Sold off as scrap this lovely US Import pocket watch has been brought back to working order with some tlc. Not often but every now and again a little unwanted bargain can come your way, this Omega was given up on and sold off as a non starter, often problems are simple to solve but not trying is easier. The movement is a calibre 140, quite slender and well finished, this poor thing had suffered as many do with a broken balance and snapped mainspring. Fortunately i had one balance staff left and that was just enough to get it back in action, shortly after that the original blued mainspring decided to snap so a new one had to be ordered. After some cleaning and tlc the watch was cleaned up and all back together again. This particular model differs from most as this would have been imported into the USA in pieces and then assembled and cased in the US. The casing is made by the well known Wadsworth casing company, whilst normal gold plating may be 10 or 20 microns thick this beauty is a full 80 microns !! There is still some wear & tear and the dial has some age related marks but it all adds to the history of the watch, and now its working again it's history has not been resigned to a drawer. Whilst i don't think pocket watches are making a come back there is still a market for collectors and those who still treasure these stunning pieces. Solid gold pocket watches hold massive value but as gold plating goes , this is probably as good as it gets :) This particular watch is for sale so if it catches your eye then feel free to get in touch or visit my sister site at www.welwynwatchparts.co.uk
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It's been a while since my last post and for any of you frequent readers then apologies :) This year has seen a massive increase in watch repairs which has taken me away from the PC and more time at the bench, but fear not as i have a few little projects to share. To increase content i shall be simplifying the posts and reducing my waffling on, with only exception to those special jobs which require further exploration. Whilst some work can take time and require many hours at the bench, there are occasions where it is a simple thing that prevents a watch being enjoyed. This little Tissot Seastar had been missing a crown for some time so it was impossible to wear or use the watch. Being of sentimental value ( the best kind ) this watch needed some simple but but much need work, a new working crown & stem and a light polish for the glass. Such a simple thing to lose a crown but such a difference it can make ! Case back scratches removed, glass polished, new crown tube & crown, and then refitted with new stem, a quick check of the running and the watch is back and ready to use. Without doubt this much treasured watch can be enjoyed again, after a long period of rest this workhorse can get back on time. Repairing watches is not just for its own sake but in many cases it reconnects us with those we love and care about, you can't put a price on that kinda happiness and i love what i do :) In the workshop this month is this Longines Conquest chronograph featuring a Dubois Depraz Chrono module. Sent in after having stopped it was time to finally service this watch and get it back in running order, having removed the back it was visible the hack had somehow come out of its place and was stopping the balance. With the back off it is clear the casing needs a clean to get rid of the debris that has built up. Dirt/Debris and fine movements do not play well together so an ultrasonic clean should remove this problem. This watch is front loaded so the front bezel will have to come off to release the movement. With the movement now free we can remove the dial and hands and take a look at the movement and the module that sits on top which comprises the clever chronograph assembly. Unlike other chronographs the module design used here is very clever, by using the power of the main movement to power the module you can service the main movement separately without needing to disassemble the whole watch. The module is designed by the famous Dubois Depraz and it sits neatly on top of the main movement ( ETA 2894-2 ), this is just one module design of the many specialist designs produced by Dubois Depraz. A large amount of popular Swiss brands turn to Dubois Depraz for their chronograph needs ( including Rolex ), no doubt this in turn saves a lot of headaches and money in r&d, why build something from scratch when there are specialists who can do it for you :) The module above is secured in place by three screws and simply lifts off the main movement, no fuss or special tools just lifts right off. The beauty of this design is that you don't actually have to remove the dial & hands as the whole unit is not directly connected to the main movement ( the train wheels etc ). Instead communication is via small transmission wheels which pass the required ratios through intermediate gears. However in this case the date wheel is out of sync so adjustments must be made to the upper chrono module. The module itself is not serviced and instead it is recommended to be replaced outright ( at rather large cost ), however this module is in pretty good shape so not much needs doing here. Stripping down the main movement can be done just like any other ETA 289X movement, simple and straightforward unlike other chronographs. Only a few photos taken below as this is going over old ground. With the movement cleaned, assembled and lubricated it was then tested for several days for timing before being finally adjusted and then recased. The casing had gone through the ultrasonic removing all the gunk and debris and even bringing back some sparkle to the diamonds around the bezel, the glass was also given a light polish to remove the scratches and make the dial more visible. Ladies watches are often thought of as small little things that our grandma might wear so its refreshing to see a nicely sized piece with all the bells and whistles :) A lovely watch returned to good running order and no doubt a happy customer :) More blogs to come but bare with me as it has become busy season and time is limited :) Today we take a look at a classic Rolex Oyster Perpetual, a brand and model so well known that even those who are not " into " watches will know, and probably love. This particular model features a calibre 2030, all the song and dance of its bigger brother but contained within a smaller vessel, but they say good things come in small packages. Let's start with getting that bracelet off and getting the cosmetics cleaned up... Prior to removing the movement it was clear that the winding was not correct, there was no smooth turn when powering the movement and setting the hands was very loose and without the clean snap that should be there. Time to break down the movement and see what has gone on.... With the movement stripped and cleaned it could then be reassembled carefully ensuring every part is thoroughly inspected. Aside from a few minor hard deposits the movement came together without much issue, there was a slight beat error but this was swiftly corrected by adjusting the carrier before tightening down. The casing sides and bracelet were given a slightly clean up on the bench polisher and then ultrasonically cleaned before the whole watch was put back together ready for final testing. Whether your a Rolex fan or not you can not take away from the fact that every ounce of effort goes into making it the very best it can be, this little gem will have a new owner soon and no doubt it will be treasured. With my work done its time to say good bye :) If you enjoy these blogs then do come back as i try to update with new and interesting pieces as often as i get spare time for :) |
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