Watchfix course level 4 - any update?

[Bill2024]

I have just completed level 3 of the Watchfix course and was looking to move on to level 4, which says it will feature movements with automatic winding and calendar complications. This seems to have been in development for 2-3 years and has been showing as 84% complete on the course page for many months. Does anyone know when/if this will become available?

I have various practice projects lined up after working with the st3620 for few months now. Basically I have a "standard" movement with no complications; some with a date complication. and one with auto winding and date. What I'm looking for is some information to get me started which is why I thought the level 4 course was the place to start. But...

Can anyone recommend any resources to start learning about movements with basic complications? I'm not ready for chronographs yet!

Thanks, Bill

[Knebo]

Hi @Bill2024, 

Everyone has a different approach to learning, some read, some take courses or watch videos, some just try it out. 

Personally, I'd just take one of your less expensive projects - maybe with just one of the two complications. And give it a go. 

That is if you feel comfortable with the basic manual wind movements. Especially date complications are often not so difficult (especially when they're without a quick-set). 

Post your project/calibre and ask your questions in a new thread. I'm sure you'll get all the info you need.

 

 

PS: there was some uproar recently in another thread about Mark's absence and not reacting to messages. Probably don't expect that course to come out anytime soon. 

Edited February 16 by Knebo

[Bill2024]

1 hour ago, Knebo said:

Hi @Bill2024, 

Everyone has a different approach to learning, some read, some take courses or watch videos, some just try it out. 

Personally, I'd just take one of your less expensive projects - maybe with just one of the two complications. And give it a go. 

That is if you feel comfortable with the basic manual wind movements. Especially date complications are often not so difficult (especially when they're without a quick-set). 

Post your project/calibre and ask your questions in a new thread. I'm sure you'll get all the info you need.

 

 

PS: there was some uproar recently in another thread about Mark's absence and not reacting to messages. Probably don't expect that course to come out anytime soon. 

Thanks @Knebo, that’s good advice.

My current project (first actually) is a basic mechanical wind with no date complication but with a centre seconds hand - different to the ST3620 but similar enough for me to work on. I’ve disassembled / assembled it a couple of times and am waiting for my cleaning supplies to arrive.

My next project will then be an old cheap Rotary with a date but no quick set functionality.

I like to have some idea what I’m doing before jumping in to working on anything so I’ll look around for resources on date complications on movements.  

It’s a pity about the level 4 course but, like you say, I had a feeling that it was not coming any time soon. 

[Knebo]

10 hours ago, Bill2024 said:

old cheap Rotary with a date but no quick set functionality

which calibre? have you lloked for any YT videos or walk-throughs on WRT for that calibre?

While there are always similarities between date complications, they can also be quite different. 

[Bill2024]

1 hour ago, Knebo said:

which calibre? have you lloked for any YT videos or walk-throughs on WRT for that calibre?

While there are always similarities between date complications, they can also be quite different. 

The movement is an AS 1901 with non-quick set date and centre seconds

It runs but the hands will not keep time, although they can be set with the crown in the first position. The hands move extremely easily when using the crown.

My limited diagnostic skills tell me this might be a loose cannon pinion? It was cheap because it was advertised as a non-runner .

[Knebo]

1 hour ago, Bill2024 said:

It runs but the hands will not keep time, although they can be set with the crown in the first position. The hands move extremely easily when using the crown.

My limited diagnostic skills tell me this might be a loose cannon pinion? It was cheap because it was advertised as a non-runner .

Yes, sounds very much like a loose cannon pinion! Relatively easy to fix (or to replace).

You may not have seen it, but he base calibre (without date) has a full service video in several parts by Mark:

 

After that, it's useful to look at Ranfft's page. You'll find out that there are many related calibres that share the same movement architecture (just with different beat rates and complications -- i.e. with our without automatic, with day, day-date etc):

https://ranfft.org/caliber/877-AS-1901

 

When you start looking for these other calibres on YT, you find quite a few! 

here are a few examples I found for you. The date complication should be the same as yours -- even if they also add a day and/or automatic module. 

 

 

 

 

[Bill2024]

@Knebo That's really interesting and useful. Thanks very much.

I'll definitely take a look to get some idea of what I'm letting myself in for!