Repair + Service: Oris calibre 605

IMG_5605This Oris came over from the US, and Van sent it in. The power reserve hand turns freely, so there doesn’t seem to be any connection.IMG_5607

The movement looks clean, but I can already see that something is missing…IMG_5609

The dial is in great condition.

IMG_5614

The auto winder gears.IMG_5615

The movement without the auto winder.IMG_5620

The barrel has a little differential on top to drive the power indication. On the top right side of the barrel, the winding wheel arbor for ratchet wheel 605-1338 is missing.IMG_5623

The barrel assembly.IMG_5628

The gear train is below an extra bridge.IMG_5630

And now the gear train is visible. You can tell from the escape wheel that this is a pin pallet movement.IMG_5632

The construction of the winding / setting mechanism reminds me of some pocket watches.IMG_5736

The parts are ready for reassembly.IMG_5737

As usual, I start off with the balance jewels.IMG_5738

Now the gear train goes in.IMG_5740

The replacement winding wheel arbor has larger pivots than the orginal, so I have to broach the plate a bit.IMG_5741

Now the new arbor fits. IMG_5744

I also have to broach the bridge for the arbor.IMG_5749

Now I can put the bottom plate back together.IMG_5751

That’s as good as it gets for a pin pallet movement.IMG_5754

I have two more missing parts for the power reserve indication – the first and second indicator connecting wheels (1327 & 1328) are missing as well.IMG_6372

I contact Oris directly and ask them if they have the parts. Straight away, I get a very nice email from Tamara who works at Oris, telling me that their watchmakers are looking for the parts. Soon afterwards, I receive confirmation that the parts were found, and that they are on their way to the workshop – free of charge! Now that’s what I call unbeatable customer service! I wish other brands were as helpful.IMG_7855

Now the hands go on.IMG_7856

I had the case replated by Peter from replateit.com – as usual, splendid work!IMG_7857

The watch is back together and looking great.IMG_7859Peter also told me that he had an orginal Oris strap in stock, and I order it from him as a little surprise for Van. A great looking watch, and quite a rare one on top.

 

12 thoughts on “Repair + Service: Oris calibre 605

  1. The overall experience of having this watch serviced by Christian was exceptional, from the delightful customer service at Oris to the unexpected surprise of the added strap (thanks again!)

    You mentioned the strong performance of the movement despite being pin pallet; I find it fascinating that, until 1966, the Swiss Watch Statute (1934) had prevented Oris from making jeweled lever movements, despite repeated petitions. Because of that, Oris really refined the pin pallet movement to about its ultimate evolution, producing pin pallet movements that rivaled Swiss lever movements in timekeeping precision.

    Of course, once granted permission to build Swiss lever movements, they earned their first Swiss Chronometer rating for one of their movements within 2 years for their Cal 652 movement! 😉

    At any rate, unbeatable service all around — thank you Christian!

    • One question for Van, and one for Christian:

      Van, any idea why the Swiss Watch Statute prevented Oris from making lever movements?

      Christian, why is a 2.5ms beat error as good as it gets for a pin pallet movement?

      • Sorry, that was misleading. I did adjust the beat error afterwards. I wanted to refer to the shape of the lines – this is pretty typical for pin pallet movements.

      • My understanding is that the Swiss Watch Statute limited the number of watch makers who were legally allowed to manufacture the ‘Swiss Lever’ movement, by law.

        I’m taking most of the following from an article on Watchtime.com:

        Oris applied repeatedly to be allowed to join this elite group of Swiss watchmakers, and in 1956 then managing director for Oris Oscar Herzog hired Rolf Portmann and assigns him the task of working to overturn the statute that is preventing Oris from switching from making pin-lever escapements to making more expensive Swiss lever ones. The law says no watch company can make such a change without the government’s permission.

        After a decade of campaigning to have the Watch Statute reversed, Portmann succeeds, and Oris is allowed to make Swiss lever escapement watches. Its first is the automatic Caliber 645.

        So … if nothing else, it tells us that the Swiss have been highly manipulative of the watch industry for years. What’s happening with restriction of parts from Swatch Group to independent watchmakers today is simply the latest example of this sort of buggery …

  2. Very nice of Oris to send out bits FoC… you can tell they only _used_ to be part of the Swatch group 😉

    Lovely looking watch – especially after the TLC!

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