RWG Technical

I can certainly state the the "Ziggy Zone" is probably mislabeled, if I count the number of PM's I get asking tech or review questions, only for me to respond "Have a look at my subforum, and you will find the answers..." If you also look at the "hits" you can see for the most part, it's completely ignored, so what is the point of having good technical data, how-to's, movement reviews, general info, etc, if no one can find it, or know it exists... Maybe re-naming it from my board name, to what it actually contains, would help identify this to the new members? "Technical info, How-To, Movement reviews etc..." section... I dont' know, there must be a short title that would be descriptive for something like this. RG

I will have a look at my movement supply list and see if a 7754 is listed...and if it is, I will let you know the price. RG

When installing the stem, you insert it until it won't go in any further, then and only then, do you press on the stem release to get the stem to lock in place. You press on the stem release and push on the crown towards the case and it should click into position and lock. RG

The ETA 7754 is a GMT model...so you could probably get the 7754 parts, and install them onto a basic 7750 and turn it into a GMT model. It would probably be very expensive and difficult to do as who knows if 7754 parts are available. Easier to buy a 7754 if it's available. RG

No center seconds on this model, you can tell by the gear design... RG

Ok, I hope it works out for you. RG

It appears to be a good quality movement from the pics, but who makes it, and what exactly it is, I can't say... If you look under the balance with a loupe, you should be able to see a hallmark and maybe some numbers?? The movement would appear to be from the early 1900's from the look of the balance and jewels. RG

I have one as well, love it... BUT, you may want to check and maybe glue the HE valve...mine fell off and is gone...first time I ever lost a watch part... RG

Great job, really well done, I can't see anything wrong with anything...congrats, your no longer a virgin... Keep it up. Nice watch by the way. RG

Hi Frank, I have serviced many of the new ones and these are not a bad movement. Actually they are very good, they can have a few minor issues, but nothing like the modified running seconds at 6 models have... So yes, I would recommend any 7750 that does not have the running seconds at 6. The pushers and crown normally have all the orings in place, and you can't add anymore. All that can be done, is to inspect and lubricate the existing orings, but I still would not swim with it... RG

The attention to detail, and the quality of the parts, and the engineering that went into reducing stress and friction to the absolute minimum, that is what sets this movement apart from any others I have worked on… The quality of the parts is exceptional, as good or better than any Rolex. The design is amazing. Why I say this is because this is a 25+ year old movement. Did you notice the lack of something in all the pictures??? There is no brassing anywhere, brassing is when the plated metal wears off, and you can see the “Brass” underneath it. This happens as a result of parts wearing on others or scraping on others. I have never seen any Rolex, that does not have brassing due to the rotor turning, or brassing under the mainspring gear, etc…so that is one point that really stands out. They also went to extreme lengths to reduce the friction to a minimum, even the 30 minute click is an actual arm, pivoted on jewels, and has a very fine spring to hold it against the 30 minute wheel, same for the 30 minute transfer gear, it’s pivoted on jewels. On most movements these clicks are simple springs pressing against the gears. Putting jewels on rotating parts is standard, putting jewels on levers or arms that only move a fraction of a mm is unheard of in my experience. A 7750 is a rugged mass produced movement designed to do what it does with the minimal of engineering, and using the cheapest parts and components available. This El Primero is a Formula 1 car by comparison, the best possible parts and components designed to be efficient and have the least amount of friction. If a 7750 sells for $300, then this model, should cost at least $2000 if you considered the design and engineering alone… Never seen the 4130 and probably never will…I am sure it’s a well made movement, but I doubt that it would have anywhere near the attention to detail or design of the El Primero…maybe Randy will buy one for me to teardown… Thanks for the questions. RG

Impossible on a combustion engine, the blow by gasses and deposits from the gasoline etc, all contribute and contaminate the oil, maybe with some of the new synthetic oils, or maybe if the thing burns oil like mad, and your adding a quart every 500 miles... After 10k or more, the oil filter would be in bypass and not even working... 300,000 miles on a jet turbine engine - yes, an internal combusiton engine - no... Watch servicing has been around for 100 or more years, if servicing was a scam, I would like to think that someone, anyone, out there would have informed the masses, and all the watchmakers would be out of work years ago... As it stands, the quartz industry almost put the watchmakers out of business, but there is and continues to be a growning demand for skilled watchmakers. The oils I use, except for one, are vegetable based, and they dry out and fail over time, about 5 years on average. After this, the oil is not doing anything, and becomes thick, sticky, and useless... Servicing the watch is mostly about cleaning it up, and restoring the oil and greases. I see many vintage watches, and those that have not been serviced regularly are damaged as a result, brassing of parts, parts that break on removal or are worn out beyond repair, and finding parts is close to impossible for some models, paying the cost for replacement parts, if you can find them, is another issue... So yes, a movement can indeed crap out and fail due to lack of service. When will this happen? I have no idea... Those that brag "I have had this watch for 25 years, and NEVER serviced it..." remind me of my youngest son, after a visit to the dentist late one summer... He came out smiling and happy as a clam "Good checkup?" I asked, "Yes, not one cavity, and I DIDN'T brush my teeth ALL summer..." YEACH...not something to be proud of... If it's a keeper, waiting for it to fail before servicing it, is like changing the oil when the engine seizes up...not a good idea... If it's considered a disposable watch, for whatever reason, keep your money for the new and better replica if and when it fails...and then send the scrapped one to me please... RG

Difficult topic, especially from my vantage point... For those that are "Disposing" of your watches, plse let me know and I will gladly pay for postage and packaging to have them sent my way... As already suggested, learning to service a basic automatic movement is not that difficult, the TZ course is very good, and heck, you even get good quality tools... So for $600 or so in lessons and tooling, you can set up shop, and do all your own...sounds like a good way to spend the cold winters nights... If we were collecting genuine ones, think of the capital cost of the watches, and then add up the cost for any AD to service one of them, and the waiting times... All things considered, I think, no I know, we have it really good with our watches, and the cost and turn time to have them looked at (for those that choose this route). RG

Excellent analysis - as always... I also think that the original poster did have a run of bad luck, if I compare it to what I have gotten, I never had anything but minor minor issues. Unrealisticly high expectations can lead to disapointement, as well as unrealistic expectations if trying to "mod" your watch to be 100% genuine in all aspects when viewed under a microscope...these are reps after all...nothing more... RG

The mainspring barrel is no larger than similar ones, and the spring can only be so thin and you can only get so much of it wound up in the barrel... Since I did not take the old spring out (not willing to as the barrel is sealed and marked "DO NOT OPEN") I can't say if it's longer or not. I suspect that it's no longer than say the mainspring on a 2836 or on a 7750... I think the answer lies in the gearing... A normal escape wheel has 15 teeth, 2 swings are required on the balance to release one tooth. This escape wheel has 21 teeth, so at 10 beats per seconds, and two swings per tooth, 5 teeth are released on the escape wheel each second, and a full rotation takes 4.2 seconds to complete. On a 2836, with a 15 tooth escape at 8 beats per second, we release 4 teeth every second, and the escape does a full rotation each 3.75 seconds. I am not 100% sure on the above analysis, as I dont' have my watchmaking books in front of me, but short of counting the teeth in the gears, I think that the answer is the number of teeth in the escape wheel and the rest of the gear train. The 21 teeth are there for a reason, probably to allow a longer running time. Same calculation with a 10 beat per second on a 15 teeth escape, and the numbers go to: 3 seconds per rotation of the escape wheel...that may be the answer...or I could be way off... RG

How does 50 + Hours of power reserve sound...it ran for about 52 hours following the service. RG

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I was checking the 5508 prices, and came accross this beauty... Not only was it "redialed", but check out that lume job, colour and application is amazingly awful. If 80% of the value is in the dial, this one is a bit over priced. Really bad redial link. RG

If the customs form says that the watch was repaired, then provide customs with a "repair" receipt for the work that was done in the US... and your problem is solved...since you had it repaired, it stands to reason that you shipped it to the US for this repair...and you already own the watch. If the watch was not actually "repaired", then you have a problem... RG

Beautiful workmanship, congrats on such a nice watch, and the fact it was all done by you, excellent. Nice pictures as well... RG

Glad you like the results, great pics... RG

Your fine, as are the dozens of others waiting for parts or special mods or whatever... It's only the ones that are finished, and the bill is still outstanding. So far one is paid off, so we'll see what happens next, this is the second time this has happened...not a big deal, I just dont' like to have stuff pending once I finish my part. RG

That about sums it up, also dont' reset between anywhere but 10 and 2, otherwise you risk it slipping... Removal, and gluing it down is the fix. RG

Seeing double vision... If the stem is catching, you can easily fix it... Loosen the clamp screws, and make sure the crown in pushed all the way in, this seats it correctly in the case, then tighten the case clamp screws. Unlikely you would ever bend that stem, they are hardened, and break, not bend... If you can get the back off, should be an easy fix. RG

Capabilities list updated January 1, 2007 Please note that I have updated my capabilities list as of Jan 1st 2007, the web page (www.ziggyinfo.com) contains the new information. No big changes, my cost for Rolex crowns and tubes has almost doubled, so I had to increase my fee. Otherwise, it’s mostly text cleaning up, and amalgamation of Super -Luminova services, since it was getting too difficult trying to slot different dial types into a certain price range. So now I have two prices - lume alone, or with work - same price no matter the type of dial or type of lume. The rest is the same as before. The new prices will take effect in February, and not affect those with January appointments. Please replace your old list with this new one. Thank you to all my customers in 2006, and I look forward to a fun and exciting 2007 with everyone. And a special THANK YOU to phoband for all his help, so much appreciated. RG