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Is It Ok To Re-Model A Movement


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I have a Mido D9i7, that has had a mishap and lost one of the pinions. I have tried everywhere and also bidded upto £40 for a movement for spares. Didn't get it....... :(

 

Is it ethical, to make a new part to lower the jewel hole, in the bridge, to get the watch going in a condition not as the original?

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Hi Keith, are you intending to turn a new pinion on the original shaft then make a new jewel setting that will sit lower to match the shortened pinion? A couple of really tricky operations!

On the subject of ethics, if it's your watch do what makes you happy. The only thing is if you sold it, you should really tell the buyer that the movement has been modified.

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Personally I think that's ingenious and par for the course when repairing old watches! If you can't find or make a new part adapting what you have is the next best thing. Be interesting to see how you achieve this. 

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Hi, this was my method. Be it right or wrong, it worked. Took absolutely ages. Just to lower a jewel 0.3mm. Jeez

 

This was the problem.post-227-0-21734700-1431969591.jpg

 

post-227-0-48739100-1431969593_thumb.jpg

 

Top pivot totally gone. Tried everywhere for one ..... even India, Philipines etc.

 

post-227-0-79550100-1431969596_thumb.jpg

 

This is the Jewel I am going to install......

 

post-227-0-69635700-1431969598.jpg

 

Had to make a hole to take the new bush to allow reaming as the bush is 1.9 mm...... this is an old Gash plate

post-227-0-06646500-1431969607_thumb.jpg

post-227-0-18212500-1431969610_thumb.jpg

 

Let the reaming begin............

 

post-227-0-55632300-1431969615_thumb.jpg

 

Jewel in new bush....

 

post-227-0-58068500-1431969617.jpg

 

Inserting Jewel into Bush

 

post-227-0-70897200-1431969625_thumb.jpg

 

Removing Bush from Plate

 

post-227-0-29991300-1431969622_thumb.jpg

 

Jewel in Bush

 

post-227-0-42642400-1431969640.jpg

 

Now the Bridge...... Preparing to Ream....

 

post-227-0-55851100-1431969644_thumb.jpg

 

post-227-0-36369400-1431969652_thumb.jpg

 

Used reamers in steps of 0.1mm to increase aperture for Bush.....

 

post-227-0-65047400-1431969658_thumb.jpg

 

Bridge & Jewel in Bush.......

 

post-227-0-98546100-1431969662_thumb.jpg

 

Insert Bush into Bridge.......

 

post-227-0-44529600-1431969672_thumb.jpg

 

Bush in Bridge.......

 

post-227-0-62438700-1431969675_thumb.jpg

 

post-227-0-16831500-1431969679_thumb.jpg

 

Phew, all done and back on watch............

 

Laborious, but saves another watch. Overall, the finished works look no worse than the patina on the watch already

 

 

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Very, very well done. :)

 

Just yesterday, I had to reduce the seating level in an old no name movement to take a donor end stone setting. It had to be done and another watch is saved from watch heaven. 

 

If nothing else is available, it's perfectly acceptable to make modifications to enhance/save a watch - that is the nature of the job, and what keeps the job interesting to be fair.

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Very, very well done. :)

 

Just yesterday, I had to reduce the seating level in an old no name movement to take a donor end stone setting. It had to be done and another watch is saved from watch heaven. 

 

If nothing else is available, it's perfectly acceptable to make modifications to enhance/save a watch - that is the nature of the job, and what keeps the job interesting to be fair.

 

Thank you Mark. Your praise goes a long way ............... :)

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