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Showing content with the highest reputation on 06/05/2019 in all areas

  1. mmm nailed it. 'Lazy runners'... I have seen a few movements that would run but with 'lazy' balance motion after a thorough c/o and this can sometimes be traced to a worn/bent balance staff and/or a dirty/damaged balance cap jewel. Example...I have a high mileage rlx 1570 that had lazy balance motion with dial up after c/o (good balance pivots) and it had a tiny divot in the center of the cap jewel where the back side pivot runs. The spot can not be removed and is almost impossible to see or feel with a needle but it is bad enough to bog the balance down. My guess is whoever owned the watch laid it down dial up every night for 20 or 30 years and this is what happened. The fix is a new cap jewel. Basically fool proof balance jewels c/o... Soak the cap and hole jewels in fast evaporating/low residue cleaner for 10 or 15 minutes or buzz them in an ultrasonic machine. After cleaning, rub the flat side of the cap jewel on a clean business card or something similar to remove any residue, then oil the flat side of the jewel with a drop about half as big as the jewel in the center. Next, place the hole jewel down over the cap jewel taking care to get it level and centered (capillary action will move oil to the hole jewel). If you miss the cap jewel and smear the oil drop, clean the jewels and try again. Note...sometimes rubbing the cap jewel on a card can remove some 'paper fuzz' from the paper to the cap jewel and it needs to be rinsed off and reoiled. I have used blue Rodico to remove the fuzz and this is Ok as long as the Rodico is clean and does not leave any trace on the jewel. Quickie Outlaw fixes: 'Old Timer' trick number one... Remove the balance assembly and pallet fork, then wind the watch a little bit and let it 'spin down' to sling trash, fly specks etc off the wheels and away from pivots. This is quick and dirty but probably Ok on an Asian '21 jewel' trader/beater movement. It can also sling oil away from pivots and overheat them if allowed to spin too fast or too long. 'Old Timer' trick number two... Apply a little Ronsonol lighter fluid to the pivots on old dirty movements, then crank 'em up and watch 'em go. Your choice on the lighter fluid brand but I always liked Ronsonol. 'Old Timer' trick number three...Heat the watch in the sun or put it close to a light bulb etc. This warms the dirty/gummy oil up and frees the wheel train...for a little while. Sell it in a hurry while it is still running. This is a favorite flea market trick...if you see a guy set up outside in the sun with a glass top show case full of watches, buyer beware. "It's a crazy crazy world when it comes to hairsprings. They can drive you insane! LOL" Imho hairsprings are the bane of the mechanical watch. That and $500 to $3000 'tune ups' every few years. Oh yeah, I forgot...no parts being sold by the swiss biggies. That alone should put them out of business as far as I am concerned. It's no wonder quartz watches rule the market by volume. My crystal ball shows many swiss watch companies going broke trying to keep their overpriced baubles relevant to buyers who do not really care. It happened to them once already and by a fluke of nature (gullibility?) and advertising they flushed their obsolete miniature mechanical malfunctions back out on the market again with greatly inflated prices during the 'look at me!' 1990s...with much success I might add. Times are mostly good again but the new inhabitants of the watch buying world do not give much of a %#(+ about mechanical watches.
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  3. A stunner albeit an expensive one. That dial is magic and the crystal case back is great
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  4. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
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