Hour markers fell off - is this repairable?

Hour markers fell off - is this repairable?

Author
Discussion

oldbanger

Original Poster:

4,316 posts

237 months

Tuesday 28th October 2014
quotequote all
I have just dropped my favourite watch and the metal hour markers are now detached and rattling around inside the case. It appears to still work (so far). Am I likely to be able to get this repaired? Gutted.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 28th October 2014
quotequote all
oldbanger said:
I have just dropped my favourite watch and the metal hour markers are now detached and rattling around inside the case. It appears to still work (so far). Am I likely to be able to get this repaired? Gutted.
Definitely.

Depends on the value of the watch/your attachment to it, but at least someone could open it up and throw the errant bits away.

It may start getting pricey to do an "as new" refurb.

oldbanger

Original Poster:

4,316 posts

237 months

Tuesday 28th October 2014
quotequote all
Thanks, I'll look for a repair shop when I get back. It would be great to get a full repair but it's not that valuable.

marcosgt

11,011 posts

175 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
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All of them? Which watch is it?

Anyway, chances are it is repairable. If it's a fairly cheap watch a bit of superglue will probably do the trick, if a more expensive one, it'll need something a little more careful and time-consuming (read expensive!) to do the job properly.

M.

Tanguero

4,535 posts

200 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
quotequote all
marcosgt said:
All of them? Which watch is it?

Anyway, chances are it is repairable. If it's a fairly cheap watch a bit of superglue will probably do the trick, if a more expensive one, it'll need something a little more careful and time-consuming (read expensive!) to do the job properly.

M.
Do not ever use superglue inside a watch - even a cheap one. The vapour will leave a white deposit inside the crystal and ruin it.

oldbanger

Original Poster:

4,316 posts

237 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
quotequote all
Yes, all of them!

It's a French Connection stainless steel watch, so not worth a massive amount, but I was very fond of it.

R6VED

1,365 posts

139 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
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Hmm I wouldn't bother unless you really cant bear to let it go, I would assume that even a basic repair will far outweigh the value of the watch.

As said do not use superglue for the reason mentioned.

Variomatic

2,392 posts

160 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
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They're easy enough to do - it's probably one of the most common "part" jobs I get sent by one of my trade jewellers. The trouble is, unless it's in a batch of several, the 2-way postage would probably be more than the job itself!

Spice_Weasel

2,286 posts

252 months

Friday 31st October 2014
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RMSD should be £5 ish each way plus whatever Variomatic will charge for repair. Should still be a reasonable total cost.


marcosgt

11,011 posts

175 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
Tanguero said:
marcosgt said:
All of them? Which watch is it?

Anyway, chances are it is repairable. If it's a fairly cheap watch a bit of superglue will probably do the trick, if a more expensive one, it'll need something a little more careful and time-consuming (read expensive!) to do the job properly.

M.
Do not ever use superglue inside a watch - even a cheap one. The vapour will leave a white deposit inside the crystal and ruin it.
Thanks for the pointer - I wasn't aware of that.

Although, how long does the vapour continue for? Surely you could glue it, leave it separated for a while (depending how long it needs) and reassemble?

M

RichTT

3,047 posts

170 months

Friday 31st October 2014
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Rule #1 of working with watches. Superglue is your enemy. Most dial markers are push pin fit through small holes in the dial. At most they might be secured on the back of the dial with a tiny amount of Hypo cement or something like that.

clockworks

5,292 posts

144 months

Friday 31st October 2014
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I've stripped a few dials for repainting, and used thinned PVA-type stuff on the back of the dial to secure the locating pins.
Pretty sure it was Microscale Krystal Klear, which is sold as a glazing adhesive for plastic models. It dries clear, and is easily removed with a damp cotton bud if you make a mistake.

Tanguero

4,535 posts

200 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
marcosgt said:
Tanguero said:
marcosgt said:
All of them? Which watch is it?

Anyway, chances are it is repairable. If it's a fairly cheap watch a bit of superglue will probably do the trick, if a more expensive one, it'll need something a little more careful and time-consuming (read expensive!) to do the job properly.

M.
Do not ever use superglue inside a watch - even a cheap one. The vapour will leave a white deposit inside the crystal and ruin it.
Thanks for the pointer - I wasn't aware of that.

Although, how long does the vapour continue for? Surely you could glue it, leave it separated for a while (depending how long it needs) and reassemble?

M
Even when fully catalised the set cyanoacrylate will release vapour for as long as it is present. We used to use set superglue on a microscope slide in an air tight box to develop fingerprints on small objects in the forensic science service. You could go on using the same slide indefinitely.

There are plenty of glues that are perfectly safe to use, but superglue isn't one of them! Try GS Hypo Cement which is what is usually used for glued in crystals and dries clear, or shellac if the thing you are gluing can be heated.