New member

[gemmyintl]

My name is Jimmy Flynn.  I am a retired jewelry designer and graduate gemologist who has always had a fascination with mechanical watches.  About ten months ago I stumbled on the Watch Repair Channel on Youtube and watched episodes from time to time.  I noticed that the workflow and toolbox was somewhat similar to jewelry making, though tidier, more precise, and certainly requiring tighter discipline.  So around August I jumped in and started buying some inexpensive watches on ebay to practice on.  I now have close to a hundred watches, mostly Bulova; Elgin; Croton; Gruen; Benrus; Baylor; Hamilton; etc., with maybe a half dozen karat gold examples, and a Certina, a couple of Omegas, and about four Longines to boot. 

My experience with repairing so far has been confined to a couple of teardowns [without re-assembly yet], changing out a couple of movements, and/or dials, and of course new crystals.  I have purchased some of the basic tools that are unique to watchmaking, such as hand presses, back presses, crystal compressors, etc.  I am into this just for fun currently, but if I can gain proficiency at my advanced age I might try some commerce as well.  Not in a hurry, just wish to look back month after month and see some advancement in my experience.

I will start photographing some of my more interesting items in the future, such as a Pie Pan dial 23 jewel Swiza, and a 41 jewel Olympic Superautomatic.

I found this site searching for information on how to get the broken stem out of a stainless steel Nirva crown, and am awaiting some Alum that I ordered so I can finish off this beautiful insane green dial automatic Nirva that I stumbled on.

Always willing to participate, and offer a hand if needed

[oldhippy]

Thank you for your introduction and welcome to this friendly forum.

The company I worked for back in the 70's and 80's had a place in Exeter Devon that ran gemmology courses.