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Epic Fail (Watch Case Issue, or...)

RickTock
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RickTock Watch Enthusiast

RickTock

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Filing this story under Watch Case Issues, but only because there's no section on the forum for really bad judgment...

A friend of mine calls me the other day and says "Can you get the back off of my watch? It needs a new battery and I just scratched it trying to get the back off." I tell him no problem, bring it over.

The case back is a press-fit and pops right off for me. I even have the battery he needs. So far so good. I make sure the case and case back are spotless, and clean and lube the case back gasket. I'm feeling very good about things at this point after investing about 5 minutes and enjoying some banter with my friend.

Then I try to pop the case back on. Nope. No way with my all my strength is this thing popping back in place. No problem I tell my friend, happens all the time. That's why I have a little hand press for case backs and crystals. Heck, I've even installed a case back on one of my old grumpy watches using the bench vise in the garage once...  So I choose a flat die for the case back and a concave die that will touch only the watch case and not the crystal.

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So far so good. Get everything lined up and give it a squeeze. Nothing. Take a deep breath and squeeze harder. Still nothing. Recheck everything is aligned the way I like and try again with all my strength. Nothing. Grumble.

My friend (who has bigger hands than I do) offers to give it a try. I give him the press with the watch in place all lined up and tell him to give it a go. He does and we hear a satisfying little 'pop,' which I assume is the case back snapping into place. Great! He hands the whole thing back to me and I extract the watch from between the dies.

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Oops... Looks like the die on the dial side flexed so much that the centre pin the die sits on breached the crystal. Adding insult to injury, the case back still had not seated. Good grief!

But it was worse than just the broken crystal (and my damaged ego). Two of the hands were bent and some glass must have worked its way into the movement which was now seized. Deep breath. Sent my friend home with no watch.

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Lucky for me the movement was relatively easy to get and not very expensive. Same with the crystal.

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Hands came back to shape well enough, and things went together well.

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The movement front-loads on this watch, so the first thing I did during reassembly was press the case back in place. Then the movement went in, crown installed and finally the crystal.

I guess it all ended well because I had the watch back together, running well and in my friend's hands a week later. And at least he scratched it first!

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What a crazy ride.

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Neverenoughwatches Distinguished Member

Neverenoughwatches

Posted
Posted
5 hours ago, RickTock said:

Take a deep breath and squeeze harder. Still nothing. Recheck everything is aligned the way I like and try again with all my strength

Try not to take this the wrong way, apologies but that kind of told everything that was going to happen.

RickTock Watch Enthusiast

RickTock

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4 hours ago, HectorLooi said:

I guess we've all had such adventures. 

So.... when your friend brings this watch back to you next year to replace the battery, are you going to take on the job?

Yeah, if he's that brave then I will be too (and I'll hopefully also be a little wiser).

40 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

Try not to take this the wrong way, apologies but that kind of told everything that was going to happen.

No offence taken. Some of my best lessons have been learned through pain.

  • Haha 1
Neverenoughwatches Distinguished Member

Neverenoughwatches

Posted
Posted
54 minutes ago, RickTock said:

No offence taken. Some of my best lessons have been learned through pain.

Bless you for taking it on the chin fella, i may come across as being harsh sometimes....i try to be diplomatic about it but my philosophy is...to say it as it is...it saves an awful lot of time 🙂. Anyways a great way to learn in one respect lol. Micro mechanics eh...If it takes more force to do something than your brain is telling you but your ego isn't...then its time to back it down. As with all mistakes we make in life....we become better people for it, God knows the ones I've made....i should be rocket scientist by now 😂. 

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