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Hello!


GuyW

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Nice to meet you all.

I've never got further than changing batteries and straps before, but seem to have caught the watch restoration bug. I just bought a pile of mostly junk 'spares and repairs' from Ebay to practise on, and am going to work my way slowly through them. I also bought one of those 'lots of tools for little money' sets, just to get an idea of what tools I'll end up needing to upgrade if I take this further.

As I explained to my wife, this is way cheaper than just buying a Breitling.

A real one I mean. I've apparently acquired two dodgy fakes already! And a couple of not-rolexes, one of which seems to be a really good quality automatic watch, just with the wrong branding. So I'll probably get it working properly and change the face and crown to make it an homage not an outright fraud.

I came on here to find out how to fix a watch that's been over-wound. Several of my stash seem to be in that condition.

 

IMG_3793.jpeg

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Hello and welcom to the forum.  You have certainly collected a haul there it will keep you amused for some time.  Regarding the old myth "overwound". Generaly what happens is some body picks up a watch (not running) first thing they do is to wind it up not vknowing what stopped the watch in the first place and then when it does not run dumps it . The next guy picks it up and finds its wound tight "over wound". Reason being its dirty/dried up oil gone gunky/ broken balance/balancespring etc. So first thing to do is when removed from the case is to release the power in the jammed mainspring and check the watch out.  With quartz watches check battery if still in and the contacts anre not salted up  and put them n a line release to check the train freedom try new battery.  Have a great time sorting through the pile lookforward to hearing from you on your progress.    you may find the attached documents usefull in your quest.

TZIllustratedGlossary.pdf Witschi Training Course.pdf

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On 1/19/2022 at 8:10 PM, watchweasol said:

Hello and welcom to the forum.  You have certainly collected a haul there it will keep you amused for some time.  Regarding the old myth "overwound". Generaly what happens is some body picks up a watch (not running) first thing they do is to wind it up not vknowing what stopped the watch in the first place and then when it does not run dumps it . The next guy picks it up and finds its wound tight "over wound". Reason being its dirty/dried up oil gone gunky/ broken balance/balancespring etc. So first thing to do is when removed from the case is to release the power in the jammed mainspring and check the watch out.  With quartz watches check battery if still in and the contacts anre not salted up  and put them n a line release to check the train freedom try new battery.  Have a great time sorting through the pile lookforward to hearing from you on your progress.    you may find the attached documents usefull in your quest.

TZIllustratedGlossary.pdf 4.2 MB · 0 downloads Witschi Training Course.pdf 4.65 MB · 0 downloads

Thank you so much! that's super-helpful. I guess using 'overwound' marked me out as a total beginner 🙂 

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On 1/22/2022 at 11:21 PM, Michael1962 said:

Welcome to the forum Guy. Lots of fun to be had in that picture. 🙂 

Is it just me or does the rectangular watch at about 2 o'clock appear completely overwhelmed by the enormous bracelet it appears to have?

Yes, that poor thing is a mess. 

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