Which Watch Movement

[keflin2612]

Hi Folks,

Watch movements, how can I tell what movement is in any given watch, are there any reference books to help me, I guess there must be hundreds out there and as they seem to be a very important part of the watch especially for ordering certain new parts.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kev.

  

[JohnR725]

3 hours ago, keflin2612 said:

Watch movements, how can I tell what movement is in any given watch

the best way to know which movement you have is to open the case and look.

3 hours ago, keflin2612 said:

hundreds out there

now it's probably a low number

[Klassiker]

If it's a newish watch from a well-known brand the Internet or an expert on here will know. Otherwise, the back needs to come off and you can post a picture of the movement. Depending on age, rarity etc. that might still not be enough information, in which case partial disassembly is required (removal of the balance and/or dial).

[keflin2612]

I've purchased a few old watches just to strip down and try to repair, I only paid around £10 to £20 each for them but I would like to be able to Identify the movement myself and would like to know if there are any reference books that would help.

Kev. 

[JohnR725]

1 hour ago, keflin2612 said:

I would like to be able to Identify the movement myself and would like to know if there are any reference books that would help.

you still have to open the back up. While some watches like Seiko do have the movement numbers on the back you still need open the back up just to make sure. Then for book reference the bestfit book is really good. You can buy that at the first link. The second link has a site where if you have a clue what you're looking for has pictures and things of the various watches to help to verify that that is indeed whatever it is you think it is

https://mccawcompany.com/product/bestfit-encyclopedia-books-111-111a-digital-download-pdf-version/

 

http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&0&2uswk

[watchweasol]

There is also a site Mikrolisk which lists the makers marks Alphabeticly, there are quite a lot of makers marks listed needs time and patience....  The important factors are the caliber number along with the mark.

[keflin2612]

I haven't got a problem opening the back, does every watch have the movement number inside?

Kev.

[JohnR725]

36 minutes ago, keflin2612 said:

I haven't got a problem opening the back, does every watch have the movement number inside?

not necessarily

 

 

[JohnR725]

4 hours ago, keflin2612 said:

I would like to be able to Identify the movement myself

unfortunately with watch repair it something you learn over time. There is not necessarily any standard of numbering watch movements and there's quite a bit of variation still think this. So if you're hoping that we will give you the secret which doesn't exist of how to identify every single watch you have in a few messages it's not going to happen.

A better approach would be grab one ear watches and let's go through the identification process.

But I've attached an image let's pick on Bulova they manufacture watches don't they? Okay they used to manufacturer watches but what is the definition of manufacturing a watch? That one time they made their own movements other times they would buy basically an OEM movement. What becomes interesting with the E Bosch or OEM movements are expressive its popular it could be used in literally hundreds of different watches manufactured by different companies. All of which probably may put their number on the back of the watch with their name. This means conceivably you can end up with hundreds of identical balance staffs.

Sometimes the watch companies don't put their number on the watch then you may find the number under the balance wheel. Or sometimes it's not there at all it could be on the dial side. Or there may be no number at all he have to use the fingerprint system. Then sometimes you just have to get lucky and if you ask the right questions somebody will recognize your movement.

You'll notice in the image of Bulova how their numbers on the left-hand side. Then it gives you a size of the movement and the movement interchangeability. It's always conceivable on interchangeability especially with newer watches where you read that this watch is based on another watch Van interchangeability may be problematic. But in the bestfit book it's usually pretty good. So you notice in some of the Bulova watches the base caliber is another Bulova. Other times it's an entirely different manufacture.

notice how does a reference to the illustration page? Looks like a lot of them are on page 129? in the fingerprint  section of the book if you have the size the watch can see the setting parts you can go through and match the setting parts. Doesn't necessarily work for modern watches because they tend that while the same parts. In the bestfit book only covers modern popular watches the 60s through the 70s. If you have something earlier you need to find an earlier book and the newer stuff I don't think there is a fingerprint system.

Then realistically the bestfit book is filled with lots of useful information so much to absorb that you should probably scanned through it every now and then just to become familiar with it. Like for instance you could conceivably measure the stem of the watch go to the section of the book that lists stems by size measure the size you're stem and conceivably figure out which watch you have. Which strangely enough I once did. That's because there was no number on the watch.

[keflin2612]

Wow?
Thanks for taking the time and doing this for me, I think I should slow down a bit and and enjoy the watch maintenance and do as you say and learn the technical side as I go along.
Thanks.

Kev.