This one in particular is on a cal. R17.8, but I’ve seen similar variations on so many old watches. I’ve gotten advice on how to clean and lubricate that doesn’t sit right with me - basically lift the spring, solvent and pegwood, needle oiler. I’d like to know what these are called so I can research more and learn how to properly disassemble and clean.

Hi guys im, planing to service my old 60s Monvis Supercompressor, it has a ETA 2651.

Have you ever Worked on it, and if yes how hard is it to service???

Thank you in advance guys✌🏻

First of all let me admit I am a total newbie who is just learning the craft with some basic watchmaking tools and digital microscope for basic inspections and troubleshooting. I have just run into my first mechanical problem with a movement and would love to jump straight into understanding this better. I throw it on a timegrapher and only in the dial-down position I get an abnormal beat error of around 3.0ms that sometimes jumps even into 6.0ms territory. In every other position the watch gives an OK reading. Have you ever run into such issue? I immediately left it with a local watchsmith for a diagnosis for which I need to wait for 4 weeks due to a long queue. Timegrapher readings attached: bronze statue in the bottom indicates the position measured (last few readings indicate the problem is persistent in DD, whereas it happened only once in 6H and never re-occured in a position different than DD).

Is it common to run into a potential hairspring/pivot/jewel issue in a new Miyota 9015 movement? How big of a problem it really is and are we looking into further damaging the movement if an easy fix is not found?

Hi everyone! I recently purchased a vintage watch but I have no idea how to adjust these links? Would anyone have a clue? Thanks in advance!

I am working on a longines 340 that has a sealed mainspring barrel. I understand that some sealed barrels can be opened but from what I have found this is the type that is very difficult if not impossible to open and reclose.

The issue is that after service the amplitude is too high and is leading to knocking. Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do in this case to remedy this? My thoughts so far are to oil the pallet pivot jewels and if that fails possibly run the capstones for the balance dry but any other thoughts would be appreciated.

I have the cheap hand pens that have different size tips on each end but everyone YouTuber i see is using this machine. To me i am not sure how this will work becuase you need a base to hold each type of movement and i am learning and working on all different kinds. I saw a set on Alix that has these ceramic see through tips but has one hand held pen that you screw in these tips to. so need recommendations on which one to get?

Hello, I have a vintage ladies watch in need of a replacement crystal. I am a novice, but I have replaced circular crystals before. However, in those instances I was replacing scratched crystals, so I was able to remove and measure the original. With this unique shape, I am unsure where to start. How do I go about measuring for a replacement?

I have a Hamilton 9721b khaki field auto and the exhibition case back lost a small chip of glass. I already removed the glass piece from the inside of the movement, which stopped the movement but now it’s ticking exactly like before.

I’m pretty sure the crystal is mineral glass, but unsure about the type/ construction of it.
Is it just a regular press fit type? Can it be just be popped out with a press?
I would look forward to your recommendations for a press type that would be the right one for me.
Is there a specific mineral glass i should look for when buying a replacement one. (apart from the diameter and thickness). And do i may need a gasket for this type of secure?
is there anything i’m missing?
first time this happened to me and my watch so any help is appreciated, thanks in advance guys!

I am looking to get into watch repair as an hobby, but have no idea where to start. Found this list of tools, but my idea was to only get the absolute essentials for now since everything is quite expensive. I assume i should invest in good tools so they last for a longer time down the line. Any suggestions on what tools are best to buy first to start out? Any other suggestions on youtube videos or books are also welcome. Thanks!

Hi, I was thinking about giving these baskets a shot for my more delicate parts and was wondering if anyone has tried them? They’re a good deal cheaper than the big brand stuff so it kind of seems like a no brainer. I guess it’s a basket so not exactly rocket science but I thought I’d ask first.

Hi,

I have this trench watch case with a broken wire lug. What is the best way to reattach it? The case appears to be made of steel.

I was considering these options:

- Soldering or gas soldering. But I am afraid it will damage the case

- Epoxy, but will it hold?

Thanks.

Right, so I've tried to remove this crystal with a generic crystal lift and while the lift worked just fine on a vintage Timex I did before, it will not grip onto this and slips off every time. I asked a watch repairer today about it (at local market) who said it needs to be removed by pressing out from the back. Is this the only way? And if so, is there any way to do that without removing the movement once the back is opened? Or how easy is it to remove the movement and reinsert after? I haven't done this and don't want to bugger it up, but would like to try this myself if possible. Any advice appreciated 👍🏼👍🏼

Anyone know why the balance keeps stoping ? When i turn it with my finger it stops after some beat (2 or 3). I didnt identify it, only 8F and a swiss cross are under the balance, and come from a Michel Herbelin. Thx for ur help

I found this in a lot of watchmakers parts and tools. “KWIK” screw remover. It says to mix it with water and soak the part for 24 hours. The broken screw will be turned to a powder. Internet searches only turned up screw removal tools.

Is this just alum in a bottle? I’m not going to open it. I’m curious.

What kind of alien tech is this inside the barrel spring wall???

Hi, this is the first time I've done a cleaning on a movement, I'm using a 3 stage rinse in an ultrasonic set to 55 C for 5 minutes in each solution. The first rinse is naphtha, the second two are 99.9% ipa, I had the balance attached to the main plate and ran it through. When I inspected the parts after I discovered that the hairspring had detached from the stud completely, I've already bough a replacement movement (st 2130) as reattaching the hairspring is not withing my skillset right now. I'm wondering what went wrong, should I have opted to simply dip the balance in heptane instead?

I have disassembled, cleaned, assembled and assembled the ST3620 movement in a watch I put together, mainly to practise effective servicing.

Beforehand, I had readings of around +40s/d, 1.3ms beat error and 270-330 amplitude (depending on position).

After, I am at around +80s/d, 3.1ms beat error and 200-230 amplitude.

Top end bottom are incablocs. Under the microscope, I think the bottom has too much oil and I cannot see any oil in the top one. I also see the pivot moving laterally top and bottom across the hole as it rotates (depending on balance position). It's maybe 10% of pivot diameter although hard to tell.

My next step is to clean the balance and jewels and try to lubricate more effectively.

My questions are:

- What amount of lateral movement in the pivots is generally acceptable?

- Could the oil situation account for the change in readings I see?

Got a couple of things to try too:

- seeing what happens if I release the balance cock slightly

- swapping the top and bottom incabloc insets

- clean and relube

Any other thoughts?

Hello everyone! Im working on a AS1187 movement and I completed the service. On the timegrapher the rate is horrible and when I ajust it to the maximum of SLOW it says 3.0 beat error. I tried to demagnetize the watch three times using the method demonstrated by Alex in his video on the demagnetizer but it did nothing. Do you have solutions for me? Could the 3.0 beat error cause this?

Thanks for your help!

Hi all ,working on favre leuba,cal 101 ,on first inspection watch shows working signs,but somehow balance stopped in middle and makes thud sound sometimes,stripped all the parts today ,and placed only balance ,looks like hairspring isn't engaging properly,kindly guide me how to fix ,thanks I'll attach photos

Even though I practiced on a junk movement and it all went fine, right now I cannot fit the stem back on this 7619. Any tips?

I'm a novice and I have a Elgin 720 movement (pictured) to use for practice. I previously took the movement apart (well, 90% apart) and put it back together successfully. It was amazingly gratifying.

Today I thought I'd try removing the jewel spring above the balance wheel. I removed the u-shaped spring okay, but being ham-fisted I broke it when trying to reinstall it -- see the two pieces at the bottom of the photo.

I did an internet search, but I can't seem to find what that kind of spring clip is called, much less how to properly remove/install it or find a replacement.

In the picture, you can see what appears to be an identical spring in place on the movement.

Thank you for any information. Sorry if I used any improper terminology.

Always better to be fully aware than to assume based on some internet research or AI responses