Tuesday, June 30, 2015




This is the polisher kit that I received from Rio Grande Supply a little over two weeks ago. It was $22.50 plus postage, which I think was a good deal. It came with fifty 2.0 mm. craytex sticks, from coarse to fine. The holder is only 2 inches long, but I have some ideas how I will use it in a small jig I would like to build. Below you can see the holder and the packages of sticks. I intend to use this for perlage work on the movement. Thanks for stopping by!........................gf











Sunday, June 28, 2015

What I am doing................

I have not done any more work on the watch for the moment as I am trying to tidy up unfinished work in my shop. Once these little matters are finished up, I plan to devote more time to this watch, and get something done with it.

I had stopped in Livingston, MT this past fall and visited with Jeffrey Nashun, owner of Montana Watch Company ( http://www.montanawatch.com ) on his techniques for doing perlage and cote de geneve work for watch movements. He was very helpful and informative, and took some of the mystique away for me, giving some helpful hints, and showing me where he got his tool for doing that work. After the purchase of this watch, I ordered some 2 mm. abrasive sticks and a holder from Rio Grande Jewelry Supply out of Albuquerque, NM, and will be using it for my watch. I'll try including some pics of that tool later today.   gf

Sunday, June 7, 2015

A Quick Assessment During and After Teardown

The gong rods were easily moveable, and not at all what they should be. I spoke at length with a watchmaker I've gotten to know, and he told me what they should be, i.e., glass hard, highly polished and touching nothing else in the movement. Where the rods join their respective block, it looks like someone soldered them in, not good, but I believe they are salvageable. Right now they just 'thunk' when struck by the hammers.

Mainspring barrel has a broken spring, not a problem to replace I think.

Balance has a wobble to it, not sure yet if it is due to a bent pivot or in the wheel itself. Will be looked at soon again.

Almost negligible wear anywhere on the wheels and their shafts. I am confident a run through the ultrasonic cleaner and smooth broaching of the brass pivot holes will be fine. No broken or cracked jewels.

All springs are good, none broken.

The fine-toothed chronograph wheel that runs the hand is in excellent shape, no broken or damaged teeth; that goes as well for the rest of the wheels.

Some things I would like to do when I get ready to re-assemble it.

Perlage on the main plates; high polishing, if not black polishing of the flat springs and flat steel surfaces within the movement.

Possible replacement of the balance wheel, with a Breuget overcoil and adjusting for more positions.

The case will be made of flat brass bar stock. The back of the movement will be visible to view internal workings of the chronograph mechanism and the balance wheel. Front and rear bezels will most likely screw on for access.

Winding stem will be shortened, not sure how much yet.

That's some of my ideas, we will see how it all will go when I get closer to doing the work. Thanks for reading!...............................gfields