How to access the movement

[Khan]

Hi 

I have this interesting Lanco that I want to service but don't know how to get into the movement.

I hope you can help. 

 

 

[tomh207]

It looks like a pop off caseback, use magnification and you will likely find a notch for a case knife

 

Tom

[Marc]

From your first pic it looks as though this is a capsule type case with a two piece stem.

The first thing to do is to work out how the crystal comes off. It looks like it may be a crystal assembly comprised of an acrylic bonded to a metal bezel. If you look the metal in contact with the acrylic is different to the case back. My guess is that the bezel is a press fit to the case back so a sharp blade should be able to separate the two if pushed in where the two different metals are in contact.

Once the crystal is out of the way you can try holding the case face down (over a suitably soft landing pad) and slowly rotating the crown. You may need to jiggle things a bit but with any luck (and assuming it is a two piece stem) as the join in the stem becomes vertical the movement may just drop out.

If this doesn't happen then it would be as well to have a really good inspect of the edges of the dial to see if there are any locking rings keeping things in place, or an access hole that would allow you to release a one piece stem.

It's difficult to be any more exact without the watch in hand though so a little more exploration is the way to go.

[Kalanag]

I‘m confused a bit seeing these photos of the same (?) type of watch:

http://uhrerbe.com/unt/5031-vintage_lanco_17_jewels_armbanduhr__swiss_made.html

[tomh207]

I still think it is a pop off caseback, whenever I have seen the phrase “stainless steel back” this has been the case. Often it will often say base metal for the rest of the watch, commonly plated brass.

 

Tom

[LittleWatchShop]

Oh my...two capsule watches in the same week (one was mine).

As @Marcsaid, figure out how to get the crystal off.  I think it is a press fit to the case back, so I would use a razor blade, and gently slip it under the crystal on pry up just a little and work your way around until it finally comes of.  I too believe it is a split stem.  Just yank it off (I don't like them). Once the crystal is off, the movement will fall out the front.

[Kalanag]

Look carefully as indicated here! Is there an open slot towards the case back? It’s not likely but if so the back is snap on for sure!
 

Edited October 29, 2022 by Kalanag