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Hello, I've been lurking here for a few months and finally getting around to introducing myself. I started tinkering with watches about 6 months ago, looking for a quiet, indoor hobby to get me through the long Vermont winter. I've taken Mark's excellent online courses (thank you, Mark!) and have been slowly building up my skills on inexpensive eBay watches, focusing on Swiss movements. I've found this forum to be an excellent resource. Thanks to the many skilled and experienced people who take the time to share their knowledge here.

BTW, one of the reasons I was drawn to watchmaking as a hobby is because my grandfather was a watchmaker. He began his apprenticeship at the age of 10 in Tunis, Tunisia and immigrated to the US in 1920, opening his shop in Rochester, NY where I grew up.

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    • The diameter is that of the ring - afaik, will have to look it up. “Wiggle room“ doesn‘t matter as long as the spring length is in the ball park.  Essential sizes of a mainspring are thickness, width and length. Diameter is just a hint if you can push into the barrel directly or will need a winder, it is no property of the spring. Frank
    • Hi @Zendoc, I guess you're like me and you don't have a mainspring winder.  I searched GR mainspring for the AS 1686 mainspring and I now understand your dilemma. The exact one is discontinued. To answer you question more directly, I see two good alternatives for you: a) GR4485 with 1.60 x .10 x 280 x 8.5 ( I guess this one is the one you found): https://www.cousinsuk.com/sku/details/mainsprings-by-list-watch-pocket/GR4485 OR b) GR4477 with 1.60 x .095 x 320 x 9. https://www.cousinsuk.com/sku/details/mainsprings-by-list-watch-pocket/gr4477   As you know, the the AS 1686 spring is supposed to be 1.60 x .10 x 300 x 9. - both of the above will fit and you'll manage to insert them from the retention ring without need for a mainspring winder (provided you know how to do it). - GR4485 will give you more power (=higher amplitude), but less power reserve (due to shorter length) than the original. - GR4477 will give you the same power reserve as the original. However, a bit less power.   Personally, I'd take GR4477 for two reasons: 1. Well, the power reserve is better. 2. With modern lubricants and modern mainspring metal alloys, you tend to get a higher amplitude anyways. You'd maybe even end up with too much amplitude (knocking) if you go with the original size and use thin synthetic oils-- see discussion here: https://www.watchrepairtalk.com/topic/10580-omega-calt17-help/#comment-248101      
    • Your setup is correct. The smallest diameter of one pulley must correspond with the largest of the other one, else not speed variation. Frank
    • Haven't seen them before. 
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