Greatings from Santa Rosa, CA

[RainerS]

Hello,

I am new to watchmaking/restoring, but not new to old or special watches in general.

I started to get into collecting watches in the late 60tes when I was in my late 20tes. Started in 1968 with an original Junghans Flieger Uhr, issued to German F104 pilots by the German Government. Lost that one in Brasil in 1969, when going for a swim at the Copacabana Beach in Rio De Janeiro. Came back from my swim, PanAm flight bag, wallet and watch gone. Next was an Omega Moonwatch in 1972 but lost it in Russia while working there in 1976. (worked in the Machine Tool Business). Owned and sold several other very special watches over the years. Still have my original 1973 Pulsar II, the first of the digital watches, a Junghans chronograph from the 50tes and a Russian Poljot Flieger Chronograph from the 90tes. (Replica of the Junghans Flieger Uhr). Still, wear it daily.

I always liked Chronographs. Bought another Omega Moonwatch in the 80tes, but sold it again later on. Had another Junghans Flieger Uhr, but sold it again. Was too fragile to wear... I like to wear my watches  It seems I to buy and sell them... Not a good thing....

I also have a 1959/1960 Tyssot Seamaster Chronograph with Lemania movement, from my father. But it's not running, trying to get it restored. Needs a new crystal and I think a new mainspring. 

I am new to the watch repair/restoring hobby. I was more into classic car restoration as a hobby. But have sold all my old cars and drive a Tesla M3.

Recently, I got interested in classic watches again, not to own to collect them, but to work on them and wear them... Also, still working on cars, but on other people's cars.

So, now I am here on this forum to learn how to work on old watches... Already fixed a few, getting my hopes up to be able to restore my fathers Tyssot... Just need better and more tools to do it right..

May need your help soon...

 

Rainer

 

[Nucejoe]

Welcome to the best school of horology.

Regards

[oldhippy]

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

[MrRoundel]

Yes, welcome. At the time I started becoming less than comfortable working on cars, I started to work on watches. Big machines and little machines, right? What I like about watches is that they are such incredible machines, like classic cars, but without the grease and knuckle-busters. Plus, you can store many without having to own a barn.

Are you familiar with the NAWCC (Nat'l Association of Watch and Clock Collectors)? You can usually find a good selection of tools being sold at there various Marts, etc. That's how I got most of my tools. And while not an extensive selection, I have enough to mess up a lot of watches with them. (Half kidding.) Good luck with your watch-work.