Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

Greetings All,

I hope this is not a silly question but I'd like to identify what tool(s) I might need to open this type of screw back watch case (see pic. below). This is an inexpensive Victorinox Swiss Army watch and I really don't want to spend $20-$25 at a Jeweler's to have the battery replaced. I know it's definitely not a snap/pop off case.

 

Thanks,

 

Klimi99

 

post-935-0-07987200-1429520480_thumb.jpg

Posted

A sticky ball would work.

I have a Swiss Army watch (same as Victorinox) and I was able to open it by laying it flat on a soft cloth and using another cloth on the back to turn the back (it's a screw on back). You'll need quite a bit of down pressure to get it to move, but don't break the glass !!!! 

The sticky ball might be a better and safer alternative.

 

Welcome to the forum btw !

Posted

I believe it is a pressure back not a screw in...they do that sometimes to mimic more expensive watches. You'll find inside a regular Ronda 515 movement (if only a date dial). I believe if you try Rolex type dies to open it you will find none of them fit...because it is not a screw on! Hope this helps.

 

Cheers,

 

Bob

 

PS. I believe there is an indentation on the case to fit the knife. You will need a press to close it back!

  • Like 1
Posted

Thanks for the tips. I've had this little guy since 1999 or so. The few times I've taken it to a Battery Plus or similar store that replaces batteries, I am told they can't do it because they lack the special tool to open it. When I go to a Jeweler -- and overpay for a battery change--  the watch guy goes to the back, does his magic, but never explains what type of tool he used. 

 

I bought a sticky ball and will try that just in case it is a screwback. I have other watches on which I can use the ball.

 

Thanks,

Klimi99

Posted

Ok, although I believe this particular watch is NOT a screw back, please let us know how you get on.

 

Cheers,

 

Bob

Posted (edited)

"overpriced" It's not overpriced, you're paying a professional for his time and expertise. (though I do believe what I charge for this particular watch works out to be a little less, 10 GBP)
"never explains what tool he uses." why should he?

Edited by Ishima
Posted

Well, I got a hermetic non-reply from Victorinox. Reading the subtext I guess this is an oyster back case.

 

Thank you for contacting Victorinox Swiss Army.

 

You have one of our Original watches.  Large 24221, small 24241.  Battery changes and repairs should be done at an authorized repair center.  I would send your watch to...

 

They then provide the address to some watch servicing center here in TX. 

:geek: 

Posted

Another original Swiss military watch, deceiving back is NOT screw in but pressed in.

 

post-253-0-42306100-1429639305.jpg

 

Did you check if any Rolex type dies fit yours? Normally they shouldn't fit or grab if not screw in... and it takes quite an effort to remove these pressure backs and will need a press to put it back in.

 

Hope it helps,

 

Cheers,

 

 

Posted

Mystery solved! It is a press in back with a faux oyster back motif. I guess the people who didn't want to open it were fooled by the little grooves and the fellow at the battery place who tried to open it but could not didn't quite know what he was up to. I took it to a local jeweler who replaced the battery for US$13.00 (around 8.70 pounds). It took him all of 2 minutes. I might invest in a press and the proper opening tool to do this at home. I have a small collection of inexpensive watches that need batteries every so often.

 

Thanks for the info and tips - 

 

klimi99

Posted

I believe it is a pressure back not a screw in...they do that sometimes to mimic more expensive watches. You'll find inside a regular Ronda 515 movement (if only a date dial). I believe if you try Rolex type dies to open it you will find none of them fit...because it is not a screw on! Hope this helps.

 

Cheers,

 

Bob

 

PS. I believe there is an indentation on the case to fit the knife. You will need a press to close it back!

Your call was spot on Bob! :)

  • Like 1
Posted

Good catch Bob !

That back had me fooled for sure ! I was pretty sure it was a screw on, my Swiss Army watch has the exact same type of back, but it's a screw on !!!! Same brand, same back, even same movement !!!

  • Like 1
Posted

Yep. He's a certified Seiko repair shop, so if anything happens to one of my Seikos there will be a place to go.

  • 3 years later...
Posted

cheap watches (including pocket watches)  are designed to fool you.  the press backs use to have a slight notch to insert a "knife type tool".   another problem is poor manufactioning,  the back may never "pop off".  i use a jewelers hammer and a razor blade if i suspect its pop off.    the should be held in a "fixure" to hold it vertical. vin

Posted
cheap watches (including pocket watches)  are designed to fool you.  the press backs use to have a slight notch to insert a "knife type tool".   another problem is poor manufactioning,  the back may never "pop off".  i use a jewelers hammer and a razor blade if i suspect its pop off.    the should be held in a "fixure" to hold it vertical. vin

I use the jewellers hammer and my Swiss Army Knife. Safer than a razor blade.
Neil


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Posted
3 hours ago, Neileg said:


I use the jewellers hammer and my Swiss Army Knife. Safer than a razor blade.
Neil


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

3 hours ago, Neileg said:


I use the jewellers hammer and my Swiss Army Knife. Safer than a razor blade.
Neil
         what every works without too much blood in the case.  actually,  you can sharpen a knife to have the same edge as a "safety razor blade".  vin

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Posted
 


Dead right Vinn3. But the knife has a handle and the blade is more robust. If the razor blade works for you then go for it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Posted
19 hours ago, Neileg said:

 

 


Dead right Vinn3. But the knife has a handle and the blade is more robust. If the razor blade works for you then go for it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

   here is another thought,    the ( safety razor blade)  is SO thin,   it will open the seam - allowing the case opener to enter?  be shure to use a jewelers hammer an not a hand sledge.  vin

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

If the hammer is large enough, all problems with the watch are quickly solved, no matter how complex those problems may have seemed. 

“Brute Force always prevails.”



  • Similar Content

  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Did you just swear at me matey?? I’m sorry, I’m not divulging personal information but there’s always personal reasons. There’s not much more than I can do other than plod along as best I can. However, my health is good now and I’m regularly getting plenty of exercise to keep it that way 👍
    • Same question that was asked last time Hakan, and emphasis was placed on it. It was ignored. The thread should still be there, if not I have a copy of his reply. 
    • This is probably the single most important point. One of my best friends, 48 years old at the time, suffered a massive stroke about 15 years ago. He barely survived, but his life was never the same after that. If you had asked me back then to guess which of my friends might have a stroke and nearly die, he would have been the very last one I'd have picked. He was perfectly healthy, played tennis three times a week, ran a successful business, was full of life, and had a wonderful wife and well-behaved teenage kids. The harsh truth is, we never know when it’s "game over." @Mark, I truly wish you a long, happy, and successful life. But have you given any thought to some kind of backup plan for WRT in case the worst should happen? Is there anyone who could keep the site going? If you can reassure us in some way, it would mean more than a lot to us!
    • Looks like glass with that bevel edge.
    • Update: The demagnetization only helped temporarily, maybe it pulled the wheels into a position where they liked each other. I have to adjust the sub second hand as it is a bit angled upwards and catching the minute hand stopping the whole movement but before this happened there were some wild deviations. HWGIKE#58 Alarm clock, cooked in hot cleaning fluid and oiled gently. This is a movement so I count it. 🙂 A while ago it tried to fly away one day, it was on my windows sill, we had strong wind the curtain flew like a flag and doing so encouraged my clock to do the same...  went out and ended up on the roof above the entrance door, its door in pieces but the clock itself suffered no damage otherwise. The original glass was already broken when I received it I still have the bottom part in two pieces. The new "glass" is acrylic. It also had a paper in the back in the case inside but it disintegrated, I still have a little bit of  piece of that too.     HWGIKE#59 Durowe 870 / Times M84 This particular instance is a D870, when I saw its worn out contact pin I thought that it must be a design flaw, and here we go: https://17jewels.info/movements/d/durowe/durowe-870/ An incredible movement again where the balance wheel drives the train and has two magnets one for the balance wheel/coil and one for the pallet. The magnet for the pallet is basically the "draw" one direction. The coil is about 1.8kOhm and one end is in contact with the main plate and the other end is soldered to a contact pin which is insulated by the means of putting it into a jewel and this contact pin is rubbing against a wire getting the energy/impulse as it is passing. Behind the contact pin there is an "impulse jewel" not sure why is it there... the wire seems to hit the impulse jewel first then the contact pin but maybe it is there only for insulation purposes? I was almost certain that the screw holding down the battery - (minus) clamp had no insulation washer.. i only noticed the green stuff around it coming from battery leakage... anyway the + and - had a shortcut which took me a while to realize.. had to fabricate one insulating washer on my own. The jewel settings were dirty but not it is all cleaned and oiled. The contact pin might work for a while but I am sure it has a short life. It is a front loader the whole thing is held together by the case so it is not possible to regulate it without putting it all together and taking the movement out of the case again, very inconvenient. A wonderful movement but not made for eternity only for the consumer market.  
×
×
  • Create New...