Leaderboard

I am no expert in watchmaking and have learnt most of what I know here on this forum! I was even able to service my first manual watch Fhf from what I learnt from you! Thank you! i began to use a product called epilame ( like episerf ) as mentioned here on several occasions to inhibit the smearing of oil on pallet stones! My question is what existed before epilame was used on pallet stones before applying the 9415.? Can we get away without it If we were just to apply the oil? Anyone done this and have you seen any significant disadvantages from doing this!? thanks again

"I'm wondering is if the parts that would convert a 3035 to a 3055 would also convert a 3135 to a 3155." In one word...No. Different base movements. Used to be back when the 3035 was King there were conversion kits to make DD out of them but back then OEM parts were also available. Many 3035 were scarfed from SS cases to be used in faux 18k DD cases and were converted to DD using aftmkt parts, genuine parts, or a combo of each. A friend had two of them and I must say the cases were near perfecto. The kits are still available but if you want one (or two), you better move fast, they will not last long: eBay item number: 203090420655 As for converting a 3135 to DD it would be an uphill run because of the rolex "No Parts For You" policy. I have not seen DD conversion kits for sale but they are probably out there somewhere. High gold prices have probably killed the faux 18k cases for now. Older slow set 15xx DD movements turn up now and then and I snagged a 1556 for $600 and probably could have got it for less if I had not offered $600 off the bat. I have an 18k Italy made aftmkt Prez case but it takes a custom 30mm dial and I can not find one. OEM crystals and bezels fit fine. It is heavy made (not hogged out inside) and iirc it weighs 39 grams. For comparison, I recently scrapped a vintage 'Banner' 32mm 14k screw back case and it weighed 10.5 grams. Most 34 to 36mm rolex cases go around 30 grams iirc, maybe a little more. They are hogged out around the inside edges and into the lugs to save every gram of gold.

I do not use it because I am too cheap to spend the $$ and can c/o a watch if the oil crawls away and the thing seizes up or catches on fire. Ha! If I was doing retail trade work (and getting paid!) I would probably use it to lessen the chance of comebacks. After 40 years working on this jonque mecanique, 'oil crawl' has not been much of a problem. I am extra careful cleaning and oiling balance cap/hole jewels and use 9415 on pallet stones and so far, so good. Before 9415 I used 941, 9010/20 etc. Watches did OK for 150+ years without it so maybe I can get by. Btw...I c/o (with new balance staff/MS/set bridge etc) an old no hack, high mileage/drowned/mistreated/blistered rlx 1575 and used 9010/20/9415 etc without epilame and it has been running over 24 hours with no flames, smoke, or heat. Ha! once more. Blistered = damage to plating from cleaning solutions...or epilame. Ha! (details in the omega forums link below) Epilame, Fix-O-Drop etc: One main problem...it is expen$ive. Imho it probably costs $15 or $20 a gallon to make. I do not know of course, but I do know how swatch/moebius prices their stuff. It might be like 'One Dip'. 'One Dip' is nothing more than 'tetrachlororoethylene' that was $1.49 for an 18oz can of 'Pronto' brake cleaner for years...until it became a 'hazardous substance' and then 'One Dip' went from $8 a pint to $35 or more plus hazmat shipping surcharges. It is the exact same thing dry cleaners have used for years...tetrachlororoethylene aka dry-cleaning fluid/PERC. (Imho) everything to do with watches is a Scam! of some sort...except Invicta of course. Disclaimer: I own a couple Invictas and like them...one 'hand cranker' from the 1950s and one with a VAL/ETA 7750. http://www.julesborel.com/products/tools-lubricating-fix-o-drop Another problem...it can cause corrosion. https://omegaforums.net/threads/basic-watchmaking-tips-oiling-part-4-the-escapement.87072/ http://watchmakingblog.com/2011/07/29/one-hazard-of-epilame/ https://mb.nawcc.org/threads/lubricant-fix-o-drop.301/