twall
Lawn Addict
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2011
- Threads
- 78
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- 1,628
For those of you reading the group, you'll know I have a love for the watch my dad gave me 25 years ago. I also RUINED that watch 24 years ago.....and have felt like poop ever since.
I bought a watch on ebay for it's movement, since it was an identical movement other than there were no jewels but one in it (mine has 17). I looked for a watchmaker that was willing (HA HA HA) to swap the balance wheel and hairspring assembly from the ebay movement to my old watch. No one was willing to touch my watch. Although it was Swiss, and genuinely so from the mid 70's.....no one could "find parts for it". DUH! I was willing to sacrifice the brand NOS movement for the balance wheel assy. Still, none of these snobs would do it. I paid $50 for the donor watch including shipping.
So, I downed a few adult beverages, and got the guts to try it myself. Mind you, I have never seen the inside of a watch, without f**king it up when I messed with it. The very reason this watch needed repair was because I'd messed with it.
Lo and behold, I fixed it myself. I changed the entire balance wheel and hairspring assembly without messing anything up!!!!! It actually was adjusted right on the money, too. It (the wheel assy) ran well in the donor watch, and ran just as well in my dad's!!!
I cannot believe how easy it was, but moreover, I was amazed that, for the first time in my life, I was able to crack a watch case open and SOLVE a problem, rather than CAUSE a problem!!!
A lot of blah about nothing, unless you find it interesting......here's a "wristie" (yes, a bad pic, but what the hey):
I bought a watch on ebay for it's movement, since it was an identical movement other than there were no jewels but one in it (mine has 17). I looked for a watchmaker that was willing (HA HA HA) to swap the balance wheel and hairspring assembly from the ebay movement to my old watch. No one was willing to touch my watch. Although it was Swiss, and genuinely so from the mid 70's.....no one could "find parts for it". DUH! I was willing to sacrifice the brand NOS movement for the balance wheel assy. Still, none of these snobs would do it. I paid $50 for the donor watch including shipping.
So, I downed a few adult beverages, and got the guts to try it myself. Mind you, I have never seen the inside of a watch, without f**king it up when I messed with it. The very reason this watch needed repair was because I'd messed with it.
Lo and behold, I fixed it myself. I changed the entire balance wheel and hairspring assembly without messing anything up!!!!! It actually was adjusted right on the money, too. It (the wheel assy) ran well in the donor watch, and ran just as well in my dad's!!!
I cannot believe how easy it was, but moreover, I was amazed that, for the first time in my life, I was able to crack a watch case open and SOLVE a problem, rather than CAUSE a problem!!!
A lot of blah about nothing, unless you find it interesting......here's a "wristie" (yes, a bad pic, but what the hey):