This lovely Glycine Compressor was also sent in by Stefan from Karlsruhe, Germany. According to the stamp in the back, it was made 04/65.

It is working, but the amplitude is quite feeble at 170 degrees. Time for a service!

It looks as though I am the first person to open the back of this watch. The screws are all untouched, and the movement is very clean. So the low amplitude is probably due to a lack of oil and a worn-out mainspring.

This is why the watch is called “compressor” – the watch back sits incredibly tight, which seals the watch back very nicely indeed. As you can see, no dust, no dirt.

A beautiful golden ETA 2472 movement (with the auto-winder already removed).

Great looking dial and hands!

Very ETA indeed. Solid, good quality, reliable. I like the construction of the date changer – nothing flimsy there, and it will change the date for the next 100 years if properly looked after.

Time to turn the movement over and to take apart the top plate.

The balance wheel assembly.

The top plate with the balance removed. You can see the ETA 2472 mark just below the pallet cock.

With the wheel bridge removed, you get a good look at the wheel train.

I remove the top and bottom jewels of the balance for cleaning, as they are capped and can’t just be pegged without taking them apart.

Having removed the jewels, I put the balance assembly back on the plate. This will protect the balance and hairspring during the ultrasonic cleaning.

Cleaned, rinsed and dried, the parts now go into an airtight container until the new mainspring arrives.

The finish of the movement is outstanding. In my view, the Glycine Compressor is outstanding value for money, as you can pick them up on eBay for £40 to £150, depending on the state they are in.

If you want a nicely designed Swiss automatic watch, this is what you should go for if you have a limited budget!

The story continues here.