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Old 6 October 2019, 04:35 AM   #1
NDP3
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Does anyone service their own watches?

I’m intrigued by the idea of gaining the skills necessary to service my own watches, so I’m curious to see if anyone here does it. What level of expertise is required (repair training vs full watchmaking school)? Are there benefits aside from the obvious (saving money, greater understanding/appreciation for a watch)? What are the downsides?
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Old 6 October 2019, 04:48 AM   #2
imperio
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Hmm where would you get parts from?
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Old 6 October 2019, 05:05 AM   #3
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its more the skill of not f**king up and scratching or bending or breaking something that makes a good watchmaker. i think the skill of assembly is attainable. BUT the skill of not damaging parts is what is difficult. Also diagnosing problems can be tricky. you may replace or fix a part to learn something else is actually the issue
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Old 6 October 2019, 05:22 AM   #4
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I tackle My quartz watches and tinker with the cheapest ones but won’t touch any of My more expensive or complicated ones. I let the professionals do those. Get Yourself some cheap non runners and have a go and find out.
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Old 6 October 2019, 05:34 AM   #5
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I’m not aware of a “repair school” except after one achieves their initial watchmaking certificate.

In other words, repairing specific manufacturers and models. Each manufacturer runs these focused classes to certify a watchmaker can master unique aspects of the product line. For example, Omega’s Coaxial, Rolex’s 4130, etc...

If one had only one watch and could focus only on that model, I could see one learning the minimum required to replace an auto wind mechanism, or hands, or mainspring/barrel...

But that’s a long learning curve just to save a few bucks. I get the desire to achieve horological self-sufficiency though.


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Old 7 October 2019, 12:03 PM   #6
Rocketman39
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Anything can be done. However to me, this is like saying "Can I Launch my own Space Shuttle" ? As a guy who spent 18 years at Launch Pad 39A. Take a tip from me. "Don't try this at Home". My 5513 runs like a Swiss watch. No pun intended. In over 50 years I had my Old War Horse serviced three times. I have spent about $3000 on service. If you are a Flipper, Who is going to notice ? If you love your stuff and I Love my stuff. This amount is Dirt. I sleep good at night knowing if I had to sell one of my Rolex's I did the right thing. It ain't easy being me !
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Old 7 October 2019, 12:06 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mobster600 View Post
its more the skill of not f**king up and scratching or bending or breaking something that makes a good watchmaker. i think the skill of assembly is attainable. BUT the skill of not damaging parts is what is difficult. Also diagnosing problems can be tricky. you may replace or fix a part to learn something else is actually the issue
Apparently class doesn’t come into it?
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Old 8 October 2019, 12:18 PM   #8
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If you want to play watchmaker, buy some cheap ETA based watches and maybe take the TimeZone online class.

You don’t want to be taking your Rolex to the AD in a ziplock baggie....
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Old 8 October 2019, 12:37 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by donq View Post
If you want to play watchmaker, buy some cheap ETA based watches and maybe take the TimeZone online class.

You don’t want to be taking your Rolex to the AD in a ziplock baggie....
I tried tackling my grandfather's vintage fishing reel that I used as a kid. I opened it up and all these little springs and washers started to fall out. I threw it in a ziplock bag and found a guy online who restored it
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Old 8 October 2019, 10:45 PM   #10
mobster600
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Apparently class doesn’t come into it?
Funny that’s the only thing you picked up from my post....get a life. Why don’t you add value to the forum when you post.

Your 29,000 posts from what I see are 1 liners with 0 thought or substance....your name should be Ramen Noodles
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Old 8 October 2019, 10:55 PM   #11
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Funny that’s the only thing you picked up from my post....get a life. Why don’t you add value to the forum when you post.

Your 29,000 posts from what I see are 1 liners with 0 thought or substance....your name should be Ramen Noodles
Guy's got 29,000 posts and has been a member since 2006...seriously?
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Old 10 October 2019, 12:34 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by donq View Post
If you want to play watchmaker, buy some cheap ETA based watches and maybe take the TimeZone online class.

You don’t want to be taking your Rolex to the AD in a ziplock baggie....
That's definitely the fear! And a cheap ETA movement may be the way to go.

The idea was born from wanting to better understand how mechanical watches work, develop a greater appreciation for the various manufacturers and complications, gain the expertise to identify original/authentic movements, and then capitalize on that knowledge by acquiring watches more judiciously. I also imagined this knowledge would enable me to purchase vintage watches past the point of repair and salvage them for parts.

I'll readily admit this is an overly romanticized idea, but I was curious to see if anyone here does it.
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Old 10 October 2019, 05:52 PM   #13
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Hmm where would you get parts from?
....or some of the specialist tools that are required, paticularly with Rolex? I'm not sure that the benefits would really outweigh the risks?
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Old 10 October 2019, 06:11 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by mobster600 View Post
Funny that’s the only thing you picked up from my post....get a life. Why don’t you add value to the forum when you post.

Your 29,000 posts from what I see are 1 liners with 0 thought or substance....your name should be Ramen Noodles
You read 29k posts ? Obviously not or you wouldn’t have written this post
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Old 14 October 2019, 08:13 AM   #15
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That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen... just sayin
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Old 14 October 2019, 10:48 AM   #16
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I love to tinker and often end up with extra parts to things so I wouldnt attempt anything more than a battery change, and link adjustment. However, When I was at the patek exhibition, the watchmaker who was doing the demonstrations admitted to servicing his own rolex among other watches tho. These things are expensive, and there are people who get paid to service them properly. I am happy to part with that sum to get my watch working fine.
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Old 14 October 2019, 08:05 PM   #17
peterSS
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I'm also trying to service my watch.
I can disassemble, clean, reassemble many kinds of automatic watch movements.
But there are still a long way to go..
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Old 14 October 2019, 08:54 PM   #18
1675-David
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Originally Posted by mobster600 View Post
Funny that’s the only thing you picked up from my post....get a life. Why don’t you add value to the forum when you post.

Your 29,000 posts from what I see are 1 liners with 0 thought or substance....your name should be Ramen Noodles
why not just take the hint and avoid using the f-word instead of insulting a longstanding and respected member
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Old 14 October 2019, 09:16 PM   #19
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Mobster66 didn't write fucking. Did he ? Also regarding that member "lately " he's just posts one sentence Smart A.. comments to members. Does it matter if a member has 2 posts or 22000 ? Don't forget a member with only few posts might have years of knowledge but doesn't have much to say or doesn't chooses not to post much.


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