[Jewelry making - Article 01130] - Re: [Orchid] Watch Face Repair

[Ken Kotoski]

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Pam,

    First is the watch quartz or mechanical? 

    Second there is always either a detent (place to push to relase the
    stem) or a screw to loosen. 

    Third if you have opened the watch and don't know what you are doing
    you more than likely will damage the watch. It should be worked on by
    a watchmaker. 

    Damage can come in the form of your tools not being the right ones
    to be used or you putting too much pressure on the parts and not
    understanding the way the mechanism works. Or getting the movement
    dirty. 'Dirt' for a watch is fine dust that you can see only under
    magnification and larger particles. This dirt can only be cleaned
    using the proper equipment and solutions. 

    If cleaned it will need to be relubricated properly. 

    Watches are precision machines. 

    Your handling of the movement can easily break the pivot on the
    balance wheel or distort the balance wheel. You can also very easily
    destroy the hairspring just by blowing on it. 

    Unless you want to buy her a new movement or have to send it to a
    watchmaker for repair at your expense I would suggest you close it
    back up and tell her to get it repaired by a qualified person. 

    Watch repair is expensive for several reasons. Parts are expensive.
    The skill to work on the watches and the knowledge has come at a very
    high price to the watchmaker. 

    Your skills at jewelry making are not the same as for working on
    watches. Especially a ladies tiny watch. If you want to know how to
    fix watches I would recommend you contact Dan Gendron and take one of
    his classes. I will be happy to give his phone number out if you or
    anyone is interested. 

    The marker on the dial should be replaced by a dial company. Which
    means the dial needs to be refinished. Dial refinishing companies are
    not the easiest people to deal with. They don't seem to be able to
    read and follow the simplest of instructions. How they live from day
    to day is a mystery! 

    Also NEVER use super glue on a watch. 

    If you need any help with the watch let me know. I am an accredited
    horologist (watchmaker). 

Ken


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