Lubrication

[seikoskx]

I understand that watch oils is a very heated topic, but as a beginner, I really don't have the money to buy all the recommended oils from moebius. I understand it is important for watchmakers to have the proper oil, but for a hobbyist, it is very expensive and it's not like I'm servicing an extremely high grade movement anyways. Now I was looking at alternatives like Novostar and Nye. Novostar B seems like a good option for pivots and pallet forks as well as they're barrel grease for mainsprings. Anyone have any experience with these brands and oils?

 

Thanks,

[JohnR725]

One of the problems you're going to find is the lack of proper technical specifications for most lubricants making it almost impossible to compare one brand to another. Then you didn't say other than it's not a high grade watch what sort of watch your servicing? In other words if you're servicing a pocket watch versus a tiny ladies watch then the answers will be different.  Then there is the other problem with watch repair no matter what it's not a inexpensive hobby. So while a bottle oil may seem really expensive it will last a long time. Considering how little you're going to use.

So found a couple links where there selling Novostar B  oil.  So if you look at the description in the first link it does  have the word bracelet which indicates small but the description basically it's good for everything other than pallet stones and the oil they mention for that doesn't appear to be listed anywhere. Then I found you a chart which does indicate that it's good for everything and it has the viscosities. So if you compare the viscosities of Novostar B With Moebius Oils it's a really light oil.  The modern Swiss trend is to go towards heavier oils as a guess it's because the heavier oils tend to stay wherever you put them where really light oils have a habit of spreading. Then beyond that we get no other specifications to tell which is better than the other.

I don't suppose you have a timing machine? So as we lack any meaningful specifications other than viscosity a timing machine that measures amplitude would give you a clue as to whether your lubrication is doing what it's supposed to do. Then if you check your watch initially at the time of servicing and weekly for years you will get a clue as to whether your lubrication is functioning properly. Yes bad lubrication can show up really really fast on a timing machine.

So the only way you're going to find out is to purchase the oil and see what it does if it works for you great if it doesn't work Then you will have to find something else that does.

https://www.esslinger.com/novostar-watch-bracelet-oil-6-ml/

https://timesavers.com/c-325935-oils-lubricants-oils-lubricants-novostar.html

http://www.moebius-lubricants.ch/en/products/oils