You don’t see one of these every day, and this particular one belongs to Zeljko from Ukraine. The dial design is just stunning. Those three hands all pointing upwards look so cool…
And it’s not only the outside!
Because inside, there is a Buren 11 chronograph movement. This beauty has a little microrotor, to which we will get later. Some of you might remember that I did a Junghans Chronograph last year with the same movement.
And yes, the movement is in bad need of a service. The amplitude is way too low.
The bottom plate has a date wheel, and has a fairly simple construction.
Here, you can see the pawl and date change wheel. The half-round contraption lying sideways blocks the hour wheel in position once put in.
Now it’s time for the chronograph layer on the top plate. Chronographs are notoriously tricky to service, as there are so many parts, and every screw and bit has to go back in the right order in the right place with the right lubrication. In the old days, watchmakers used slices of pithwood, onto which they mounted every group of parts, and then cleaned them separately to keep them together. They also used a lot of sketches to make sure they knew where everything went.
I am of course blessed with a digital camera, and I take shots of every part I take out with its screws.
This double-pinion links the basic movement to the chronograph layer, and drives everything on the chronograph plate.
I’m almost there…Just a few bits to remove, and I can take the chronograph plate off.
First look at the base movement, and you can now see the microrotor at the top.
The reverser wheel sits between two large flat jewels, the top one is removed in the photo.
The mainspring is still looking good, and it’s impossible to get hold of a new one, anyway.
Epilame treatment for the usual suspects.
These are just the smaller parts …
The mainspring goes back into the barrel. Before putting it in, I have put a bit of braking grease on the barrel wall.
Next, I put the balance jewels back together.
Before putting the gear train in, the bottom bearing for the third wheel, which sits on a plate, is put into the bottom plate.
Now I can put the gear train and the rotor back in. You can now see the jewel bearing for the reverser wheel clearly.
The reverser wheel between the two jewels, with the gears for the auto winder assembly in place.
The base movement is almost complete.
When putting together chronographs, I always assembly the base movement first, so I can get it ticking. No use assembling anything else if that isn’t working correctly.
With the mainspring barely wound, this is looking a lot better!
Now I can start on the chronograph layer.
The bottom plate is relatively easy to put back together.
You have to love that dial and those hands…
Just great – I’m very jealous!
The case back gets a new gasket.
And here we are back in business.
Hi,
I have one of these Kelek watches and am desperately looking for a replacement bezel. Would you happen to know where I might source one?
This mainspring and many many others can be found asking to Gรฉnรฉrale Ressorts in Biel!
Good job! I have Kelek as well and really need the same job to be done ๐
Lovely watch that I’m looking for. Are you saying that if the mainspring is defective it cannot be replaced?
Unfortunately, that’s true. I have one used mainspring in stock …
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Thank you for a great job with my Kelek! Watch is working just perfect! ๐
My pleasure working on your lovely watch! And you are my first Ukranian customer. Hope to deal with you again. All the best, Christian
Beautiful watch… Love It !
That is one crackin’ looking watch.
What a great looking watch. Again, I enjoyed the pictures and your explanation.
beauty!
What a nice watch!!!
Bravio Zeljko
Bravo Watch guy
I don’t know what it is, but I want one ๐
Only 17 Jewels with all those moving parts?
Yes, lots of the pivots aren’t jewelled, e.g. in the auto winder. Doesn’t really matter…
Slowish moving, not much torque to them I suppose… makes sense ๐