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My 404 purchase and service!


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I decided to play in the 404 club and was able to land this gem.  I think I am allowed to exclude shipping in the 404 number.

This is an AS 1187 movement--the 7-jewel version.

It is a very simple movement, but I had some problems.

1) For whatever reason, I had a lot of problem rewinding and installing the mainspring.  Couldn't get the winder to catch, set the winder diameter too large and and to start over, through the process, I managed to open up the inner coil.  Worried that the arbor would not engage, I re-shaped the inner coil.  Fortunately, I have the proper tool to do that.  The final attempt was a diving catch in the end zone.  The diameter I set gave me no margin, but I popped it in.  Since my recent watchmaking revival, I have done this maybe a dozen times with no trouble...not today.

2) Normally, when I drop the balance assy in, it just takes off running.  This time, the roller jewel kept getting on the outside of the fork horns.  Grrr...frustrating.  Finally got it in.

I did not separate the balance from the cock, nor the hairspring from the balance in order to do any truing test or poising.  However, once installed, I could visually see that the balance was perfectly true.  Poising...dunno. 

I made regulation adjustments, but found that there was variance in different positions.  The usual suspects I guess, but I did not check.

There were two goals in this excise:

1) Follow through with a 404 purchase (buy it and fix it)

2) Improve my watchmaking skills.

I am getting better...but...miles to go before I sleep.

 

2021-06-27 12_28_56-Geneva Incabloc Vintage swiss Antimagnetic Unbreakable Mainspring Watch _AS-IS_ .png

2021-06-27 12_35_30-Photos.png

2021-06-27 12_33_39-P1010340.JPG ‎- Photos.png

2021-06-27 12_34_04-P1010344.JPG ‎- Photos.png

2021-06-27 12_34_42-P1010348.JPG ‎- Photos.png

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Cheap and cheerful! 404 for the win! A nice, high dollar watch is obviously a nice thing, but there's an element of stress to it that is totally absent with a 404. Even if you screw it up wildly, you're basically no worse for the experience. I know it's often suggested to start with pocket watches, but this is definitely where I'd point someone wanting to get started. Takes all the stress out of it.

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  • 2 weeks later...

"Worried that the arbor would not engage, I re-shaped the inner coil.  Fortunately, I have the proper tool to do that."

What is your proper tool?  I've been using tweezers, and my technique is poor.  Thanks.  Well done!

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    • in general this shouldn't be any change. but in general questions like this it be nice to know the specifics of the watch in other words how was it performing before it was cased up and what is it doing now.
    • just as a reminder this watch is a Swatch group product. This will bring up a problem like spare parts and technical information. that I found some links to some information on when I talk about your watch and some of the technical and basically your watch is equivalent to 2834-2 for which I'm attaching the technical sheets. But equivalent does not mean exactly the same you want to do a search on the group for C07 as we discussed this watch before including the technical differences how it's supposed to be regulated and basically because it's watch group there is no parts availability. https://calibercorner.com/eta-caliber-c07-xxx/   https://www.chrono24.com/magazine/eta-movements-from-the-2824-2-to-the-powermatic-80-p_80840/ https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/h-10-movement-details.4636991/ eta CT_2834-2_FDE_481857_15.pdf
    • people be honest.... Swatch is evil for the watchmakers and repairers, BUT not everything in watches from Switzerland is from the Swatch-Group. As far as i know, Selitta got sacked by Swatch as a Movement-Assembler for them and they started to produce Movements in their own Name with slight Modifications. As far as i know, they sell Parts to the Market for their Movements. In most cases, if a ETA-Movement fails, it is a valid Option to replace it with a Selitta Movement, which i consider the Solution for this Mess with the Swatch-Group...... I have no Connection to anybody at Selitta, but being a Swiss-Guy, i still like to have Swiss-Made Watches, but not from the Swatch-Group.   ok ? regards, Ernst
    • Just one more greedy act by Swatch. They started a number of years ago here in the US..cutting off supplies to watchmakers that could build complications that many Swatch houses couldn't even touch. Old school masters who had gone through some of the most prestigious houses in the world. Otto Frei has some statements on their page about it. I tell all my customers to avoid new Swiss watches like the plague,..unless they just want an older one in their collection that still has some parts out on the market, or they have really deep pockets and don't mind waiting months and paying through the nose to get it back. Plenty of others to choose from..IE Seiko,..or other non-swiss brands Even a number of Chinese brands are catching up with the Swiss,..and I think that in time, their actions will be their downfall
    • Yes. If that's not what you are experiencing...start looking for something rubbing. A 1st guess is that one of the hands is rubbing against the hole in the center of the dial. Especially if you now have lower amplitude in face up/ face down positions.
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