Eric from Belgium sent in this great Heuer. It’s his fathers’s watch, and I think we can all applaud his taste!
On first sight, the watch is in amazing condition.
A tiny bit of pitting on the case back, but that’s nothing to write home about.
Just the balance cock screw that is a bit damaged, but apart from that, things look pristine inside.
Eric said that the watch showed odd behaviour on the timegrapher, and he’s right. This is typical “banking”, e.g. the mainspring is too strong, and the impulse pin hits the back of the pallet fork as it goes around too far.
The hands are in as good a condition as the rest of the watch.
The bottom plate is pristine, too.
Time to take the movement apart.
With the chronograph removed, you can see the gear train.
The watch was a bit hard to wind, and here is the reason. The click wheel is a very tight fit with the plate, and there is abrasion.
The plate where the click wheel sits shows the same abrasion. I polish the click wheel to reduce the friction.
The keyless works remind me of pocket watches.
All parts are cleaned, and I will reassemble the watch with a new mainspring that is 1/100mm thinner than the one that was fitted.
And here it is – a 1.5mm x 0.12mm x 400mm.
Now I put in the balance jewels.
The gear train goes onto the plate.
And I put the keyless works in so that I can wind the watch.
Now I can fit the balance, and the movement starts beating.
Perfect – just the right amplitude, and of course no more banking.
With the movement beating as it should, I start on the chronograph.
Now I just have to adjust the depthing, and we’re there.
The bottom plate is ready for the dial.
Now I can put on the dial and hands.
The movement goes into the case.The condition of the watch is just incredible, and I’m very envious 😉
Hi there,
do you have the technical docs for this, or do you know where I could find them?
Thanks.
I have this same watch, alrhough not in such pristine condition. It functions and needs to be wound daily. No band.
My question is twofold..
One, mine does not have the T above the word Swiss on the dial face.
Two, Im unable to remove the rear cover to see if it has signature on inside of back cover, why? Does it screw on?
Upon further inspection, it indeed does have the T above the word Swiss.
Please don’t try to open the watch. One slip, and it’s over…
So so nice! And what incredible performance!!
This is an amazing watch!!!! Thank you, Eric for this beauty and thank you Christian for letting us see it!
What a watch – looks amazing!
What a great watch I will have to track one down so my wife can buy it for my 60th birthday that gives her 20 months to save up
Is there any way of diagnosing banking without the use of a timing machine? Is it something that is noticeably apparent from watching the balance?
You can hear it! Just stick your ear to the movement when fully wound, and you will hear the double-click.
Interesting. I have a watch that makes what I can only describe as a metallic “clank” in addition to the ticks. Extremely faintly, you can only hear it pressed to your ear in a quiet place. As the watch seems to run OK I have never worried about it.
A beauty, great job.
Such an elegant watch, with a beautiful movement.
Hi.. I,am a fallower of your work, and enjoy very mutch, the quality of your work..
greatings…
Oooh now I like that! If it was an automatic it would be perfect! Did it originally come on a SS bracelet or a leather strap!??
Nice looking watch. Any idea of its age?
I am also envious… it is a lovely thing.
Was the main-spring in it the one from the factory or had it been incorrectly replaced at some point?
The mainspring that was in the movement was the size that should be in there… I guess some are more lively than others 😉