Come along with me as I learn the basics of watchmaking. See how far I go and learn along with me. Share your tips and tricks and let me show you what I've picked up along the way.
Another great video thanks for sharing. I also bought the Chinese copy of the case back opener and the crystal press which I also used as a case back closer, and I agree with you these Horotec copies are very well made.
That’s a great idea! But I do use certain solvents when I pre-clean some of the parts prior to going in the parts cleaner. The mat I use is resistant to these solvents and easy to clean after I scrape all the crude off old Watch movements. Cleanliness is very important when repairing these old watches. Most of the mouse pads I’ve seen have a kind of cloth covering that may not hold up too well. I appreciate the suggestion. Thanks for watching and for the comment.
Thanks for the video, this diagram shows how each component works so I’ll be able to bring it up to more modern spec and converting it to two direction will be simple.
OMG I just found you today Here is my story As a matter fact today I pulled out a pocket watch I got 35 years ago. I collect wrist watches too Have many old ones like 50 plus and Plus many parts Anyways I pulled my pocket watch out and it looks almost identical to this one. Mine has a train inscribed on back. But here is the kicker A name of the person who owed it inscribed his name on the back of it Jim ….. I won’t put last name here. I got this probably down south. 40 years ago I worked with jewelers back in the day. I haven’t opened it up yet. I tried a bit but it’s tight. So im thinking about putting this on social media? Who knows Maybe I’ll investigate more. How can I contact you ?? Thanks
I just got a watch from my dad that is almost identical to this, the only difference is there is no design on the back cover and it has a hinge to open it. Also the stem is broken off :(
Thanks for watching and for the comment. I wouldn't worry about the broken stem too much. There were many of these watches made back in the day and thankfully there are still old parts available to repair them!! :)
what a fantastic job you did. I dabble in watch repair. ( never call myself a watch maker) where do you find a replacement balance wheel for a 90 year old Elgin. Such a common issue.
Thanks for watching. There are jeweler/watchmaker websites out there for the purchase of many of the tools that I use. However many of the vintage tools I use can be found on eBay! I hope this helps.
the Jacot tool is for burnishing pinions, which is different than polishing. Polishing removes metal while burnishing reshapes. It’s less about “straightening” and more about correcting the grooves on pinions that are cut bc the jewels are much harder than metal. This is ultimately done to correct positional variation.
9:25 I'm here because i saw the similar Starting watch repair tool currently on ebay right now for $250 for the whole set. Kinda wondered what is that, now i know😁.
Saudações! Uma pequena correção. O movimento do vídeo é um espartano Hangzhou 9310, clone do clone série ST-36... Apenas não é decorado como o Sea-Gull. O Hangzhou possui uma vantagem sobre os outros, uma jóia na extremidade da ponta inferior do eixo do tambor da mola principal. Nem Sea-Gull, ETA ou Unitas possuem essa pedra num ponto de grande tensão mecânica lateral mesmo rodando lentamente. 👍
Love watching these videos!! If you dont mind me asking, how much are they usually worth after restoration? Obviously theres a large variation, but if you got a broken one for 50 -100 bucks and got it running nicely, cleaned it up, polished some surfaces to jaz it up etc etc How much would it be worth after the work? (Generally obviously lol) Im assuming a broken pocket watch for 100 bucks would be about 4- 500 bucks if it was running perfectly, clean as could be and no huge damage just wear marks.. Would my assumption be correct? Thanks for your time and orgasmic content!!
You know, that's a really good question. I have never sold any of my watches after I work on them so I really don't have any first hand information. Probably the best way to find what watches are worth is to look up completed auctions on Ebay and see what they actually sold for in the past. Hope this helps and Thanks so much much for watching!!
love your content very much, i was just curious to get the 21 jewels I thought the excapment wheel and the pallet have hole jewels and cap jewels. maybe that waltham has a jeweled barrel i didnt see
OK, so this is the 2nd time I heard Waltham Watch mentioned. As it is a Massachusetts town, it hurts my ears when I hear the pronunciation. 'We' say Wall Tham, not Wall Thum. I realize that if I went to another area of the country, I would be laughed at for my pronunciation of local names. And that watch is beyond beautiful! So glad it got the TLC it needed.
Magic Mark, truly :-) A very pretty Elgin with gold numerals and textured enrichment to the dial… I have a similar one in a green gold filled case… I love all well executed inscriptions-so important to history. Wonderful the watch came into your capable, incredibly skilled hands-Thank you:-) your knowledge is awesome for a "hobbyist". PS: liked, subbed and will look at a Beer :-) God Bless you Lisa! Wish there were more sensitive modern owners just like you-BRILLIANT :-) BTW: Mark, I too work in a hospital-have done for over 45 years :-)
Hi Karen, great question! I actually find One Dip a little expensive and harder to find than what I usually use. I like using lighter fluid, aka Naptha. It's relatively cheap and can be found at most convenience stores, grocery stores and hardware stores. One Dip is about $20.00 for an 8 oz can while I can get the same amount lighter fluid for about $2.50. TBH, I've never used One Dip.....would you recommend I try it? Is it worth the extra cost?
Tthanks for doing this comparison. I have often wondered myself. As far as your process it might be god to look under microscope prior to polishing to get a reference point.
Off subject, only very slightly. Sometime after VJ day Swiss watchmakers touted the main watchmakers, Elgin, Benrus, Hamilton and learned how many general purpose watches how many wrist and ship chronmeters. <3per vessel >. They were stunned and said they couldn't have done it. Those companies were the only war time plants guarded 24/7 by Marines
Very nice watch and wonderful back story. A veteran that has seen the bloody side of war up close and personal, does not want to talk about it. I can only imagine the helpless, overwhelming and tragic memories and feelings one must have felt when seeing the carnage of war. They do not wish to revisit these feelings and I can not blame them. There is no glory in war for the ones who fought it.
Ok…. Ive always loved watches have a few nice ones but always thought about servicing and fixing them myself… I’ve been watching videos and decided, yep gonna do it! As I’m searching and researching tools I thought “I should make a RU-vid channel about my journey!” Next day… I come up on your channel! I have a pretty small budget so my tool buying will have to be in incriminates and very price conscious… but I’ll get there! Got a lot of catching up to do! But bravo on a great idea! 😄 I do want to ask about your sharpening stone… what grit is it and have you thought maybe you needed a heavier or lighter grit…? Excellent info!
Hi and Thanks for watching! Just to be clear....you really DON'T need all of these tools just to do a simple service of a watch movement. This video just shows how crazy I went over the past year or so because I'm a tool nut! You really should check out my very first video called "I begin my journey into watchmaking" ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lH5BtjUXyDA.html It gives a more realistic view of the tools needed to start your journey.
Oh good! Another watch repair channel. I really enjoy seeing this process. Elgin made a lot of watches and they were pretty good quality as well as this watch demonstrates. They are also fairly inexpensive even in good working order.