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G'day from Australia

SteveT

By SteveT
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SteveT Watch Enthusiast

SteveT

Posted
Posted

Hi guys,

I'm Steve from Australia. I'm a complete n00b at this hobby but after stumbling across a few youtube videos, I found my way here. This looks like too much fun, to not have a go at my self. I have never pulled apart a watch movement before - the extent of my tinkering is putting the hands back on a watch that was dropped. I have always replaced my own watch batteries*, ever since I have ever owned a watch in my teenage years, I'm now 41. My back ground is in Electronics Engineering, I've been doing it since I joined the Navy at the age of 16, so I'm no stranger to pulling stuff apart, and soldering surface mount components. Although watch repair would be more fiddly I would imagine.

So I guess my first question is, what project do I get my feet wet with?

1.  a working pocket watch movement 

2. try and fix a dead pocket watch 

3. quartz watch working or not, is that easier than a mechanical?

4. just a watch movement 

5. dive right in and have a go at a simple mechanical (no date / calendar) 

Looking on ebay it seams that even a dead watch is more expensive than a brand new cheap chinese mechanical watch (as low as $AUD 2, free shipping) .. It gives a whole new level to the old saying "As mad as a two bob watch!"

 

* by batteries I really mean cells. By definition a battery is a collection of "voltaic cells" (joined together in a single case). The coin cells in a watch are single cells.

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oldhippy Distinguished Member

oldhippy

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Posted

Hello Steve, start with a pocket watch as they are very much like a basic mechanical watch, just practice taking it apart and putting it all back, get to know the names of the parts, this will help you in using your tweezers, screwdrivers and your eyeglass. Leave fusee P/W as they are very different. You can find loads of advice on here about starting up including books.

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