First Ladies Watch Serviced

[gpraceman]

So, after finishing up a pocket watch, I decided to go to the other extreme and service my first ladies watch.  It is a Russian Yanka pendant watch with a  Chaika 1601A movement from about the mid 1980's.  Boy, talk about nerve wracking!  Such tiny parts.  Both balance cap jewels played hide and seek at different times.  Found one in the wheel train.  The other was leaning on the side of my desk pad.  Trying to get those shock springs back in took a lot of patience.  So glad that I now have a microscope to see such small parts instead of using loupes.

The keyless works had some unusual characteristics (at least unusual to me).  The yoke spring had a cam screw holding it.  Adjusting that screw would change the engagement of the sliding pinion with the intermediate wheel.  Instead of having a setting lever screw it was more of a pin with a groove around the end.  A spring with a fork in the end fit into the groove.

I wouldn't say that it is an accurate timepiece.  A good deal of positional difference when checked with my timegrapher.  I didn't see any real problems in the movement.  Pivots seemed good.  Jewels in good shape.  Though, I did find two shims under the balance cock.  Screws are quite soft, so hard not to mar the screw slots.  I adjusted the timing the best I could, focusing on crown down position, which is the position it would be in when hanging from the chain.  Got it down to about +45 seconds per day.

This is going to be a Christmas present for my 18 year old niece.  Kids these days don't normally wear watches (well maybe Fitbits and smart watches) but she's into jewelry, so I know she will like it.