Omega Vintage Pocket Watch Restoration 

Hello Mr. Marshall, I am just a random teenager who is interested in craftsmanship - I saw many videos of making things on the internet, but you are the best of them all. I was not bored of the hour-long video, not a single second of it! It somehow fascinates me so much. Maybe someday, I could gather some money and start restoring watches myself! Keep up your amazing work!

Who else finds his enthusiasm infectious? I'm rooting for him the the entire video! Thank you Marshall.

Hardly imagine that in this RU-vid era I could just sit tight for almost an hour and watch this whole clip of restoration till the end. I am deeply fascinated by the whole process of bringing this vintage piece back to live again

HOW did you manage to suck me into watching a video on "fixin' an old timey watch?" DIABOLICAL! Perfect sound and video quality. Perfect editing. EVERY single thing that you did was explained both as to the how and the why of it. You have perfected the instructional/demonstrative video, and I could NOT stop watching. Thank you. Pure brilliance.

This might sound crazy, but I suffer from an anxiety disorder and your videos really calm me down. It's like having a prescription drug whenever I need it! Thanks again for all you do !

Your videos convinced me to find a non-runner on eBay. Picked up an Omega and learned a ton. Don't have all the equipment you have, but made do with that I did have. Got all the way to the end, and the balance would move a few times and then stop. Thanks to your videos, I was able to step through troubleshooting and found that being scared about oiling too much translated into not oiling the balance enough. Re-cleaned and re-oiled everything, and it fired up. So cool! The engineering in mechanical watches is fascinating.

I never thought I'd spent just under an hour watching someone fix a pocket watch but I found myself fascinated by your video. Your explanation of every bit an piece of the workings made it very interesting and watchable. Thank you! I will have to start watching more of these.

Not only is your watch restoring hobby well mastered, but the whole video producing, editing and commentary is also of the finest craftsmanship.

I don't know if it's the exquisite time pieces, the insightful commentary, the meticulous patience you have, the brilliant photography or just watching the watch come back to life, but whatever it is you have all in spades and an hour watching one of your videos flies past so quickly. It is therapy for the mind.

I fell into the watch repair hole. I've never been interested in watches but came across one of your vintage repairs and I've managed to binge watch all of your repair videos now. They're mesmerizing to watch and to listen to you explain movements, tools and how you got in to it has been fun and really enjoyable. Keep up the great work you've well and truly earned your subscribers, all the best to you.

I'm so glad I found your videos, I was a watch repairman for 8 years at a jewelry store, and it brought back a LOT of memories

I will never work on a watch but enjoy watching this guy. He’s like the Bob Ross of watch repair.

Absolutely fascinating. My grandfather used to do this back in the 60's when I was growing up. He wasn't a jeweler (an aircraft engineer) and there was nothing he couldn't fix. It's great to watch you do this and it brings back many fond memories. Thanks for taking the time to explain what and how.

My grandfather was a watchmaker until the depression forced him into a factory job.He didn't talk much, so this is my introduction to watches and repair. Thank you for creating this channel.

I've watched many of your videos but am now watching older ones. This is the first time I've seen you work on a balance. Was really satisfying seeing it spin so well after such a delicate fix.

26:56 That's the best shot of you putting the barrel arbor back in I have seen you do. Its so clear exactly what its grabbing onto and I don't think your other videos showed it as well. Nice job!

I'm a watch collector for over 30 years and this is one of the finest and more comprehensive videos on the subject. Congrats Marshall for the time and love you dedicate to this half technic half art passion.

What a lovely pocket watch. The engineering that went into them fascinates me!

Corundum (AlO) is mohs hardness 9. Sapphire and Ruby are names given to corrundum based on colour. Ruby is deep red, sapphire is any colour (starting with pink) up to Blue. The color derives from any additional element from Iron to titanium iirc

Like mentioned before, Marshall is the Bob Ross of watch repair. Also, your commentary reminds me of a sportscaster, maybe golf. I love it. Thanks and keep up the good work.

What I love about pocket watches is the movements are so big.

I'm not into watches....But now I'm "in to watching " the insides of them. How could I ever guess I'd be fascinated with simply watching you work on these works of art. I was trained in high school as a machinist, welding, casting parts, way back when that was a thing, but developed a reaction to the solvents, and pursued a different career. Having RU-vid and content creators to show us their talents and craft is such a great thing to have now. Very good job on your videos. Nice, clear and close up visuals and.....you could be the Bob Ross of watch repair with your soothing voice and demeanor.... :)

I look at watches like this...the intricate construction..the craftsmanship in designing, building and maintaining them....and it's easier to understand why they are so expensive. Your skill is incredible.

I cannot believe I just watched this (listened while reloading 38spl cartridges) whole thing. I stopped and watched so many times, and seeing the heart just start beating as soon as you dropped it in place literally took my breath away. Amazing. Thank you for posting this. And thank you for keeping these old machines ticking.

Thanks for showing this, it was fascinating. My grandfather carried a pocket watch much of his life and through out most of my childhood. Late in life he could not get it fixed he switched to a wrist watch. When he died I was 14 my grandmother gave the watch to my mom. When I was in my thirties it came to me. It ran but it did not keep time. After several attempts i found a watchmaker who correctly identified the problem as a kinked hair spring. Once replaced cleaned and lubricated it ran perfectly. When it did I realized how much I enjoyed the pocket watch that I had a chain made but was too nervous to routinely carry my grandfather's watch so I began to collect them. I found an excellent watch maker that keeps the collection running and when I have a watch on it is one of the pocket watches. I noticed the watch did not have the loop (not sure the right name) for the place one would put a chain or fob on. I loved this video and look forward to more and hope to find you working on more pocket watches.

Although have followed you for several months now, I appreciated the detailed descriptions of what each part does as well as the origin of the names of some.

Just another stranger on the internet here. Found your videos while looking for things on older Citizens (the watches) as i scored one at a flea market for keeping the timewhile im in my last year of college (i used a digital but it became boring). I found your channel with a wealth of information on all watches and as someone who's interested in what makes things tick.... (im sorry) i could say that this channel... YOU...are a profound fount of wisdom and knowledge and your chuckles here and there really add to the "cuteness" of your videos. Wish you the best for all you are and all you do.

I wish you would restore more the dial cleaning it more or even painting it, but your work is really impressive and your knowledge is just off the charts. Congratulations on your channel !

you Sir are the Bob Ross of watches, while I could never do anything like this, due to shaking hands and poor eyes, i find this so relaxing to watch, can feel your excitement at seeing the watch again ticking away, thank you

As a kid I listened limited resources. Now as a father and craftsman myself I watch your watch repair channel. Life is funny.

Hello Marshall, thank you for this awesome new video. You are the best "watch youtuber" ever ! You always tell exactly what you are doing, even if you already said it in other projects. You repeat it and don't say "see my previous video in order to understand ....". The video/image work is awesome too : every frame is just perfect, no blur, no wrong angle. Because of you, I've bought my first tool set and a functional pocket watch in order to begin this incredible journey of watchmaking. You're such inspirational... Thank again for this marvelous content ! Cheers from France.

I’ve loved watches for years. I’ve been buying old watches online since I was old enough to use eBay (obviously nothing fancy and rarely working). Lately I’ve been looking to get into repairing watches. This channel is a great place to start. I’ve binged most videos on this channel and can’t wait for more.

My wife started watching these videos with me and finds it relaxing due to the care you made editing with voiceover. Thanks!

I've watched cobblers, car detailers, painters...nothing comes even close to this level of craftsmanship (for me)! Awesome video !

Great to see the shockless balance taken apart with such great camera work. Am working on a 1950's watch with one where I have to remove wheel to remove the cap jewel as the screws are underneath now I've seen this It gives me the confidence to give it a go. Just a word to the absolute beginners get yourself a new seagull ST36 movement from eBay, Ali express or Cousins in the UK. It's a good copy of the Swiss 6947/8 pocket watch movement and almost exactly the same as Marshalls Omega. Very cheap and a perfect way to learn this wonderful hobby.

Thanks Marshall, I have no idea how I found your channel but I am so glad I did. You bring me peace.

Wow it makes so much more sense when watching you do a larger movement like this pocket watch, you can actually understand how things works together!

I really enjoyed watching this. I'm an old guy of 70 years so I can remember these watches being on a chain and worn on a mans waistcoat. Thanks for sharing and I'll be watching more of your videos.

Becoming one of my favorite channels. I inherited my grandfathers retirement watch (from the CHP). Very well worn. I live in a rural town so I have started researching reputable shops to get it back into shape.

I was a watchmaker for 23 years. A couple observations here. First, when disassembling the watch for cleaning, you obviously do the balance jewels at this step. Not later. Second, when restaffing a balance wheel (I did hundreds), driving the old broken staff out of the wheel in the manor depicted can distort and bend the balance wheel and hole where the balance staff is staked, or riveted to the wheel. After removing the hairspring and roller table, the balance wheel should be chucked in a jeweler's lathe and the riveted part of the balance staff cut away first, then staked out. Third, after restaffing, the balance wheel should always be trued and poised. This is especially true for bimetalic (brass and steel) temperature compensating balance wheels as depicted in this video. The wheel should be put into a truing caliper and trued to make sure there is no radial or axial runout. I saw a little runout in the video. Then after reinstalling the roller table (and the roller jewel should always be perpendicular to the balance wheel arms) but before reinstalling the hairspring, the balance assembly should be put on a poising table to ensure that there are no "heavy" spots, i.e. that the balance assemble is "balanced". This is to negate the effect of gravity on the balance which will affect the timekeeping of the watch. Finally, one can obtain a friction jeweling kit to replace broken or cracked jewels. Friction jewels are available in any IDs to match the pivot and ODs to match the appropriate reamer needed.

You just helped me remember some great memories of when I was little, living with my grandmother, who has recently departed. We would prepare for bed each night and part of that was winding the table clock. She would always let me do it :) A flood of other memories came in with it. Thank you.

Dear Marshall I have inherited this same watch from my grandfather that I never knew. Ha was a train driver from the Portuguese railroads. I have known this watch since I was a young boy and it has sparked the interest in watches from the get go. Thank you so much for taking me on this journey with you reviving this exquisite piece of timing engineering!

Watching you repair this absolute beauty has been a delight. The love you have for watches and movements completely shines through in everything you do, but at the same time your voice, elocution and overall attitude - not to mention brilliant camera angles throughout all the bits of work you do - have just turned this channel into an instant favourite for me. Can't wait to dig in and view all the content that you've shared! As to this watch itself... Calibre 161 / LT 38.5 is gorgeous both for its looks, and its sound, as you aptly pointed out. And to me, it's even extra special. A slightly older version of the Omega you are restoring here is lying under a glass cover in my bedroom cabinet and is lovingly wound up every now and then. Ever-so-slightly-guilty admission: I did change the seconds hand with the exact same one, albeit gold-coloured, to make sure it matches the other two golden hands. It's always been such a pristine watch, I just felt the black small seconds hand took something away from its beauty. Funnily enough, I just introduced my two-year-old daughter to this watch a few weeks ago: she's always had a thing for my watches, but this one will probably end up being just that extra bit special for her as well. It came to me as soon as wifey found out about my love for watches (wasn't even officially "wifey" back then). The Omega had spent a few decades lying in storage alongside its original wearer's medals of honour - and you could say that it did in fact need a bit of a rest after having accompanied its White Guardsman owner almost a century back on a journey across half of Europe before he'd put down roots in a new homeland. Obviously, I never met wifey's great-granddad yet I can't help but feel connected to him whenever this one is ticking away in the palm of my hand. Very much a bridge to the past - the kind that's worth maintaining through the ages.

Your repair on the balance wheel was the most exciting thing I've seen on RU-vid in a long time 😉

Just happened upon your video. Extremely interesting. My Grandmother gave me a Bulova Automatic watch for a graduation gift (many years ago) and wore it constantly. Some years went by and it stopped working. I would rewind it, but it would stop again. Brought it to a jeweler. When I went to pick it up he advised that it was dirty, he cleaned it, oiled it. He then advised me to bring it back about three years to have it checked again which I did. When I moved to another state years later, the same problem appeared. Took it to a jeweler and he had my watch for three months. He showed me the watch in pieces and said he couldn’t get the calendar to work. I told him to put it back together and give it to me. I happen to be going back to the old neighborhood and when I did I took the watch to the same jeweler (still there). FIXED!!!! Enjoyed the video. It takes a lot of patience to do that type of work.

Love your videos!!! If I had the ability I would love to buy one of your pocket watches. Unfortunately I am a disabled veteran and my funds are calculated to the dollar. But I am just happy and content to sit and watch your videos! It brings very fond memories of my grandfather sitting at the kitchen table. He was a watchmaker and I truly regret not learning the trade!

Hi, nice video! Here's a tip. The next time you replace the rivet, it is more convenient to place the punch machine on a flat hard surface and clamp it to the work table at the bottom of the machine. Because the machine moves and bounces a little bit (work/placemat) 16:48, you can easily hit the rivet in the balancestaff. Greetings from the Netherlands.

I'm a retired Mechanical Engineer and your videos are AWESOME.

This channel is amazing! I am not even sure why I am binge watching, but I am... I have two left hands, so could never attempt. I never wore wristwatches because for some reason they would always slow down or stop on my wrist. But the process is so compelling and fascinating! I can't stop...

I am not "into" watches and don't care to try what you do, but I am fascinated by your work. I do love to see how things work and enjoy diy and taking things apart and either repairing or repurposing them. Keep up the great work!

I enjoy your videos. I've been dabbling in the watch collecting/assembly for a short time and it's a good hobby. Modding seiko watches , and repairing old Elgin pocket watches. You are very adept and a good teacher. Your voice is soothing with no reproach. Yes a fine teacher thank you for your time. No pun intended.

0:01 talks about wristwatch revival then pulls out a pocket watch

As a absolute beginner in the watch collecting and repairing its very nice to see the watch that you out bid me on is being looked after way better than I could ever do myself . Thank You for all the great video's and education . Looking forward to your next one .

I find orphaned small engine equipment (mowers, snowblowers, etc) and repair and sell them...brings in a tidy sum and I can work only when I feel like it! I don't do repairs except for family and friends. I don't want people hounding me to get their string trimmer back :( I love tools but I don't know if I have a steady enough hand to do what you do. Some of those parts are nearly microscopic! You seem quite at ease as to what goes where and in what order. I guess the same is true of small engine work as by now I can look at most any part and know where and when it gets put back in. At any rate I find watching your videos a refreshing and relaxing change of pace. Your voice and commentary are quite clear and informative. The video is spectacular and the close ups help to show what you're talking about. Thanks for taking the time to make them!

These vids are hypnotic! I'll never do watch repair myself (shaky hands) but it's quite soothing to see how the tiny engine comes apart and goes back together so nicely.

Some of the new angles and zooms, such as the barrel arbor and putting in the crystal, really show what is happening now. Great production value! Also you have convinced me to have a go. I've got some tools on my Christmas list and I will be having a go at a pocket watch mechanism soon.

that balance spinning was the most satisfying thing I've ever seen

Absolutely mesmerizing. I can't stop watching (pardon the pun) this channel. I have 2 old pocket watches of my grandfathers that he used when he worked on the railroad. Now I know what went into restoring them to working order. Absolutely amazing, thanks for sharing these videos.

Hearing the passion in your voice and seeing how happy it makes you, when a refurbished movement kicks to life, is pretty awesome!

Something about 400-year-old technology being more of a piece of art than anything😮 I love the craftsman that can work on these

Pocket watches are my favorites. They just seem so full of history. Fabulous restoration repair as always!

Marshall, you are incredible. Thank you for preserving history and caring for watches.

I had to comment because I randomly stumbled upon your channel because one of your videos showed up in my feed. I have no interest whatsoever in watches or watchmaking but I enjoy watching you take apart and restore these intricate pieces of machinery and history. I now have an entirely new lexicon of terms in my brain that will serve me no purpose in life whatsoever besides understanding your videos more. Anyway, I have watched maybe half a dozen or so of your videos and wondered, "What is the purpose of the jewels?", so I googled it and read up on it. The next video after doing that search was this one, where you explain...the purpose of the various jewels. It was such an incredible coincidence that I thought you should know.

I watched you open that package of assorted tools you got from ebay and have to mention that you have an awesome hobby bench. Also, I have several pocket watches and frequently carry them so keep on working on them. Best regards,

This video mesmerized me - and I found myself watching it in one sitting. Now I want to get into it. So, thank you - great to see a true craftsman at work!

Hello, found this video by accident today. I became aware of this because I also own the same watch from the 1930s. You explain everything very simply, precisely, calmly and it's fun to listen and watch the entire work steps. Thank you for your hard work and for sharing all of this with us!

Fantastic work! As always! And your photography, depth of field, focus, etc. was exceptional in this video, I mean, on top of your normally high quality work! And such a beautiful watch! Thank you!

Timeless, Classic, Beauty you've brought back to life......

So happy to have found your channel. I’m the most “non-mechanical” guy on 🌎 but really enjoy “time” especially mechanical watches. We’ll be watching & following on Instagram

Best video yet! Great explanations of the added challenges faced in this "parts only" watch. Your beautiful restoration showed us viewers what tools and skills are needed to tackle these more complex repair issues. Thanks again for taking the time and energy to create such a professional video too.

That is a beautiful timepiece. First time I watched this I fell asleep!!! Such a relaxing thing to watch and hear

Yet another amazing machine brought back to life by our man Marshall. Thanks for all you do, sir.

Brilliant video. Appreciated the commentary and explanations. Particularly liked the explanation of the staking tool. Well filmed and informative. Fantastic craftsmanship! Thanks.

The fixing of these is genius but the manufacturing and engineering to build them yrs ago is amazing. The precision and tiny size of each part.

"If you're not that into watches..." Well...binging this channel got me into watches. I recently bought my first vintage watch to get into the hobby. A 1930s wristwatch, for $2. Though, turns out the dial has a ton of radium on it, so I left it to the side. Now I'm preparing to work on a NOS but non functional 1970s wristwatch, with a beautiful brown (yes, it exists) dial and white hands. Now just need to get me some nice tweezers and screwdrivers. I watched your video on the tools with all the different oils and greases you use. I do understand that they do the job awesomely to lube up a watch properly, but they are very costly. Are there any low cost options there you could recommend? Maybe they won't work as good, but at least may help a budding watch repairer get a few watches up and running, even if the watch will require going through earlier again than it would have otherwise?

Hi Marshall! Congrats on this channel being such a big success!

I love the way you explain things Marshall . Beautiful job!

I so enjoy the tech talk and history as you disassemble a timepiece. You've opened up a new world to me and I am hooked. Saving up for a new Longines automatic. Keep doing what you're doing...you are the BEST!

I never get tired of watching the capillary action while oiling.

I've been looking at these videos just so I can do minor fixes to keep my collection nice, as someone who never did well learning things in a traditional way these videos are as good as it gets - how you keep your hands so steady is still a mystery, but keep up the good work, I'd venture to say you've cemented your place as a pillar of the community and rightfully so

Your video's are a joy too watch and really help me unwind in the evening. Keep up the great work.

You have a gift of gab that makes the process of the journey of each project remarkably interesting as well as instructive!

This was a facinating video to watch. I have always been fascinated by such mechanisms ever since I worked on model 28 teletype machines in the military. You have a great way of describing what you do and make it look easy, which I am sure it is not. Your camera work is really great. Thanks for taking the time to make this video.

Interesting piece this one. A lot of work went into a $68.00 watch but it is a nice piece of history. I often ask what if these watches could talk, what stories would they tell? Great work as always Marshall. Thanks for this one, very educational.

I remember my first pocket watch servicing. This video brought up so many memories and laugh. That "oups where that screws went", the jumpy little spring from the winding mechanism and the broken pivot... I had them all. 😂 Thanks so much for your videos !

Great video! Love watching them and learn a bunch as well! I'm not as good as you are at all this, but I've re-staffed a few pocket watches myself and just did one on a American one with a broken staff. Unfortunately the roller and other parts didn't line up from the start along with other gremlins. So for a tip for others that worked great for me: Install just pallet fork and it's bridge in the plate, then assemble balance minus hairspring in it's bridge in the plate as well. Gently move balance so it interacts with pallet fork and positions the fork between the banking pins(like you showed in the video), trace a line from where the hairspring stud would go to a spot directly across on the balance and super-gently mark it with a marker. Remove Balance and parts and install hairspring so stud matches the spot you marked. Won't be super accurate in beat, but you adjust that later if you can( I don't have a timegrapher so I use my ears). Got the idea from a blog somewhere and it blew my mind when it worked. Struggled badly with setting beat on these watches, so passing it on here.

I was going to ff this video but became so mesmerized with the entire process i couldn't help but watch it entirely. Wow, I'm blown away. ❤️

I am not into watches but this was very enjoyable to see. Great camera work, great commentary. Highly recommended. Well done sir!

Looks to be a very expensive hobby in tools alone! I’ll just keep satisfying my needs by watching you! 👍 Amazed by your knowledge but astounded by the original watch designers and part builders.

Your voice, narration style and filming is just amazing. I'm not that into watches but like pulling things apart. 1 hour and i didnt FF at all. With still more to Watch.

Yay! I love watching your videos, and I respect your choice to keep the vintage patina of the faces, but I really enjoy seeing watches looking how the designer originally intended. Thank you for sharing one where you did a more thorough restoration.

It's a real pleasure to watch your videos it's amazing how complex they are made Thank you for making these videos they are really good

This is how to do a proper professional job. Wonderful to see an expert at work!

Even though your channel says wristwatch, I LOVE when you do these pocket watches! I have 2 non-functioning ones that I see every once in a while and I get closer and closer to wanting to just take the plunge. As a HO Scale train hobbyist I can relate to the "need the right tools" aspect of your hobby. ...but I soooo want to try. Thank you for your videos. GREAT narration with a touch of fun.

Fallen in love totally with your content! Will be picking this up as a hobby very seriously within the year! Blends perfectly in many ways tool wise with the guitar building/repair work I do. Must admit I certainly love some tools myself as well! Awesome work man, and thank you for the content!

I've watched a couple of watch revivals of yours and your colleagues in the last couple of days, and I've learned a ton! Still I had some questions left, I decided that watching more videos would eventually answer more of my questions. This video was so insightful, so detailed and so well explained and narrated, it answered 90% of the questions I had left. Excellent work my good sir, thank you.

I'm fascinated with watching these. Thanks for making them, and doing such a good job presenting them!

I 've always wondered what was actually done with a staking set. It falls into that mist of lathes, truing, and broken staffs close to the edge of the horosphere. Congrats on getting this one over the finish line!

As a person born and living in Switzerland, I’m very much into Swiss watches, and Omega is one of the many watch icons of our beautiful country. I just watched this video while having breakfast and it was so fantastic to see how you brought back the life to this wonderful vintage pocket watch. Also, I enjoyed your informative comments while you were working on the watch. May I have a suggestion: It would be interesting to learn more about how the watch makers created the various pieces of the watch, like what technic they use and how long it takes to create it. Maybe also some history behind the development of the pieces over time, as they are all such fantastic pieces of art. Maybe you could add that during your work. I'm keep watching your videos and will enjoy your work, mainly during breakfast. Thanks and best regards from Switzerland 😊

Ever since I was a child back in the fifties, I used to open up the wristwatch case to look inside. Always was fascinating. Now I get to see this in-depth view and it’s awesome. Thanks for the thrill and education.