I hinted yesterday at the fact that there are many ways a crystal can be attached to a watch so I thought I would run through them.
1. Many mineral glass crystals are held in place by epoxy. This is especially true when there is a thin metal border on the underside of the crystal like [...]
When installing new glass crystals sometimes they are held in by a gasket but other times they are held in place by a two part epoxy. The different methods for securing crystals is actually quite diverse. Seiko makes an adhesive specifically for securing crystals but really any two part epoxy will do, so long as [...]
An update to the what is it post. That tool, which I confess I did not know exactly what it was for, is a tool for cutting shoulders on pocket watch bows. Thank you Jon for informing me. Here is a close up shot of the cutters and a video of it [...]
What is it? We have here a tool from my workshop. On one side it has a large disc with small cutting tools on it. There is a pin to position the cutters. There is a handle to rotate the cutter. Only one cutter rotates at a time. On the back side [...]
Bergeon showed some new fancy tools for watchmakers at Basel this year. I haven’t had a chance to actually play with any of them, hopefully I’ll get the chance before too long. For now here is the catalog of new tools but don’t forget your pocket book, these tools don’t come cheap. Here [...]
When we moved shops about 9 months ago I found this little vial of brass tubes. At the time I didn’t know for what they were intended. I still don’t but I found a great use for them. They are a cylinder of brass with the end turned down to a smaller diameter. Each [...]
On occasion I hear someone ask why Rolex doesn’t use anti-reflective coating on their watch crystals. This Ladies Constellation is a good example why not. Click on the image to enlarge it and take a look. The haziness and scratches in the crystal are a result of ordinary wear to the anti-reflective [...]
I have never seen this tool in real life or in any modern catalog but it looks terribly useful. The rare time when I need to reset a roller jewel I have found it to be a somewhat awkward task. This tool appears to make it practical and easy. Click on the [...]
Following up on yesterday’s post I’ll make a quick note about the keyless works (winding and setting) of the ETA 2824 and 2892 movements. It is quite easy to dislodge the set lever and/or yoke when removing and/or inserting the winding stem. The barrel bridge has a slot in it which is meant [...]
I have been out of town for a few days and of course the work piled up while I was gone. I spent most of today estimating repairs.
One of the watches I dealt with today was a Maurice Lacroix automatic that I serviced one year ago. It had stopped working and when it [...]
