I’m a fan and collector of Junghans chronometer watches, but also enjoy some of their more unusual watches with funky designs. This is the second-generation quartz movement from Junghans from some time in the mid 70’s.
The watch is in decent condition considering the age, but is not running!
We usually do not do quartz movements, but as a part of my apprenticeship I will service this Certina.
It is missing its winding stem and is not ticking.
John sent in this watch, and they needed a 40 ton lorry to deliver it 😉
This watch is not for the faint-hearted. It weighs in at 152 grams, and that’s quite a lot for a quartz watch. The width including crown and pushers is 51.3mm!
John sent it in, because he can’t get the crown to do what it should do… Continue reading
A rare beast – and the first analogue Quartz watch ever. The Girard Perregaux calibre 351. Matthew sent this one in, and it’s not working. Continue reading
From time to time, I do the odd quartz watch. I like the technology, and if the movement is well made, it’s a joy servicing them! Not so much if it’s a £2 plastic movement, but this lovely Omega Seamaster that Tony sent in has a great little movement – the calibre 1420.
Even though a local lad has changed the battery, the watch went into EOL indication shortly afterwards. This is a good sign that the movement is dirty, and needs a good clean. Continue reading
Those who know me are aware that I’m normally not a great fan of quartz watches. The reason for that isn’t that I’m technophobic – I love the technology behind quartz watches. I just can’t stand the cheap plastic finishes found on most quartz movements.
The good news is that there are exceptions, and the Omega calibre 1471 is one. This is a stunningly beautiful quartz movement, made with all the care that a watch movement deserves! Continue reading
You thought you’d never see the day, but here it is. I’m servicing a Quartz watch 😉
I got myself a proper quartz watch tester, as you have to be able to measure the average consumption, something you can’t do with a run-of-the-mill multimeter.
Not that I am a great fan of Quartz watches, but Seiko at least builds proper movements, and not the throw-away plastic trash that others put in their watches… Continue reading
A common problem – broken off dial feet. As a regular reader of this blog you will know that I dislike dial pads (the sticky bits that people stick dials to movements with) quite a bit, and I don’t have any in my workshop, and I hope I will never have.
They are basically pure evil. Not only do they make the dial stick up too far from the movement, but they don’t hold properly and will move with time. So don’t even think about using them 😉
I have a couple of watches in my workshop that need new dial feet, and Neil, one of the poor clients suffering from broken feet, pointed me to a dial soldering machine on eBay. This is just what I wanted, so I went out and bought one. Not cheap, but if it does what it says on the tin, well worth the money.
Robert sent me his TAG Chronometer for a new battery. As you might know, I don’t do quartz watches. Not that I can’t, I just don’t feel too passionate about them. But as Robert had just let me do his beautiful Omega, I couldn’t refuse.
He also has problems with the hands not resetting properly to 0.
With quartz watches, there is only so much you can do when you service them. You take apart all the mechanical bits (there aren’t that many), clean everthing, put them back together and oil. This one has five motors, so that is already a bit of work. Plus the gears for the hour/minute hands, you spend quite a bit of time servicing the movement.
Before you get the wrong ideas – I don’t do quartz watches. Well, sometimes I do, but very rarely. It’s a religious thing 😉
Here’s an exception, and it’s this Omega La Magique. Gary from Wales opened the watch in an attempt to change the battery, and was quite surprised to have a couple of wheels and other bits in his hand.
So if you are ever tempted to open one of these yourself: remove the screws, keep the watch together, support the back on a little stand, and then take the front of the watch off, keeping the back on your little support.