Jump to content

Introduction


Recommended Posts

Hello all.

Now approaching my mid 30's I've had a sudden love for knitted jumpers and trying to spend my time off work doing something positive. I have decided on giving watch tinkering ago. I am afraid I am a fan of Armani watches and I now own 2 that are not ticking and another that works but has a broken crystal. I have gone through the past threads and there is some great information regarding Armani's and how to get started. They seem to be a pedantic time piece, but I'm hoping any snags that might happen have hopefully already been explained and solved in past conversations . But if I get swamped I'd be very appreciative of any advice anyone could spare me. Many thanks! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for your introduction and welcome to this friendly forum.

We all look forward to your contributions and continued involvement. 

Did you order Chinese tools, because if you did you are not the only one that is sent total crap. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 3/29/2024 at 5:07 PM, oldhippy said:

Thank you for your introduction and welcome to this friendly forum.

We all look forward to your contributions and continued involvement. 

Did you order Chinese tools, because if you did you are not the only one that is sent total crap. 

I am afraid so. They sent out another set and let me keep the fork, which was very kind of them. But unsurprisingly the pry tools are far too thick to be used on watches without damaging them. I would be better of using the fork tbh. Oh well lesson learnt. 

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

They got me again lads! Temu's finest. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice and I'll just complain about it on a forum. I'm thinking good tools ain't cheap and cheap tools ain't good hah!

PXL_20240411_145257433.jpg

PXL_20240411_145246830.jpg

PXL_20240411_145237561.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, oldhippy said:

Send the bloody things back. These are not expensive but they will get you started.

 https://www.hswalsh.com/jewellery-tools-equipment/jewellers-bench-tools/jewellers-watchmakers-pliers/economy

Cheers Hipps! I've ordered myself a couple of long and short nosed plyers. I'll leave Temu for the Mrs birthday presents 😉

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Thanks for your walkthrough @Knebo 👍 and what a stunning watch! This is my second time seeing the pawl lever system in a non-Japanese movement. Judging by Kalle Slaap's reaction in this video I thought the only exception was the Panerai P.9000. When you also consider that several other parts of the movement look Japanese, you suspect that Panerai's movement may have been commissioned by Seiko but marketed as Swiss, or Panerai may have simply acquired Japanese watchmakers. Anyway, having researched it a bit more I just learned that the magic lever system was invented by Seiko in 1959 and that several other Swiss movements are using it. I also learned that the JLC 916 was introduced in 1969. About the "broken jewel". I also noticed it looked a bit funny and judging by its colour in the picture I too thought it was a jewel and not a brass bushing. Thanks for clarifying!
    • Thanks, do not understand "paper pushed over the top" part.
    • Thank you! I will take a look and see if I can get similar locally. I am speaking to another seller who sells vintage tools. It seems his father was a watchmaker since the 1950s. He said he has 3 potential machines for me, and that their spinning function works, but heating is no longer functioning. How much does that affect the value of a cleaner? It should be repairable with a modern PTC heating element right? I am not sure how much he will want for one of them. I might offer him depending on the machine, a price based on historical local listings for watch cleaning machines. For context, an Elma Super Elite w/o timer was sold for R1130 or $62/£49 in 2019, pictured below. While the lowest, a vintage National Electric which heating function didn't work for R230 or $13/£6, and highest was a beefy Fuji Auto Cleaner CL-101 for R2330 or $127/£100, also pictured below. So I am going to wait and see when he sends me pictures over email, and hopefully I can get a decently student priced watch cleaning machine. I have played with the idea of making my own, based of old Elma designs before.  
    • Found this video on YouTube. This is how a professional poises a balance wheel to a very high degree of accuracy. Most large variations when regulating a watch in different positions is normally caused by the hairspring or the poise of the balance wheel.  
    • I've been getting boxes to store the tools I already have. The Chinese jewel press came without any kind of box or case, so I started looking for something to suit that and ended up with some to take the bigger tools like the old open frame clock & pocketwatch mainspring winders & small winder kit, Jacot tool case etc. Old or antique wooden boxes can be cheaper than modern plastic stuff on ebay, and I prefer wood for these old or delicate tools. So, I ended up with three boxes: This one is just a bit wider and around the same height as my Boley staking set box, and will fit the jewel press with it bit sets, plus the Rex roller remover set: These two are rather larger, 14" & 16" wide, just basic plywood with corner bracing:   They have all been abused, misused and bodged over the years! The smaller one turned out to be an antique travel writing slope! The original hinges and lock have gone & the tray appears to have been put together with bits of the writing surface, plus the original red & green baize being cut up and stuck in fragments in the base and on the underside. Sad.  I've managed to find some hinges similar to the originals & a lock that may fit, plus ordered some felt and baize for the underside and linings. The outer surface is quite good, just needing a clean and polish. It started out nearer like this, another generally similar one on ebay that's not quite so far gone:   The larger ones are just plain boxes; the latches and handle fittings are rusted but nothing special and easy to replace, plus some cracked corner joints. The worst butchery was at the back edge of the lid on the medium size one - someone had nailed it with carpet tacks! After removing those and re-gluing the back, all the nail holes are visible with glue showing in some of them. I'm often amazed at the levels of bodgery on some things. This has also had an initial clean up, with white vinegar and a melamine sponge - it's several shades lighter now, than when it arrived. Once the structural repairs are done & minor defects patched up, I will give them a refinish with shellac, if that seems compatible with the original varnish.      
×
×
  • Create New...