Hello watch repair talk world.

[MAX1974]

Hi,

I started getting into this stuff about 8 months ago. I read a basic walk through of servicing a vintage watch on a website, and began by just disassembling a couple of beaters from eBay, and watching a lot of Watch Repair Tutorials.  In the spring I started working on an AS1686, figuring I’d learn better just working on the same movement repeatedly. About a half dozen donor movements/watches and NOS balance completes and mainsprings and a lot of hours later and I have managed to get two of those running well (within acceptable ranges on the weishi and reasonable deltas), and put into watches my wife and I like.  
 

Oh and of course a kind of frightening frenzy of tool buying - though I try to keep it reasonable (good tweezers and screwdrivers but mainly the cheapest hobbyist path on other stuff (simple naphtha & IPA & hexane in jars with a cheap ultrasonic, 100 dollar digital microscope, etc).

Recently I have switched to trying to work on a Caravelle 11DP, and have been struggling to get good amplitude.  Like, best I’m able to get on a 17 jewel version is maybe 250 in the DU and DD positions.  Lots of  them get finished and run at like 180 or maybe 200 DU and DD.   Frustrating after the good experience with the 1686s, but I am enjoying the challenge. This stuff is super addictive.

I got a rotary tool recently and am focusing on trying to get the mainspring and barrel as good as possible. Also looking here more for suggestions, and thinking about getting a little more serious and going through some work and lessons on one of those ETA clones or similar - to get that hands on feel for a movement in good shape so I can better diagnose the vintage ones I like (and can afford to mess around with).

 

thanks!

Max

[clockboy]

Welcome to the forum, enjoy

[RichardHarris123]

Hello and welcome from Leeds, England.