Watches N+1…

You’ve done well with the last photo.  Not a single element of the picture in focus.  A rare skill in the autofocus age.

To be fair, its a photo of a wrist roll video which wouldn’t post on here, so I had two overlayed stabs at getting it wrong.

Here you go, warts – well scratches – and all:

Houston we have a problem…

A couple of months back I left the chronograph running overnight and the next day it had stopped. It’s only seven years old and was keeping good without the chrono running and the amplitude was around 300, but operate the chrono and the amplitude drastically drops, the line on the timegrapher starts wandering all over the place and then it stops. Obviously not right so time for a look.

I opened it up and on close inspection there’s tiny black spots of dirt on the movement –

There’s only one extra wheel running when the chrono is engaged which is the seconds recording wheel, which is the top centre wheel seen below –

I removed the bridge with the Omega logo, then the hammer and spring which allowed the seconds wheel to be removed an cleaned. I didn’t see anything which would cause a problem, but after reassembly it was exactly the same. This was telling me the centre wheel, which is directly underneath the seconds wheel might have some dirt trapped inside the tube where the seconds pinion runs through, but to get at that the whole thing has to come apart, so that’s what I did –

When I removed the train wheel bridge, and then the crown wheel which is attached to the underside I found the culprit –

I’m not sure what lubricant was originally used here, but it appears to have hardened and then migrated through the movement causing the problems. Happy that I’d found the cause, everything went into the cleaner for a full movement service and now with the chrono running it looks like this –

When I bought this I was thinking I’d send it to Omega when service time comes. Obviously I can do it myself, but the two year Omega warranty would add value and provenance if I were ever to sell, plus the case would be refinished to a standard I could never achieve. The only problem was the cost as Omega are now charging £825 to service one of these, so **** the provenance and all that, it’s good for the next 6+ years, I can live with the scratches it’s picked up, and it’s only cost me about four hours of my time.

4hrs? Bloody hell. Fully dissembled, cleaned and reassembled in 4hrs. Dunno what you do for a living but would being a watch jockey pay a decent return on current evidence?

All the parts of that watch laid out like that gives me the fear!

I cannot imagine being able to take all that to bit and not mash/ mislay / lose some tiny tiny bit 😱

It took me 2h to take a hoover to bits and get it back together yesterday. Parts count is alot less than that!

UGOG! As always fudster, that is impressive!

boblo
Free Member
4hrs? Bloody hell. Fully dissembled, cleaned and reassembled in 4hrs. Dunno what you do for a living but would being a watch jockey pay a decent return on current evidence?

That is what I do.

It takes about 45 mins to disassemble as all you’re doing is attacking it with a screwdriver and laying it all out on the bench. 20-30 minutes in the cleaning machine and I’ll have a coffee break, then the remaining 2-3 hours on the rebuild as I’m going over the pictures I’ve taken working out how it goes back together and referencing the tech sheet to confirm where it needs lubricated and which lubricants should be used, plus doing checks on every operation as it goes back together and closely inspecting every part for wear.

That’s on a seven year old watch which hasn’t been messed with before so stuff like this is gravy. It’s when you get the 40+ year old watches that’ve previously been through the hands of butchers where you need to know your s**t and it might require several hours on top tracing and remedying the problems, often with a break for a few days or weeks while you’re waiting on parts from the internet to arrive. Then you total it all up at the end and sometimes you realise you’ve barely made minimum wage on that one.

tall_martin
Full Member
All the parts of that watch laid out like that gives me the fear!

I cannot imagine being able to take all that to bit and not mash/ mislay / lose some tiny tiny bit 😱

It took me 2h to take a hoover to bits and get it back together yesterday. Parts count is alot less than that!

Just take lots of pictures as you strip it down and lay out the parts in order. A wooden floor for when you inevitably drop parts also helps, as does a golf putter with strong magnets attached for sweeping up the dropped parts .

That is what I do.

Well that explains a lot then ya cheat 😁 We (I) thought you were the mandatory STW stereotype IT Middle Manager messing about with watches in your spare time 👍

I always love Fudd’s posts, great reading and photos

@Fudd amazing work. Just amazing.

Haven’t mentioned on this thread before as u don’t meed another watch, but always fancied a really good moon phase watch, I’ve absolutely no real idea why – as I can just look 👀 k upwards and see the moon phase, but no matter 

so CW have this C1 moon phase that I’ve just got an email about and I really quite like it, but there’s something about it that I don’t – but I can’t put my finger on what – yet

https://www.christopherward.com/dress-watches/c1-moonphase/C01-40AMP2-S00B0-MB.html?utm_campaign=1533120_WK32%20Moonphase%20what%20the%20press%20say&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Christopher%20Ward%20Limited&dm_i=5P8Z,WUYO,5BS9CC,41VNU,1

Fudd, I doff my cap. Great post, as always.

so CW have this C1 moon phase that I’ve just got an email about and I really quite like it, but there’s something about it that I don’t – but I can’t put my finger on what – yet

As a recipient of their magazine (Loupe) I’ve been staring at this for a few days.   The detail in the mag is greater than the web, pretty much everything about it feels a little bit special.  And I don’t have a dress watch.

Luckily I don’t have the funds either 😀

@Kryton57

As a recipient of their magazine (Loupe) I’ve been staring at this for a few days. The detail in the mag is greater than the web, pretty much everything about it feels a little bit special. And I don’t have a dress watch.

Will grab a copy of the CW magazine.

I think I’m not a fan of the no hands face (but understand why it doesn’t) and the finish of the case. Plus I’m now not really someone who really wears a dress watch. Maybe a more rugged moon dive esque watch will surface.

Thankfully I don’t have the funds.

I was reading about that CW moonphase the other day, and it’s a remarkable piece of work. The fact that the phases of the watch match exactly the phases that you can see of the moon, and apparently will do for something like 125 years, and it’s also a proper halftone illustration of the moon I think is just wonderful! It’s sheer simplicity really appeals to me, and the moon actually looking like the moon is lovely.
It’s not a watch I would wear, but I can’t help but really appreciate the design.

I think I’m not a fan of the no hands face (but understand why it doesn’t) and the finish of the case.

Not sure, but if you’re referring to the Moonphase, it does have hands, quite clearly, but it doesn’t have anything else on the face to detract from the moon face.
I find regular moonphase watches too cluttered, but the clarity and simplicity of the CW is very much to my taste.

I was going to add how much I enjoy Fudd’s posts, the details in the photos and explanations of processes involved are a delight to read through. Thanks Fudd, very much appreciated.👏🏻

@Countzero

Not sure, but if you’re referring to the Moonphase, it does have hands, quite clearly, but it doesn’t have anything else on the face to detract from the moon face.

Yes it does, I meant to type no indices, it does clearly have hands.

It is a lovely watch.

Gravel specific wristwatch anyone? I don’t mind it actually, but probably a bit expensive for a kickstarter beater. 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chazanow/rugged-swiss-automatic-watch-built-for-any-adventure/pledge/new

Gravel specific wristwatch anyone? I don’t mind it actually, but probably a bit expensive for a kickstarter beater. 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chazanow/rugged-swiss-automatic-watch-built-for-any-adventure/pledge/new

Listened to their pitch: “I wanted a tough watch I could just throw on and go out and do stuff… all the available ones are over $1000!” Errrr, never heard of g-shocks? The solar powered ones will do the automatic winding thing if you’re going to be away for a loooooooong time.

I don’t disagree that some of the bullshit about tough watches can get piled a bit high.

However, I do increasingly find that, on balance, I prefer that to the knee-jerk “g-shock” response whenever somebody wants something which is capable of more than a cocktail party.

I find it weird that such recommendations always seem to presuppose that the person  somehow hasn’t heard of g-shocks.

Edit – case in point is the upcoming Elliot Brown “white-out”, nice capable watch, hyperbolic marketing.

\tangent

I’ve seen a very collectible vintage watch at an auction house (the traditional type) that also run online auctions.

from the limited pics it looks in reasonable condition / not a franken-watch

Where do these places typically find their stock (it’s being sold as part of a lot with a load of no value watches).

I’ve always figured that in the modern world there is very little scope for arbitrage as it’s so easy to find something’s true value on the internet.

if I can get the watch for the estimated price it could be a steal, but I’m wary of getting something that is a rust pit once the movement is opened up (I can’t visit the auction to view in person)

However, I do increasingly find that, on balance, I prefer that to the knee-jerk “g-shock” response whenever somebody wants something which is capable of more than a cocktail party.

Which is absolutely fine; but don’t try and BS us that you’ve invented a unique bargain (at up to 5 times the price of a G-shock)… why not acknowledge that it’s not a new idea but some people may want something else… something “nicer”… something a little more exclusive?

case in point is the upcoming Elliot Brown “white-out”, nice capable watch, hyperbolic marketing.

Wait, don’t tell me – was it manufactured in response to a request from a certain unit of HM Armed Forces?

EB’s brochure is an amazing thing.

The military police?

thekingisdead
Free Member

\tangent

I’ve seen a very collectible vintage watch at an auction house (the traditional type) that also run online auctions.

from the limited pics it looks in reasonable condition / not a franken-watch

Where do these places typically find their stock (it’s being sold as part of a lot with a load of no value watches).

I’ve always figured that in the modern world there is very little scope for arbitrage as it’s so easy to find something’s true value on the internet.

if I can get the watch for the estimated price it could be a steal, but I’m wary of getting something that is a rust pit once the movement is opened up (I can’t visit the auction to view in person)

Be careful. One of the oldest tricks is to put a fake in with a bunch of very ordinary watches and the seller hopes someone spots it and takes the bait.

Not many auction houses nowadays will let a collectable watch be sold in a job lot of tat, you can be pretty sure they will have sifted through for a hidden gem, buyer beware.

Just had a look at that no-name ‘gravel’ watch, (or is it actually ‘Gravel’?), anyway, that’s a shittonne of style over substance, and very little style at that! It appears to have a bezel, but it’s got a smooth edge and doesn’t apparently turn, so it’s useless. No lume on the indices, and 100m water resistance? So that’s a no, then, especially at those prices. I’m not a big fan of G-Shocks, most are far too cluttered and difficult to read – I’ve got a fairly cheap analogue one, but it’s time-keeping is atrocious!

I’m not a big fan of G-Shocks, most are far too cluttered and difficult to read

I’ve started to dislike g-shocks really quite intensely, not exclusively for that reason but it doesn’t help.

If anyone has an Omega deployant that they can’t get a comfortable fit with I’ve found the perfect answer.  Was between holes on the strap and my Speedy was either too loose or too tight.  Switched it out for a Formex Essense 39 clasp which micro adjusts

https://formexwatch.com/accessories/essence-thirtynine-deployant-clasp-with-fine-adjustment

Cost was £128 with next day postage from Switzerland and whilst not cheap, is worth it for a nice fit 👍🏻

Nice – great reco!

Am after some old watch advice chaps have seen a birth year watch on fleabay

question is how do I verify the watch is genuine? Or put any kind of value on it ? I’m not flush enough to go bananas on buying it, I like it but maybe not that much now I’m thinking on it. Also thinking I prefer more modern watches with some interest.

Watch is an omega – no model specific from the listing.

Would have helped to include the link, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/145366826439?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=PW_VgQ5gS96&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=KLDlWsJxT8-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Can I ask opinions on Frederique Constant?

I quite like the idea of a Small Seconds Classic as a dress watch:

The omega looks genuine to me.   If its running well then maybe worth a few hundred more,  it looks in good nick, but it’s only a Geneve so I’d not think it’s worth loads.

Thanks @neilnevill decided against going for it. My reasoning is If it wasn’t for the year, I’d never give it a second look. Think I’ll sack this idea off.

I bought the classic Tropic for my chronograph as a summer strap, and think I made a good choice. But you may have noticed its nor summer any longer. What would the gang suggest to replace it with?

Apologies to @Blazin-saddles, I appear to have got most of this in focus.

😂  It’s no problem to me, we just seem to enjoy ribbing Kryton on his photography skills.  All meant in a good way.

@tthew –  have you had a look at Crafter Blue’s range?

I have one of their silicons on my Samurai and it looks the bollocks as the ends are radiused to snuggle up to the case. They’re not cheap (£70^) but they’re very good quality.

https://i.imgur.com/daTGoi5.jpg

Will Crafter Blue recommend a strap? They’ve not got a one listed for my watch, and I assume the lug length is as critical for a correct fit as the width? 

I’m not stuck on rubber, leather or maybe even a nice beads of rice bracelet, which would be an improvement on the standard one. 

Crafter Blue have released some universal fit straps recently.  They’re on the Watch Obsession website

Bargin Alpinist anyone? Rather pretty imo but I don’t expect the brown face and gilt bits and bobs are everyone’s cup of tea!

Courtesy of HUKD

Bit odd – I’m not seeing the link I posted but if I go back to edit it’s right there. Oh well.
It’s an SPB211 at Goldsmith’s for £320.