Need help with my dad‘s Bulova watch

[Kdhouck]

Trying to restore my dad’s watch and I noticed when I opened it that the hairspring or balance spring is shot. Can I keep the same balance wheel and just replace the balance spring or do I have to buy the two together?  In Other words are they inseparable, and come as one set or can I separate them and use the same balance wheel with a new spring?

Edited October 3, 2024 by Kdhouck

[AndyGSi]

Welcome to the forum.

What experience have you got with watch repair?

[Nucejoe]

 Replacing this  BALANCE COMPLETE with a new one is your best bet.

 

 

 

[nevenbekriev]

Yes, balance is pair with the hairspring and replacing the spring only will give working movement, but gaining or loosing time that can't be corrected by the regulator. In the case of loosing time, the spring can be shortened.  

If the spring is not broken, it still probably can be restored. I mean that people that are able to do it exist. But, most of the watchmakers will not do such thing.

[Kdhouck]

Thanks guys. Can someone please look up the number for the set that I need to look for on EBay?  The movement is 11 ANC. BTW, I will not be the one doing the repairs.  I want to get the part and take it to a jeweler friend who works on watches. 

[Kdhouck]

12 hours ago, AndyGSi said:

Welcome to the forum.

What experience have you got with watch repair?

None. I am looking for a professional to do it for me, as I have no experience 

[Klassiker]

If the last person to open the watch did that to the hairspring, who knows what else they mangled. I think you will struggle to find just a balance assembly for sale anyway, so a complete donor movement in good working order might be a better solution for you.

[AndyGSi]

3 hours ago, Kdhouck said:

Thanks guys. Can someone please look up the number for the set that I need to look for on EBay?  The movement is 11 ANC. BTW, I will not be the one doing the repairs.  I want to get the part and take it to a jeweler friend who works on watches. 

This is what you'll be looking for Part No. 54

https://www.ebay.com/itm/256468911894?ff3=2&toolid=10044&customid=&lgeo=1&vectorid=229508&item=256468911894&ufes_redirect=true

Or if you can get a good donor watch/movement from this list.

[GPrideaux]

A new balance complete can be had, but expect to pay a premium for new old stock. See https://www.ebay.com/itm/126113124621 for example. You can almost certainly find a donor movement to raid for parts for a fraction of that cost. See https://www.ebay.com/itm/126703367946 for example. (Most of the parts from an 11ANAC will be interchangeable with the 11ANC apart from parts associated with the the automatic winding works.) It's hard to know how good the donor movement is until you have it in your hands, though.

[Nucejoe]

 We first gathered that you were planning to personaly fix your watch. A professional watch maker though, is suppose to know how to build a balance complete out of this balance  and the right hairspring and is likely to have the luthey tool, although must say your effort to find flat raw hairspring of the right springness ( CGS No ) will likely be to no avail.

Your watch when fixed, if with NOS balance complete will run accurate on bench and wrist, with pro work can run as accurate, but not all who accept to fix your watch are knowlegable enough to fix it right.

Techincally !   new balance complete remains your best choice.

Rgds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CYCLOPS]

the part number is 54, a donor from one of the above mentioned movements would work....might be easier for your repairman to obtain the part...