Breaking stuff
I've had this cheap pocket watch in a drawer for about 10 years. I'm going to take it apart and hopefully put it back together. Oh and preferably working again.
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Ryan
Father and husband above all else. The rest of my life is filled with watches, guitars, and a passion for mechanical things.
Illinois, USA
Member since
Last active: 7 hrs ago
7.75”
/
19.69 cm
Are you a seasoned or new “watchmaker”? I’m asking because I’d love to mess around but have 0 tools. What is the cost of entry into this fun little hobby and what would be a good starter set of tools?
Are you a seasoned or new “watchmaker”? I’m asking because I’d love to mess around but have 0 tools. What is the cost of entry into this fun little hobby and what would be a good starter set of tools?
This is my first attempt at anything beyond a strap or battery change. I bought about $30 worth of tools on Amazon and I'm just hoping for the best. My inspiration came from Wristwatch Revival on YouTube. If you watch enough of his videos you will figure out what you need and get a basic understanding of what's going on with a movement.
That pocket watch has the Chinese Standard Movement (Tongji) in it. It's essentially a copy of the Enicar AR1010, a rather decent Swiss movement. These Chinese movements are quite easy to work on and are good bang for the buck. Like I said before, they're essentially vintage Swiss movements. I've tinkered with one before...
Yeah... That's acrylic paint. I was very bored. I needs a few touch-ups here and there.
That pocket watch has the Chinese Standard Movement (Tongji) in it. It's essentially a copy of the Enicar AR1010, a rather decent Swiss movement. These Chinese movements are quite easy to work on and are good bang for the buck. Like I said before, they're essentially vintage Swiss movements. I've tinkered with one before...
Yeah... That's acrylic paint. I was very bored. I needs a few touch-ups here and there.
I was hoping someone knew what movement this was. Thank you for the info! 🍻
Take photos as you remove each part and keep the screws relevant to each part together with those parts. Just follow your photos in reverse when reassembling.
Don't forget to let any power out of the mainspring. This video might help...
https://youtu.be/7rGWiTpD1_0?si=7FLfKq2LcYDO8naa
It's a similar process with a wrist watch. You can either let the crown unwind slowly between your fingers or use a screwdriver to control it on the ratchet wheel screw itself.
Good luck with it. Looking forward to see how it all ends.
This is my first attempt at anything beyond a strap or battery change. I bought about $30 worth of tools on Amazon and I'm just hoping for the best. My inspiration came from Wristwatch Revival on YouTube. If you watch enough of his videos you will figure out what you need and get a basic understanding of what's going on with a movement.
Same way I got into tinkering!
Take photos as you remove each part and keep the screws relevant to each part together with those parts. Just follow your photos in reverse when reassembling.
Don't forget to let any power out of the mainspring. This video might help...
https://youtu.be/7rGWiTpD1_0?si=7FLfKq2LcYDO8naa
It's a similar process with a wrist watch. You can either let the crown unwind slowly between your fingers or use a screwdriver to control it on the ratchet wheel screw itself.
Good advice! Thank you. Everything was going very smooth when I was putting it back together and then I broke a screw. Oh well, I figured I would break something.
Good luck with it. Looking forward to see how it all ends.
I ended up breaking a screw when I was putting it back together. I'll make an update post soon.
Record the process so you can watch it back during assembly. Work at chin level as ite easier on the eyes and back. Rodico or sticky-tack is easier to place parts with them tweezers or you ping the screws to Narnia.
Record the process so you can watch it back during assembly. Work at chin level as ite easier on the eyes and back. Rodico or sticky-tack is easier to place parts with them tweezers or you ping the screws to Narnia.
Great advice! Thank you.