If it’s a Rado, it has to be Chris’s watch π He got this lovely Diastar from Japan, and it’s not ticking at all. A very unique design, with the faceted crystal and the oval case.
On first sight, nothing much wrong here. Looks clean enough, and no visible damage.
The dial and hands have some damage, but are still in decent shape.
A lot of rust on the date change wheel, and on the date change spring.This isn’t too good, either. Time for a good clean!
The mainspring is still looking good, and continues to do so once it’s out of the barrel, so I will leave it.
Another view of the rust damage on the bottom plate.
As you would expect, there is a fair amount of rust and dirt under the date change wheel.
The date ring got some damage as well, but that will clean up nicely.
I clean up the rust with a fibreglass brush, and then soak the parts in citric acid, and then everything goes into the cleaning machine.
After the cleaning machine – looking good.
I start off with the balance jewels.
The clutch doesn’t sit on the cannon pinion, and it’s a bit loose, so I’m giving it a tiny squeeze under the microscope.
Barely wound, this is the first graph of the movement, and it’s looking good.
The bottom plate cleaned up nicely, too.
Movement cased without the auto winder assembly.
The odd thing is that the auto winder only winds in one direction – I would have expected a bi-directional winder on such a high-spec movement.
A final adjustment.Very nice indeed!
Hi
Looking for a Rado 1858 25J movement for my vintage captain cook MKII. Wondering if another AS 1858 say from the Diastar or MATTERHORN will fit into the watch?
A novice here so let me know if you can help
Thanks
How does one find a caseback gasket for these? I am a self-watchmaker and recently have been acquiring these vintage DiaStars. I have one with this same movement, 17 jewels but the gasket is completely destroyed.
You can buy gaskets in all sizes at cousinsuk.com.
I want rado diastar balance wheel what is peice
Hi there,
I am looking for a genuine Swiss factory original NEW/ NOS COMPLETE CROWN water proof with its rubber water seal for a RADO wristwatch. Here are 3 links below to watch showing the model back case cover and the crown in question, please let me know if you have one? And any other NEW parts you may have for this watch.
Thanks
I don’t have any Rado parts whatsoever.
Dear Christian,
Just an inquiry. The back case mechanism looks clean and the rust is at the date change wheel & spring. How did the moisture entered into the case?
Thank you.
Probably past the crown and down the winding stem
Thank you for your explanation.
Does a watch with a screw down crown minimize the ingress?
Thank you.
Yes, screw down crowns are better at keeping water out.
Thank you once again.
Hello
i have a rado manhattan (as1859) and the clutch was hard on cannon pinion (exactly the same in you re picture ) so the crimping between the axis and the wheel is dead ,the wheel is rotating free on this axis …
is there any way to crimp again the axis and the wheel ??
thank’s and thank’s for these pictures and comments π
JM
The clutch doesnβt sit on the cannon pinion, and itβs a bit loose, so Iβm giving it a tiny squeeze under the microscope.
Jean-Marc,
Careful here – don’t tighten the cannon pinion, as the clutch isn’t located there! But I think you refer to the photo that shows the clutch, it’s just not the canon pinion. If you can’t tighten it, you need a new wheel I’m afraid…
I like Rado watches generally, but the case on that one is just awesome!
I agree Cirrus! π The faceted crystal just looks so effective in certain light conditions! Its not something I’ve seen other manufacturers do and the one’s I have seemed to have been linked to Rado at the time.
Here’s a couple of pictures I took of the Diastar before I sent it off to Christian for a service.
http://i.imgur.com/UV6KaPi.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/9TL6d5B.jpg
Fantastic job as always many thanks Christian! π