Thread: What types of watches do you like?

To properly clean a watch you have to totally disassemble the mvmt and clean it and dry it and remove the mainspring from the barrel and either replace it or clean and regrease. You need a variety of specialized tools and a very good loupe or magnifier. best advice is buy a junk non working pocket watch on eboy and practice on that before you go near a "real" watch. Then the watch has to be timed and regulated. Seals have to be replaced and probably the xtl. jewels have to be removed and re lubed. There are tools for all these things. You can jury-rig a lot of it but unless you are really good with your hands I wouldn't attempt it.

It all seems straight forward but a lot can go wrong.

I suppose if you wanted to learn about watches the kit is interesting however that's not what is going on. The price they are charging is the same as loads of independent guys charge for a complete watch with upgraded mvmt and straps. You are simply putting together the pieces they receive from Asia so they don't have to pay someone to do it. You aren't putting together the mvmt so you aren't a watchmaker.

I guess everyone has a gimmick to make a quick buck.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I suppose if you wanted to learn about watches the kit is interesting however that's not what is going on. The price they are charging is the same as loads of independent guys charge for a complete watch with upgraded mvmt and straps. You are simply putting together the pieces they receive from Asia so they don't have to pay someone to do it. You aren't putting together the mvmt so you aren't a watchmaker.

I guess everyone has a gimmick to make a quick buck.

Dude, you stating the obvious for all the stupid people or something? People can actually look at the price for the kit, and say, "Gee, I could assemble this watch which would be fun, or I could buy 10 other cheap watches, 2 not bad watches, or one half decent watch, what a conundrum, what should I do????" Clutches pearls....

I'm fully aware that I could probably buy two watches from other watchmaker's fully assembled, have one, already built, from Cigadesigns on the way.

Think a bit, don't need the obvious stated nor do I need anyone to tell me to bring an umbrella when it's raining...

Originally Posted by 32t

I like the idea of the watch kits but have an issue with the word build.

I don't think you are building the watch but asembling it. Sort of the thing that has kept me from building my own fishing pole.
There is the idea of assembling a combination 9 ft fly rod with a spinning reel seat.....

I am thinking of assembling rocket kits with my grandson. That would be a good start.

One time in junior high I built a rocket out of a toilet paper tube with a rolled paper nose cone and then using crepe paper for the recovery. The rest didn't think it would fly but it did!

Maybe a difference in symantics but my thoughts.

Tim

Thanks, that never occurred to me that I was not fully assembling the watch completely - appreciate you clearing that up for me.....sheesh.

HAR!......U tellum, Phrank!...............

I have enough trouble reading the ingredients list on soup cans and I drop hand-sized tools and regular sized parts all the time. I can’t imagine managing the tiny parts that go into the innards of a watch and the fine tools required to set them in place.

I’d love to be a fly on the wall as you work through the process.

Ahh phrank. I do miss your banter, candor, and wit.
Well said my good sir.

I too look forward to the rebuild and have some tools if you need to borrow em.

'Clutches pearls'!

I thought about doing this once. I have an old pocket watch that isn't worth much. It had been overwound. I read on youtube how to fix the overwound issue. Opened it up snd managed to get the spring unwound. Then it didn't work so I read about fixing/servicing. I'm happy I didn't have small enough tools as those parts are just too tiny for me.

Originally Posted by Phrank

Dude, you stating the obvious for all the stupid people or something? People can actually look at the price for the kit, and say, "Gee, I could assemble this watch which would be fun, or I could buy 10 other cheap watches, 2 not bad watches, or one half decent watch, what a conundrum, what should I do????" Clutches pearls....

I'm fully aware that I could probably buy two watches from other watchmaker's fully assembled, have one, already built, from Cigadesigns on the way.

Think a bit, don't need the obvious stated nor do I need anyone to tell me to bring an umbrella when it's raining...

Chill out guy. If you want to assemble the watch that's your business. I wasn't attacking you.

Yes I was stating the obvious just that to many it may not be obvious and they might think they are getting a steal of deal and are learning something at the same time.