The Timepiece Maintenance Thread

[Oily Nails]

“Now that you have your mechanical mistresses…
..How do you keep her in good order?”

So lets have all of the Watch Forum's top tips and "how to” knowledge in one place.

What tools have you bought/use to swap links, take backs off….etc?
How do you keep your NATOs/fabric/leather straps clean?
Where do you send/take your watch for a service?
What products work best for removing scratches from faces/bracelets?
Where do you buy your spares?

And anything else you care to know/explain……

[Vespula]

OK, I'll have a go...

The first tool you want is a spring bar removal tool for changing straps and bracelets, Bergeon are the best,large end for straps, small end for bracelets.

You can advance to caseback removers, bracelet linkpin removers(very handy), tweezers, tiny screwdrivers, loupes...the list goes on.

NATO straps get put in the washing machine.

Servicing is done by Steve Burrage at Ryte Time

Polywatch for removing scratches from acrylic watch glass.

Spares? I get batteries and springbars etc. from eBay and straps from http://www.watch-band-center.com/shop-watchstrap.h...

Anthing else? I never wear my watches in the bathroom, even Divers, nothing worse than seeing that vintage watch you've just had serviced with a little pool of mist inside the glass.

[andy_s]

Find a s/h one:
chrono24
elitedealseeker
watchrecon

Find a new one:
chronomaster
Jura

Put it in a box:
aandtcrafts

Get our NATOS 'ere:
timefactors
gnomonwatches
broadarrow.net

Service it:
Ryte Time
Watchspotblog

Read about the next one:
PH/watches
TZ-UK
MWR
Watchuseek
ATG vintage watches
thewatchforum (RLT)
Forum a Montres (French)

[Oily Nails]

Great stuff Andy_s and Vespula!

Should of added some of my own since i started the topic

For Straps I usually visit watchgecko on the 'Bay' :
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/watchgecko?_rdc=1

As for cleaning NATOs I find a 5 minute dip in Vanish upholstery cleaner removes all the gunge that builds on my works NATO (Help for Heroes NATO ) that includes various Loctites and machining oils (Proper Engineer here )

[Irish]

Oily Nails said:

Great stuff Andy_s and Vespula!

Should of added some of my own since i started the topic

For Straps I usually visit watchgecko on the 'Bay' :
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/watchgecko?_rdc=1

As for cleaning NATOs I find a 5 minute dip in Vanish upholstery cleaner removes all the gunge that builds on my works NATO (Help for Heroes NATO ) that includes various Loctites and machining oils (Proper Engineer here )

Next question is servicing. I have my Seamaster 4.5 years and have not looked at it. If I remember some say that servicing brings about problems and keep it closed until it needs it? Views people?

[RichTT]

Servicing should be done as per the guidelines for your watch. In the case of most automatics this would be around 5 to 7 years. As time goes on the oils in an automatic watch break down, and in doing so they expose parts to excessive wear. This wear causes microscopic metal particles to accumulate in the watch innards creating wear and degredation on other parts as well. As these parts wear out the accuracy and reliability of the watch decreases. This also of course means that the parts wearing out will need to be replaced when it finally does get a service.

As part of the service they will fully break down the watch movement, clean it, inspect it for damage and replace parts as needed. It will then be re-assembled using 4-5 different types of lubricating oils and then regulated to ensure it is keeping good time. At this point all of the caseback/tube/pusher gaskets will be replaced (mostly) and re-greased prior to the watch being sealed up. This should leave your watch ticking along nicely for another 5-7 years.

[LukeBird]

I would disagree with Rich, I would just service when it's required.

[SVS]

Irish said:

If I remember some say that servicing brings about problems and keep it closed until it needs it? Views people?

This happened to me. I had a watch ruined after a reputable, high street jeweler serviced it. It went from keeping good time to wildy erratic

[RichTT]

LukeBird said:

I would disagree with Rich, I would just service when it's required.

Do you do the same with your car then? Just run it till it's not working properly and then take it to the garage? Or do you follow the manufacturers recommended servicing schedule? Unless it's affecting the timing of the watch just how exactly are you going to know it needs done? When the gaskets leak and it's no longer water proof and perhaps needs dial/hands/movement replacing at several times the cost of a service? It's required every 5 to 7 years.

Edited by RichTT on Tuesday 9th August 06:21

[LukeBird]

It's been done to death before Rich. There are people firmly in both camps.

[RichTT]

Yes, apologies. The evidence is pretty damning on the side of regular servicing in my eyes, but I understand other people's points of view as well. Here's a little video that I found quite interesting.

http://vimeo.com/17596060

[andy tims]

Just to add a couple of bits

In addition to a springbar tool & some screw drivers, I'd recommend getting a A&F Swiss Bracelet Pin Remover for removing non threaded bracelet pins when re-sizing bracelets.

For new "main stream" straps I'd try these guys first http://www.ukwatchstrap.co.uk & then here http://www.watch-band-center.com/shop-watchstrap.h...

For custom straps http://www.toshi-straps.co.uk/ are nicely made & good quality but are thick & only work on "chunky" watches IMHO. Most custom straps are however well over priced now in my view so I tend to only by s/h.

Cape Cod cloths are good for polishing out minor scratches / swirls on highly polished services.
Garyflex blocks better for deeper scratches or brushed surfaces. I have 60, 120 & 240 "grit" but have hardly ever used the 60.