Case Opening On A Montblanc Profile Xl?

[transam]

Hi there first post!

I have a Montblanc Profile XL, with a dead battery. I'm perfectly confident that I can change the battery myself, as I have in many other watches - but am not sure how to open the case on this one. It is a rectangular watch, with, not surprisingly, a rectangular back!

Is it a simple matter of prising it open (will I need to remove the bracelet to do this?), changing the battery, regreasing the seal and pressing the back into place again - or is there more to it than that?

 

Many thanks in advance for any advice,

 

Patrick.

[Geo]

Welcome to the forum Transam.

What you describe above sounds correct. You may have to remove the bracelet to find the little notch for the case knife as it is sometimes hidden there. Once you have removed the bracelet, clean around the edges thoroughly with a stiff brush, then using a loupe check around the case to find the notch. When you find it, use a good quality case knife to prise the back off, but do it I such a way as not to slip into the movement and cause damage.

[transam]

Ah, so there should actually be a notch present to put the case knife into? That's a bonus! I shall try taking off the bracelet this weekend, and have a look - I can't see any notch with it in place, and just "levering" around would be using the bracelet retaining screw as a fulcrum, which I am sure would damage it.

Many thanks Geo - I shall report back!

 

Patrick.

[Geo]

I haven't opened one myself, so I could be wrong. Just go carefully!

[ro63rto]

Of course, before doing all this you must ensure you have the correct tool and accessories to refit the caseback.

Case/crystal press with the correct size/shaped dyes.

[transam]

I'm actually quite adept at casting (aluminium/lead mostly, so happy to make my own custom shaped die to keep pressure off the crystal - and I have a small screw press which was owned by my late great-uncle (who was a watchmaker), so that part should be fine as long as I can get the thing open! It'd be a lot easier to take it to a watch repairer, but where is the fun in that? :thumbsd:

 

I shall be back... thanks all for your help to a newbie!

[transam]

Many thanks, gents. there was indeed a good wide notch available (without removing the bracelet) and it took a little pressure to pop the back off.

It takes a Renata 394 battery, I have ordered a couple!

 

As before, I shall keep you updated when it all explodes in my face...

 

Many thanks to all,

 

Patrick.

[Geo]

That's good Patrick.

If you don't have a press for closing the back and are doing it by hand, make sure you squeeze at the edge of the case as it is easy to break the crystal by pressing in the middle.

[transam]

Thanks gents, you are all stars! The batteries arrived yesterday (but I was drunk) - so left it until today. The new battery basically fell into place, and the case closed (after lightly lubing the gasket with silicone grease) with as little pressure as it took to open - basically finger pressure around the case and back, and it just "popped" back in and feels very solid (no gaps!).

It now works perfectly once again, all for the grand cost of £1.25. I wonder how much Montblanc would charge...

 

Many thanks to you all for your help, and I will be back - I have a few other watches that need fiddled with - a genuine Rolex Air King, and two Rolex "Homages" (horribly cheap but remarkably accurate fakes) - a Sub and a Daytona.

 

Thanks again,

 

Patrick.

[Geo]

That's great that it worked out well for you. Thanks for letting us know! :)