Jump to content

Newbie - Watch Repair Advice


Recommended Posts

Hi all,

Recently I have inherited a hand wound mechanical J.W.Benson watch from 1956 from my grandfather. It's looks in good condition, however it doesn't work. I have wound the watch but still doesn't work.

I would really like to repair the watch myself and get it working. Would anyone be able to provide some advice on how to get it working and were to start?

I would like to start doing this to other watches as well, can anyone recommend any tutorials on YouTube? Or books?

What oils will I be required to buy? After doing some research seems to be so many options! 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

32 minutes ago, Ross95 said:

Recently I have inherited a hand wound mechanical J.W.Benson watch from 1956 from my grandfather.

do you value this watch in any way? If the answer is yes then it's not going to be the first watch you repair your going to start on something disposable. On the other hand if you don't care about the watch that can be your first watch to repair. Everybody starting watch repair has an unfortunate habit of breaking things. It's part of learning watch repair and unfortunately breaking things especially vintage things usually does not end well.

then can we have a picture of your grandfather's watch?

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey!  I've been watching lots of videos of someone called Mark Lovik as he takes apart watches and puts them back together.  He's also got a four part course on watch repair.  I haven't taken it yet because I sort of feel like you should just buy all the tools first, as well as the practice movement, and probably a case and stuff to make a complete watch during the course.  Then I sort of found it was a little too distracting when I started just buying watches.

It's all on YouTube including a video on specifically what you need to get to build the learner watch.  Anyway you're supposed to buy a cheap Chinese movement that is a clone of a Swiss movement in order to take the course, and then he supposedly uses the same one.  You set up your work area, sharpen your tools, and very slowly start pulling things apart I guess.  It really looks amazing and its totally well reviewed.  You should do that.

Also, Mr. Lovick has a large number of videos of high-end watches being assembled as well as cheap watches.  Sometimes he even troubleshoots what's gone wrong, such as a clump of dirt left behind on the balance wheel,.  It's really amazing!  Good luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

37 minutes ago, JohnR725 said:

do you value this watch in any way? If the answer is yes then it's not going to be the first watch you repair your going to start on something disposable. On the other hand if you don't care about the watch that can be your first watch to repair. Everybody starting watch repair has an unfortunate habit of breaking things. It's part of learning watch repair and unfortunately breaking things especially vintage things usually does not end well.

then can we have a picture of your grandfather's watch?

Thank you very much for the reply,

I'm not sure what the value of the watch is, however as you stated I will definitely be practicing before attempting to fix that particular one. I do have an old cheap pocket watch to practice with. However can you recommend what any other cheap watchs I can practice on and where I can buy them.

I will upload some pictures of the watch shortly. 

Thanks

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey!  I've been watching lots of videos of someone called Mark Lovik as he takes apart watches and puts them back together.  He's also got a four part course on watch repair.  I haven't taken it yet because I sort of feel like you should just buy all the tools first, as well as the practice movement, and probably a case and stuff to make a complete watch during the course.  Then I sort of found it was a little too distracting when I started just buying watches.
It's all on YouTube including a video on specifically what you need to get to build the learner watch.  Anyway you're supposed to buy a cheap Chinese movement that is a clone of a Swiss movement in order to take the course, and then he supposedly uses the same one.  You set up your work area, sharpen your tools, and very slowly start pulling things apart I guess.  It really looks amazing and its totally well reviewed.  You should do that.
Also, Mr. Lovick has a large number of videos of high-end watches being assembled as well as cheap watches.  Sometimes he even troubleshoots what's gone wrong, such as a clump of dirt left behind on the balance wheel,.  It's really amazing!  Good luck!
Mark started this forum [emoji6]
Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, ro63rto said:

Mark started this forum emoji6.png

Started, managed, and funded it since the beginning. Considering that It would be just fair that beginners and others would consider enrolling in his excellent training at watchrepairlessons.com, or becoming a Patron. That much  I did myself too.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Ross95 said:

However can you recommend what any other cheap watchs I can practice on and where I can buy them.

Please use the search box above, or even just browse around, to get most answers - including "where do I start from", without having to wait for other's answers, which will be always the same as given previously.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Your watch is based on a high grade version of a Smiths Cal.1215 movement, having amongst other things, an up-graded jewel count from 15 to 18, and an up-graded balance with an over-coil hair spring. It is a really nice English made movement.

The case also appears to be solid gold so should have a hall mark which will date the watch, but I suspect mid 1950's. It's probably either a Dennison or a BWC.

This really should not be your first or second watch to work on as although not exactly rare, spare parts are not common, and less so for the variant that you have. It's also not a cheap watch. Check here for an idea of the kind of prices they can fetch.

It is a really nice watch though and represents the very best of English watch manufacturing. Definitely one to look after.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What Marc said - that’s a very fine English-made watch. Quite valuable. Much less common than your average Smiths or JWB. 
 

I usually don’t try to put people off jumping in at the deep end, but in this case I am - you’ll struggle to find some spare parts for this if you make any errors. In particular, the balance/hairspring which is very rare and also the KIF antishock arrangement. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • its used to lengthen or shorten the suspension spring from the front f the clock dial, this in turn will give regulation to the clock. Try inserting a pocket watch key or even better the double ended key for the clock into the small aperture on the dial at the top and turning it, you will see the suspension block either raise or lower. If it raises the clock will run faster if it lowers the clock will run slower
    • Grateful for info regarding the nature & function of the horizontal cog and the unit it's on top of in the picture. It meshes with a vertical cog (enclosed in the unit) on the arbour which is supported at its other end by the back plate of the dial unit to which it is not quite perpendicular...
    • does anyone knows what type of battery this digital Watch takes?  
    • Hello good watch folk ,I  just fancied a light hearted discussion after my head was starting to spin over Epilame 😅. Specifically I'm meaning the sale of vintage watches, say nothing past the 1980s market. The stuff we see on ebay and other similar sites and found at carboots, curio shops etc. And are  we thinking its reaching a peak volume ?  Younger generations clearing out passed parents and grandparents possessions.  The younger folk are not as sentimental as the old fogies ( I'm now nearly at an age that i used to think was old fogie age ). When might it have started ?  i often wish i discovered the hobby much much sooner when selling your grandfathers pocket watch at a boot sale for a few quid was just a way to offload some tat. And when might it slow down. Thoughts anyone ?
    • Yes i did eventually realise that the oil will act as a barrier, I'm sure the discussion will continue. Ive had two oleophobic coffees ( added coconut ) and in the meantime i have this just delivered to take my mind off epilame for the time being. My favourite type of dial, its a beautiful looking watch traditional English made and it runs,  the ticktock is phenomenal,  i can hear it across my living room .  You wont believe how much it was. Thats interesting about synthetic oils , i thought the same, going from a 2 year service to 5 years is a big drop in income for service folk.  I expect some did well when they embraced the use of synthetic,  probably drawing in more customers than those that didn't use the new fangled substances , i bet fairly short lived though. The more frequent service makes more sense to me, not for just the service but for the regular check up inspections that might pick up impending faults. As far as epilame goes, wouldn't it be great to be able to fumigate the complete movement in a sealed jar of heated stearic acid, 🤔 now theres a thought 😅.
×
×
  • Create New...