the rubber resin worked perfectly for this one. I could sell those on Ebay as I imagine there are a big number of Formula Tag owners pissed off with these bumpers and no official replacement. A couple things I think still need improvement. I have to dye the resin in black a bit more. I got to learn a way to create the plastic texture while modeling the object. I got really curious about exploring a laser engraver. I have a little pad print machine but yet to decide how to make the cliches for dials. So far the photopolimer idea get stuck on an inkjet printer capable of printing a motif, specially dial's tiny small lines. I just saw a laserpecker and I think that would be a better idea. Have anyone tried to create a cliche with a laser engraver?

I know this is more or less the same repeat post as others have made… but what would you do with this? As you can see the varnish is already peeling off, the lettering is also peeling off / can almost been blown away with a puffer. I am tempted to just wash it as a clean generic dial (all print gone) will look better than leaving this as is.

Apparently this is how he's made a living for the last 15 years. I watched a few more, he constantly moans. Yes his practice is very poor considering its his profession.

I'm a little confused here all the watch companies have hyped that their watches are outstanding. f you want to look at a ripoff look at a quartz watch for a couple hundred dollars. I see this all the time where I work with the changing batteries they bring in all these watches name brands and inside is a movement that cost bike $5-$25. Getting a five dollar plastic movement in a case for a couple hundred dollars doesn't seem like a ripoff versus a Rolex movement that's expensive and is probably chronometer certified in a stainless steel case Still seems like a much better deal than they quartz watch. But to a certain degree are right about the hype because of the hype a lot of the Rolex watches are now worth way more than what they cost brand-new. Then Rolex of course doesn't play games with artificial shortages which a course and bumps up the price even more some of the new watches on the secondary market cost more than they would if they were brand-new. But still it still a very nice watch inside.

Hello and welcome from Leeds, England. It's good to have someone young on here, in a previous thread, we were discussing our age. Don't worry, we all started off breaking things.

I do the same if the dial is totally shot, give it a good scrub. Nothing to lose.

Exactly what I would do. I've done just that in the past

We did! And I agree with everything you said. I wouldn't buy one for the reasons you stated

We seem to agree, although your way of putting is w/o my resentment. To each his own, and I guess you should never say never, but I'd be hard-pressed to pay over £6000 for the bling, status, and hype of a Rolex Submariner. Thinking about it, I'd even be hard-pressed to pay the other £6000 for the remarkable engineering. I can get a mass-produced high-grade Swiss watch with remarkable engineering for about 30 per cent of the cost of a Rolex, but it won't say Rolex on the dial. When it comes to the hype, Rolex reigns supreme, and that's what's truly remarkable and sets Rolex apart from every other brand. My main message, as I mentioned previously, is that the world of horology is so much more than Rolex, and people in general (not the nerds) miss out on it believing Rolex is the be-all and end-all when in reality it’s far from it. The hype has become a vicious money-making circle, and that's why a majority of social media about watches include the word Rolex, and I'm fed up with it. Just realized we strayed quite a bit from the topic of the OP, so my apologies for that.

Rolex have a brilliant marketing department, that's for sure. My daily is on my profile photo, Omega Aqua Terra , coaxial. Yes, expensive but the Rolex equivalent would be several thousands of pounds more. Why, because of marketing.

Also you could submit the make and and the movement, it would help with obscure brands.

Ah Nev you are a star, a man after my own heart, i applaud you loudy Here is my homemade diamond micro file

Hi NEV. very good. Being in the situation you were in with the wall , it’s theses situations which make you think out side the box . And you certainly have created your tweezers. Most excellent.

Thanks to all for the good words. The tools I used - yes, angle grinder and bench grinder, and some diamond disk used as a hand file for the finish of the tips, then some sand paper 800 grit to smooth the grinded edges. Actually, not special skills needed, just cutting, grinding, filing. Do not take me wring - I can afford buying tools. I just like making my own tools. I mostly use ordinary general purpose lathe, but have made by myself all the milling attachments and utilities that I use to cut gears and make all parts needed. Long time ago simple servicing watches by cleaning/oiling/parts replacing stopped being interesting to me. Then I started making parts, restoring antique movements. Skills are needed for this and skills mus be kept alive exactly this way - by practicing htem all the time..

I avoid water based cleaning products, tried them, straight in IPA and still rust. Cases go in hot water and washing up liquid.

…and finished…enough. The replacement crystal I ordered from Ofrei was supposed to be a Stella but a Sternkreusz N of similar size arrived. It didn’t snug the movement down like it is supposed to- the lip on the bottom is fractionally narrower than the original. So I’m a bit peeved but I had cleaned up the original so small crack and all it is going home before Christmas and I will find a suitable replacement later if so desired… if desired…

yes- water based and water is the enemy so if you use it you have to displace the water. Don't let parts soak for long and rinse in IPA immediately then warm air dry... ...there will be others here who avoid any water based products for just the reason you've discovered... I use liquinox for extra dirty parts and case parts. It gets things extremely clean but use with caution...

Well, here I am again. Doing an update. It's been 24 months since I began my journey on this watchmaking hobby. Where am I at, what have I achieved? Looking back, time has gone quick. Covid has been and gone...ish. Although I, like others of my age group are still reticent about mixing in a large community situations. This hobby has been a godsend. Something to do, but most of all a change of life direction. Achievement is the name of the game, and to do something that uses acquired physical and mental skill gives great well being. That's what it has done for me. The internet has allowed me to study and to practise physically from visual and audio stimulation. Like most beginners, I started without direction. Youtube videos, 'I've only been doing this two weeks and I fully serviced this vey intricate watch with many complications'. Oh bloody ha ha. I believed it and started. Ebay sold me a cheap kit (still use most of it) and I purchased watch movements that needed repair (idiot). If they need repair it's because they are broken and if they are broken how can you fix them if your don't have the skill? They are still there in my storage. I had no idea what I was doing. I do like Seiko's so I tried unsuccessfully to repair some. But I did watch Mike's 'My Retro Watches' who suggested that a course would be a good base, and mentioned Mark Lovick. I was lucky and got a 40% Christmas reduction. At last, guidance!! How did he know that everything I had been doing was wrong? Hmmmm. I have mild dyslexia in that I have great difficulty in assimilation of written instruction. I react to physical and visual stimulus. Exactly what Mark offers. So began the extended learning curve. Overcoming the history of broken pivots, springs , lost items and other breakages, I learned system and most of all the skill to practice. An hour or two every day gives a good depth of skill in use of tools. Where am I? I can disassemble most watches with basic complications, day and date, not yet chronographs. I can assemble all the watches and service them to be better than prior to disassembly. I have a plethora of tools and thanks to members even know how to use them. Am I where I wanted to be after 2 years. No. I was going to do a service on my own Breitling chronograph purchased by me for my 18th birthday in 1966. But I don't want to do so just yet as confidence is not there. Soon. Maybe. Am I enjoying the hobby? Oh yes. Will I continue? Oh yes. The biggest help has been 3 fold. 1. Me, getting off my backside and making the effort. 2. The internet. Courses and YouTube. 3. The membership of this forum. Made good friends and got good guidance. 24 months on. Merry Christmas and a Happy New year to you all. Ross

I have been helping a guy identify and value some watch/clock stuff he inherited. In exchange, he sold this to me for $100. Pretty cool. Does not work on Accutrons...lol. But I will get back to pocket watches soon enough.

Personally what I really like our YouTube videos on servicing Rolex watches. Some of the YouTube channels which will remain nameless are more entertainment and if you're watching carefully they skip a lot of steps you kinda hope they covered all of the steps when servicing but you're never quite sure. They barely even time the watch in case at all backup. Basically the way I think of Rolex is it's the Timex of high grade watches. This will probably get the wrath of our local Timex owner mad at me for saying that but basically it's a mass-produced high grade watch. Which up until 2004 wasn't even made by Rolex it was made by another company under contract which is even more amusing. It's always nice to tell a Rolex owner that the Rolex watch was made by another company under contract from Rolex because Rolex didn't have control of the factory until 2004.

@Jon I did order this from your link, free shipping, £18 and no import taxes. Change the plug and seems to be working. Now to build some sort of stand and storage for it. Thanks for the recommendation. Tom P.S. Arrived in 8 days

Got a 1920 Waltham 12S Grade 200, Model 1894, for a pretty low price. Not particularly rare but I liked the case and the looks of the movement and dial. Said to be running.

Welcome to the forum, looking forward to learn from you.

Hello and welcome from England.