Dial stuck on case

[MartinOcando]

Looks like I'm learning quite a lot during the past weeks. So, this is my wife's watch that I gifted her a couple years ago. The battery exhausted and I replaced it, but it never started. Reading this forum I read that you can jump start a quartz watch by either forcing the hands to move slightly, or putting it on a blue box demag. Instead of trying the demag first, as it was much easier, I decided to go to the hands first. So I opened the case, removed the crown, and was tapping the movement, but didn't move. Thinking that it might be that it got stuck, I lightly tried to pry it out of the case, after the removing the spacer, but it didn't want to. So I tried a bit harder, but just a little bit more force, nothing major. Then it came out, but to my surprise, the dial was still in the case, and all the hands fell between the dial and the crystal.

I have a watch press, so if I need to do something with it, I have the tools ready. Just let me know how to fix it. Hope this time I put the hands correctly. 

Here are a few photos:

 

[jdm]

16 hours ago, MartinOcando said:

Then it came out, but to my surprise, the dial was still in the case, and all the hands fell between the dial and the crystal.

That is a front loader case, crystal comes out by air pressure then dial and module follow. When in doubt, stop and search, do not force anything, that will lesse chances of damage.

[MartinOcando]

Air pressure? My question is, will I be able to fix it with the tools I already have?

[jdm]

12 minutes ago, MartinOcando said:

Air pressure? My question is, will I be able to fix it with the tools I already have?

A 10cc siringe may work, there are also specific ones sold.

Repairing watches requires many tools, sometime one can improvise, sometime can't.

[MartinOcando]

I just saw this video on how to do it: 

 

[MartinOcando]

OMG, the pop was so loud that everyone at home asked what happened. The crystal went flying and fell back on my desk unscathed. I was worried that it'll fall on the floor and get smashed, but looks like is in good condition.

I'll stop now and wait for my Bergeon hand setters, my movement holders, brass tweezers, and movement stand to arrive next week to continue working on this project.

I imagine that I'll have to press the crystal back into place. Advice on how to do that will be helpful as well.

[watchweasol]

Assuming the bezel gasket is intact and not damaged line it all up on the press and re fit taking care that it is all straight and you are not crimping the gasket,  go slowly with frequent checking.

[Tudor]

Is the dial free now? I'm not convinced that was/is a front loader.

Putting the crystal back on- you need to remove the bezel, and then the bezel gasket. You SHOULD get a new bezel gasket by the way, they usually are not reusable.

Set the gasket, crystal in the gasket (sometimes crystal in gasket, THEN gasket to rehaut) then finally set the bezel to compress the gasket.

Let me know what you have now...

[MartinOcando]

22 hours ago, Tudor said:

Is the dial free now? I'm not convinced that was/is a front loader.

Putting the crystal back on- you need to remove the bezel, and then the bezel gasket. You SHOULD get a new bezel gasket by the way, they usually are not reusable.

Set the gasket, crystal in the gasket (sometimes crystal in gasket, THEN gasket to rehaut) then finally set the bezel to compress the gasket.

Let me know what you have now...

Nope. The dial is really stuck in there. And it has feet, like other back loading dials, so I also agree it might not have been a front loader in the first place. I wanted to pull it by the feet, but seeing how those feet are pretty easy to break, I stopped. So since the watch is already a loss, I think I'll try to push it down again. If the movement is indeed shot, I'll throw the whole thing away. Not worth wasting any more time or money on this watch.

New gasket for this watch? Hmm, I don't think it'll be easy to find one, but as mentioned, I don't mean to keep salvaging this watch, but use it only for practice. I already made my mind to buy her a new mechanical watch for Christmas.

 

[Tudor]

Try a crystal die on the back side of the dial. Hopefully you can avoid the feet and press as close to the edges as possible.

I can see the chapter ring is pin guided to the dial plate, similar to the Pelagos. I think it will press out from the rear toward the front.

Perhaps, removing the bezel and gasket, will allow the dial more clearance?