Finding a watch-housing / case?

[Endeavor]

Hello All;

About a month ago I bought a lot of 4 movements, for spares or repair, on eBay. Three of the 4 movements were AS-984, two with 15 jewels, one with 7 jewels. Two of them had broken balance staffs. The one with a good balance was a semi-runner and even after a service, it stopped in certain positions. Long story short, I threw all the parts on a pile, sorted the best which fitted the 15 jewels movement, and build a movement which runs very, very well. It's within 2-3 seconds a day. In fact it runs so well that I like to find a case for it.

My problem is finding one, as on eBay, and other watch-parts sides, you'll find lots of loose movements, but for some (to me) odd reason, hardly any cases can be found.....are they all thrown away, all to different in size to be kept or am I looking in the wrong spots?? How does one go about finding a case?

As said, the movement is AS-984 and the dial diameter is, like the size of the movement itself; 23.7mm. Probably a men size at that time, now considered more a ladies watch.......fine with me.....

Can anybody give me some advice how to find a suitable case........

Thanks on beforehand

 

Edited April 25, 2016 by Endeavor

[rogart63]

You can probably use a bigger case if you have a spacer or a movement holder. Most important should be the stem height. From dial to center of stem. 

[szbalogh]

I like this set of hands

Take a look at refurbished watches from India on e-bay! There are a lot of vintage watches for 5-10 USD winning bid.

[Endeavor]

@rogart63 Top dial to center stem is 2.5mm.

@szbalogh There are plenty of vintage watches from India, but they seldom mention the case size, never mind the internal dimensions........or am I mistaken?

Edited April 25, 2016 by Endeavor

[szbalogh]

8 minutes ago, Endeavor said:

 

Usually they provide pictures from the movement which You can identify (for example @ www.ranfft.de) and considering the bidding if the parameters match. Its really hard to find "just the case" :/

Or check here:

http://www.speedtimerkollektion.com/shop/index.php?cPath=32_85

once i bought a movement for parts fore really cheap.

Edited April 25, 2016 by szbalogh

[bobm12]

Hi endeavor,

As Roger just said, the stem height is very important. You can always make do with spacers for the rest. I think you can sometimes manipulate that height with a shim if too short and even with a thicker dial...but it is all limited to how much room is left for the hands on top. In my mind, I would check according to the specs below. Remember the height given is just the height of the movement not the stem height. The size is for a medium size movement so to speak: either men or women. It is helpful to know this height in order to calculate the clearance from the top to the crystal (based on the cavity where the movement fits) -- just add the pinion height for a total height -- since you don't want to have the watch hands rubbing against the crystal. Hopefully ebay may have several options...check these specs against the original movement specs of the case you decide to get.

PS. I don't do this much -- or almost never for "uncommon" movements vs. available common cases (virgin) -- so just my opinion.

Fig. 1 Fig. 2

AS 984 Features manual wind sub second Data 10.5''', Dm= 23.3mm H= 3.8mm F= 0.5mm T= 1.8mm 15/17 jewels f = 18000 A/h power reserve 40h Balance staff U841 / U3093 for balance with/without screws Stem W1131 Mainspring / battery Zf1389, 1.70 x 9.0 x 0.10 x 290mm Hands 1.30 x 0.80 / 0.20mm

[rogart63]

21 minutes ago, Endeavor said:

@rogart63 Top dial to center stem is 2.5mm.

@szbalogh There are plenty of vintage watches from India, but they seldom mention the case size, never mind the internal dimensions........or am I mistaken?

I can check my drawer if i have something? 

[Endeavor]

Lots of good info already to consume and........ digest.........

I love drawers.... Roger

 

[rogart63]

2 minutes ago, Endeavor said:

Lots of good info already to consume and........ digest.........

I love drawers.... Roger

 

Found one that could work? Pretty small with 16 mm lugs and 24,3 inside. Brass with chrome. PM ? Not sure what you look for? I will just find the case back. 

[Endeavor]

@rogart63 I did send you a PM

@szbalogh Interesting "speedtimerkollection" link to watch cases ! So here is where they all end up !? Opens new possibilities if one has a nice movement, but no case ! Thanks !

@bobm12 Thanks for the info I found similar info already, but for a case I didn't realize the distance from stem to dial ........ obviously, once pointed out........it makes a lot of sense

No idea yet how to order these spacer-rings and which dimensions are required, to look out for. I think CousinsUK have a lot in stock.........

[bobm12]

Them rings are customizable. You can "resize" them with scissors and such. Make sure they are for the movement size though.

[Endeavor]

Thanks Bob.......now I understand how they do it in India......... and I love cut & paste