Newbie looking for advice.

[sam77]

Hi All,

Great forum and whilst glad Ive found it, I cant help but think its going to cost me!

Anyway I've just bought my 5th auto, a Ball Engineer Master II, and I am reconciling the purchase by now considering myself a "collector" rather than a man with too many watches, amazing how it alleviates the guilt! Now that I am a "collector" I feel I should be at least be able to do some basic tasks like change a strap or battery, maybe some polishing on some of the older pieces.

So can anyone recommend the basic tools I will need to get me started and where is the best place to buy them? I guess its worth spending a bit rather than the cheap kits you see on Amazon and the like?
I'm sure this info has been requested before, but search function is still broke.

I'm also thinking of getting an Orient Mako or Ray to play with, again can anyone recommend a good supplier in the UK and also if I should be changing the spring pins ASAP for better quality ones.

If anyone is interested my "collection" is,
Oris BC3 (I think)
Omega Seamaster Chronometer
Tag Monaco
Tag Carrera Chronograph
Ball Engineer Master II

Obviously any recommendations to add to the collection, would I think be well received!

Thanks for any help.

[PIGINAWIG]

Max bill
Planet Ocean (orange)
G shock
Seiko monster

All must haves! Plus about another 50,000 others..... c'mon, get busy.....

[Hoofy]

For strap and battery changes, Maplin's stuff is fine. I'll leave polishing to the experts. I do find that to change a strap, to release the spring bars, a tiny screw driver is better than those special screwdrivers but ideally you want this:

[Hoofy]

As for watches to add, a G-shock is definitely one to choose just for the novelty of having such a tough watch (get on YouTube and search for G-shock test). I would also add a vintage and a retro to your collection (vast range depending on budget).

[CardShark]

sam77 said:

Hi All,

Great forum and whilst glad Ive found it, I cant help but think its going to cost me!

Bergeon are regarded as the best out there for tools, not cheap but you'll only pay once for quality and with watches like yours (not too shabby a start ) they'd be a great investment. Try www.watchtool.co.uk for them.
As for something to practise on I'd just get any old thing from a boot sale/ebay etc. If you want to go down the Orient route www.creationwatches.com would be a great place to start.

[sam77]

Thanks for the advice, had a quick look on watchtool.co.uk. Crickey the tools cost more than some watches!

[sam77]

PIGINAWIG said:

Max bill
Planet Ocean (orange)
G shock
Seiko monster!

All must haves! Plus about another 50,000 others..... c'mon, get busy.....

And its starts! Just looked at a planet ocean in orange, thats 4 grand I am now looking for

[Pesty]

sam77 said:

Hi All,


Obviously any recommendations to add to the collection, would I think be well received!

You don;t appear to have a Sinn

or a
Zenith
IWC
Tudor
Anonimo
Panerai

good luck

[andy tims]

Pesty said:

sam77 said:

Hi All,


Obviously any recommendations to add to the collection, would I think be well received!

You don;t appear to have a Sinn

or a
Zenith
IWC
Tudor
Anonimo
Panerai

good luck

or a Rolex, Seiko, Omega, Heuer, JLC, Glashutte Original etc. etc.

[andy tims]

sam77 said:

So can anyone recommend the basic tools I will need to get me started and where is the best place to buy them? I guess its worth spending a bit rather than the cheap kits you see on Amazon and the like?
I'm sure this info has been requested before, but search function is still broke.

See in here
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...