Well…. We are about to go waaaayyyy down a rabbit hole!

Doing the Seiko modifications, or even starting with a bare case and movement was starting to feel a lot like “building” an AR. Not that there’s anything wrong with that! But really, it’s more like “assembling from components” than “building” or “making” if that makes sense?

So, hey. Why not go all in and get to capital B building a watch?



So they say, start with a pocket watch, since they are bigger, and you can find non working movements cheap…. Sounds sensible. If the word “sensible” is even remotely applicable when used in the context of me doing intricate, delicate, teeny tiny work requiring tons of patience.

A little bit of eBay time, and then waiting on the USPS, and I got me my first victi… I mean candidate for treatment. A Gruen Veri Thin pocket watch.

I might not be able to fix it, but I will probably be satisfied if I get it all the way apart, cleaned and back together with no more than one or two extra parts left over.

Bill R

Got it!

At least all the way apart. Minus one extra super tiny screw I don’t have a screwdriver to fit. Holding on a bit of metal that does…. Something. Or other.



But, found a kink in the mainspring that I think might have been a problem. Cleaning everything up now, we will see what happens when I get a few hours to try getting it back together.

Absolutely amazing the sheer scale of things on this. Screws almost not visible without magnification, I did everything under 10X and felt I needed more.

Bill R

Be careful when you clean the parts. Don't use a solvent or the pallet fork jewels will come off.

All these parts should have been put in a basket so you won't have one fly off into oblivion.

That balance really should be on a balance stand.

stylophiles, Excellent work!!! That is impressive. Do you think the main spring can be repaired or replaced?

quote:

Originally posted by stylophiles:
Got it!

At least all the way apart. Minus one extra super tiny screw I don’t have a screwdriver to fit. Holding on a bit of metal that does…. Something. Or other.

But, found a kink in the mainspring that I think might have been a problem. Cleaning everything up now, we will see what happens when I get a few hours to try getting it back together.

Absolutely amazing the sheer scale of things on this. Screws almost not visible without magnification, I did everything under 10X and felt I needed more.

Bill R

Most Gruen movements have the caliber number stamped on the pillar plate. Get that and let me know, I can look it up for you and give you a mainspring selection. Also, be very careful with the click spring which goes under the ratchet wheel. Gruen cuts a very shallow "groove " for it and it loves to launch.

Good Luck.

RMD

I would walk five hundred miles.

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
Be careful when you clean the parts. Don't use a solvent or the pallet fork jewels will come off.

All these parts should have been put in a basket so you won't have one fly off into oblivion.

That balance really should be on a balance stand.

I actually have all the parts in a numbered tray with a cover, this was just for the photo!

Funny you mention the pallet fork jewels, one of the videos I was watching made mention of the fact that shellac is used to secure them in place. Got a lot of experience with shellac doing vintage fountain pen repairs, and for some reason I never really thought about just how many other things it must have been used for back then.

Didn’t even think about a balance stand, since I’m not sure just how into this I will be getting, but it looks like they are pretty cheap, so… might as well hit up amazon or eBay!

Bill R

quote:

Originally posted by rduckwor:

Most Gruen movements have the caliber number stamped on the pillar plate. Get that and let me know, I can look it up for you and give you a mainspring selection. Also, be very careful with the click spring which goes under the ratchet wheel. Gruen cuts a very shallow "groove " for it and it loves to launch.

Good Luck.

RMD

I got lucky, no launches during the process, and the only thing dropped was the center wheel, which went down into the movement holder when I pulled off the cannon pinion from the other side.

Thanks, I will let you know about the mainspring, since I am really just using this for disassembly/assembly practice I might not worry about buying parts. It came without a case, hands, or the inset seconds dial, so it would be a long road to actually restore it to use.

Bill R

Marzy that is BEAUTIFUL!! What year was it made?

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
I would walk five hundred miles.

And you'd be able to figure out how fast you were moving
Nice Chrono!

Mars, between you and your brother, you definitely have a pension for finding some odd ball stuff!

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
Marzy that is BEAUTIFUL!! What year was it made?

It's a 1974. I traded SC for it.

That is a great score man! I love the looks of that watch!!

I’ve been INCREDIBLY tempted to scoop up a gold/yellowish dial version but I haven’t found a nice clean example from a seller I trust at a fair price just yet.

That one is most certainly on my radar for future Seiko acquisitions.

I wish Seiko would do a vintage reissue of your watch. That would be a hell of a hit with Seiko fans.

Yeah….thats the one

VERY NICE!!!!

That dial. It isn’t quite gold (not like any gold dials they make currently) but it isn’t orange either. What a dial! Blows my mind Seiko hasn’t brought back a reissue yet.

Nice Pogue SC, another great space watch.

Can anyone identify the watch Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix Championship winning Racer (retired) Casey Stoner is wearing in this pic?

I was thinking Seamaster due to the crowns at 3 and 10 o’clock but it doesn’t appear to have a rotating bezel.

Can you identify it?

I can’t figure out what it is…

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
Can anyone identify the watch Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix Championship winning Racer (retired) Casey Stoner is wearing in this pic?

I was thinking Seamaster due to the crowns at 3 and 10 o’clock but it doesn’t appear to have a rotating bezel.

Definitely not a Seamaster. The image isn't of high enough resolution for me to see what it is, but I know he was worn several Tissot watches over the years. Maybe it's one of those.

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
Can anyone identify the watch Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix Championship winning Racer (retired) Casey Stoner is wearing in this pic?

I was thinking Seamaster due to the crowns at 3 and 10 o’clock but it doesn’t appear to have a rotating bezel.

Can you identify it?

I can’t figure out what it is…

Hard to say from that image... here's another shot of him, that could be before he retired, wearing what looks like a Panerai Luminor to me.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Tooky13,

This watch is so damn comfy. It’s easy on the eyes too.

The LHD might be my favorite watch(depending on my mood) but it’s in a close fight with the Pelagos blue.

I love this watch. I can’t wait to take it to Greece next year. (It’s named after a Greek Island)

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
This watch is so damn comfy. It’s easy on the eyes too.

The LHD might be my favorite watch(depending on my mood) but it’s in a close fight with the Pelagos blue.

I love this watch. I can’t wait to take it to Greece next year. (It’s named after a Greek Island)

Great choice! Next week I'll going on a long-range saltwater fishing trip and my Tudor Pelagos FXD MN21 will be accompanying me. This is it with my present favorite strap. Another thing I like about these Tudors is their great lumes!