I recently acquired a Hamilton Model 23 military chronograph pocket watch.  It was a non-runner stuck fully wound.  It had a broken pivot on the pallet fork, broken seconds pall and broken winding pinion.  I sourced the new parts, ran it through the L&R Master cleaner and re assembled the keyless, train and escapement. Thoroughly cleaned the upper and lower balance gem assemblys (confirming with microscope) After winding, I installed the balance and it did not start.  A tap with a tweezer did not help. It rotates a couple of time and stops. However, a large pu ..read more

I am working on an unidentified pocket watch movement believed to be Schild Freres circa 1895 (see my earlier post if you want to try to identify the calibre). It has a couple of problems with the centre wheel arbour. First of all, the arbour is loose and easily pushed out of the pinon. Secondly the arbour is slightly bent. Bearing in mind that I do not yet have a lathe or a staking set, what advice would you give me to fix this problem ..read more

Hi everyone, I've recently bought quite a bit of 0.18mm NOS seconds hands for Omega's, at close inspection, I think these are 0.15mm - I've attached a comparison shot, first 2 ones are the ones I bought, and the 3rd one is 100% 0.18mm used hand So my question is, if I buy a Bergeon 1896-H set, which is easily available, can I bore these 0.15 hands slowly by testing and boring and testing and boring to be 0.18mm? - or is there a better tool for the job? Regards and thanks in Advance, Kaan   ..read more

Hi, I am currently working on ETA movement which recommends to use Moebius 9104 HP 1300 for majority of the usual places where I would normally use D5 (if I am missing service sheet). Have you ever faced similar choice? Could someone be able to describe differences between these two?  I am trying to get some relevant info if buying HP 1300 is even worth it. Thanks ..read more

Eyup watch peeps. Thought a thread about random ideas and tips we have might be of interest. If i can kick one off with something i thought of last night while wrestling with a hairspring.  At 1 oclock in the morning trying to figure out a ridiculously low amplitude on a cheap swiss movement was testing my patience. Power was good with a nice escape wheel back spin, pivots on the lever looked good and the lever flicked nicely over once installed. A well shaped hairspring was put back on the marked up balance fitted to the cock and installed back into the movement.  Looking inside it ..read more

i am looking for any advice on how to safely removed the acrylic discs on a zodiac astrographic sst "mystery dial" watch....thanks ..read more

Hello everyone! I am currently at a loss for a place to source jewels for a main plate I am currently working on. I've removed the jewel intact and was able to acquire the correct measurements using a JKA Feintaster micrometer.  Outside diameter is 0.99 so jewel size would be 1.00 mm Inside diameter is 0.12 mm (actual) so a 0.14 mm jewel is required. I measured the pivot associated with this measurement.  I've tried the following: Cousins UK, Jules Borel, Otto Frei, Daves watch parts, Esslinger, and Twin City Supply.   Any sources would be appreciated.    As always tha ..read more

Hi! I am having problems resetting the chronograph after servicing my IWC porsche design. This is far from my first rodeo on the 7750 and I consider myself quite competent with it.  The problem lies in the reset operating lever. The pusher stem pushes too low on the reset lever and instead of resetting the chronograph it just flexes inwards. If I use pegwood or a movement holder, it resets correctly because it pushes higher up on the operating lever.  I was thinking I should either bend the operating lever slightly outwards so it would hopefully overcome the flexing or loosen th ..read more

Hi everyone  it's been a while  I have a problem with back lash on seconds hand let me explain Second hand moves OK but twice a minute it seems to momentarily stops then trys to go backwards and then continues movement has been cleaned have re_secured impulse pin but every thing looks OK  Please  has anyone got thoughts of what this maybe  thanks ..read more

Guys I'm after a new crystal for an old astral wrist watch, I've had a hunt through the sternkreuz catalogue but haven't seen a replacement ( might be the wood for the trees syndrome creeping in) . Anyway it's an acrylic crystal but with an inner lip, I think the photo will explain it better, so any pointers on where I should be looking would be great, cheers guys ..read more