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Medana 500 Xtensa

Charette
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Charette Watch Enthusiast

Charette

Posted
Posted

Hi all,

Here is another project watch of mine, this is the third watch I've worked on so far. It was not in terrible condition when I got it to begin with. This is the first time I have sanded a crystal down and then back up again. There are still micro scratches but I find once I've put back onto the watch I don't notice them.

This is a 1-jewel, pin pallet escapement. The Xtensa, I assume, refers to the shock protection on the balance. It was extremely frustrating to take apart/oil put back together the shock protection. The cap stone was not captured in the normal manner - it rather kind of floated on top of a donut shaped plate that held the 'hole jewel' that is not actually a jewel, under the spring. I was trying to be extremely careful of not breaking the spring or losing anything as I didn't want to spend on a donor movement. After at least a couple hours combined for both sides I managed to get them together at least. I would seriously consider staying away from working on a watch with this shock setting in the future, unless the price was right and I liked the look.🙂

image.png.e6f7eddb2186f57b39cddec10fba8c39.png

Even though this is not so fancy on the inside with only 1 jewel, I understand there were tons of these pin pallet movements made and I enjoy the look, so hope it will last for many more years. I am happy to continue buying nice looking watches like this for very reasonable prices for my own enjoyment.

The movement photo is before cleaning.

Have a good night all.

 

Medana1.jpg

Medana2.jpg

Medana3.jpg

Medana4.jpg

MedanaMvmt.jpg

  • Like 2
Neverenoughwatches Distinguished Member

Neverenoughwatches

Posted
Posted
7 hours ago, Charette said:

Hi all,

Here is another project watch of mine, this is the third watch I've worked on so far. It was not in terrible condition when I got it to begin with. This is the first time I have sanded a crystal down and then back up again. There are still micro scratches but I find once I've put back onto the watch I don't notice them.

This is a 1-jewel, pin pallet escapement. The Xtensa, I assume, refers to the shock protection on the balance. It was extremely frustrating to take apart/oil put back together the shock protection. The cap stone was not captured in the normal manner - it rather kind of floated on top of a donut shaped plate that held the 'hole jewel' that is not actually a jewel, under the spring. I was trying to be extremely careful of not breaking the spring or losing anything as I didn't want to spend on a donor movement. After at least a couple hours combined for both sides I managed to get them together at least. I would seriously consider staying away from working on a watch with this shock setting in the future, unless the price was right and I liked the look.🙂

image.png.e6f7eddb2186f57b39cddec10fba8c39.png

Even though this is not so fancy on the inside with only 1 jewel, I understand there were tons of these pin pallet movements made and I enjoy the look, so hope it will last for many more years. I am happy to continue buying nice looking watches like this for very reasonable prices for my own enjoyment.

The movement photo is before cleaning.

Have a good night all.

 

Medana1.jpg

Medana2.jpg

Medana3.jpg

Medana4.jpg

MedanaMvmt.jpg

Medana did make some decent watches in their time, movements by MST were of good quality.  One Jewel ?   2 cap jewels over 2 holed, by my calculations last time i checked added up to 4. Strange ? 

1 minute ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

This is the first time I have sanded a crystal down and then back up again. There are still micro scratches but I find once I've put back onto the watch I don't notice them.

Solvol auto polish makes a good fine scratch remover after reducing wet and dry grades to around 3000. Also 0.5 micron diamond paste i have heard suggested but have not tried this yet.

8 hours ago, Charette said:

Hi all,

Here is another project watch of mine, this is the third watch I've worked on so far. It was not in terrible condition when I got it to begin with. This is the first time I have sanded a crystal down and then back up again. There are still micro scratches but I find once I've put back onto the watch I don't notice them.

This is a 1-jewel, pin pallet escapement. The Xtensa, I assume, refers to the shock protection on the balance. It was extremely frustrating to take apart/oil put back together the shock protection. The cap stone was not captured in the normal manner - it rather kind of floated on top of a donut shaped plate that held the 'hole jewel' that is not actually a jewel, under the spring. I was trying to be extremely careful of not breaking the spring or losing anything as I didn't want to spend on a donor movement. After at least a couple hours combined for both sides I managed to get them together at least. I would seriously consider staying away from working on a watch with this shock setting in the future, unless the price was right and I liked the look.🙂

image.png.e6f7eddb2186f57b39cddec10fba8c39.png

Even though this is not so fancy on the inside with only 1 jewel, I understand there were tons of these pin pallet movements made and I enjoy the look, so hope it will last for many more years. I am happy to continue buying nice looking watches like this for very reasonable prices for my own enjoyment.

The movement photo is before cleaning.

Have a good night all.

 

Medana1.jpg

Medana2.jpg

Medana3.jpg

Medana4.jpg

MedanaMvmt.jpg

MST 434, also used in the Roamer brand, the few examples i found also strangely enough marked as 1 jewel. A basic watch would have 5,  these situated within the balance . 4 to accommodate the staff pivots and 1 attached to the roller also known as the impulse jewel. Strange that this is marked as only 1 jewel . Other movements in the 430s caliber are fully jewelled and labelled accurately. I thought makers loved to state as many jewels as possible.  Any thoughts anyone ? John ?

MedanaMvmt.thumb.jpg.34586e963a93af7d43d7cbe428a0d70e.jpg

Geotex WRT Addict

Geotex

Posted
Posted

As far as the last question, isn't the visible cap jewel the only one you will expect to find on these 1-jewel movements, with everything else consisting of metal bushings and pins? The balance "jeweling" is not symmetrical.

  • Thanks 1
Neverenoughwatches Distinguished Member

Neverenoughwatches

Posted
Posted
7 hours ago, Geotex said:

As far as the last question, isn't the visible cap jewel the only one you will expect to find on these 1-jewel movements, with everything else consisting of metal bushings and pins? The balance "jeweling" is not symmetrical.

I thought the OP mentioned doing both sides. So is that just 1 cap jewel on top of the balance ?Thanks for the explanation 

Charette Watch Enthusiast

Charette

Posted
  • Author
Posted
2 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

I thought the OP mentioned doing both sides. So is that just 1 cap jewel on top of the balance ?Thanks for the explanation 

There was a cap jewel on both sides. Maybe just some weird counting convention (jewels on one item).

mikepilk Distinguished Member

mikepilk

Posted
Posted

Nice looking watch.  Odd that it's got so few jewels.

I've never bought a movement with less than 15 jewels, and plenty of those have caused me trouble - so good luck with that !

 

  • Haha 1

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