What time is it? Watches and horology

Brilliant news and a great choice.

Won this earlier. Hopefully it will work as described.

I was interested by it being a 30 jewel auto, and it ticks most boxes - auto without a date window.

Not sure what to do about the dial... remove the remaining decals? Repaint a nice matte black or something? Pretend the horrid condition doesn't bother me?

2 Attachments

Might be a Felsa movement.

The dial will clean up with citric acid, but you’ll have no text left.

Considering it's a pretty low value watch, not sure it's worth preserving half of the odd word. The 'patina' looks more like the damp walls in an abandoned hospital.

@coppiThat suggested to post this here.
I've got few old watches, none of them valuable (the best one would be my Lip T18 from the 1940s but even then they're quite common and cheap in the world of watches).
I damaged the case of one of my watch, the tab holding the strap was bent and started to break when I tried to straighten it. It's a brass case so I want to try brazing the crack (I know it's going to look ratty but I don't care).
So I bought tools to take stuff apart (kinda always wanted to try). Best bit was my offer accepted at £7.50 + postage for the (really cool, I think) Bergeon glass removal tool. Then a couple of decent screwdrivers (after finding online which sizes were supposed to be the common ones). I first made the mistake of buying a cheap set, which was a utter waste of money. The cheap movement holder thought seems good enough.
Anyway success, it's apart and I didn't break anything so far!
The brazing may distort the case with the heat, that's what worries me...

CSB...

1 Attachment

This road you’re going down. I want to see your tool set up in one years time.

Well done brother.

Well, I'm sure at least I'll have bits of watch that I'm unable to put back together...
I've got these cheap car boot sale finds that don't work I can have a go at...

1 Attachment

Good luck mate. Let me know if you want to borrow any tools. My degausser and timegrapher might come in handy

Thanks!
Had to Google these things to make sure they were what I thought, and was right... Yeah!
The two watches above have started ticking now I've pulled them out of the drawer... I wonder which one I should sacrifice for my experiments.
I haven't read this thread much, any recommended online tutorials for beginners, or books?

Bargain crystal lift. Did you get the little platform for it? Can make one if not.

Use hard (silver) solder for the brass case repair. Make sure it’s meticulously clean before going at it. An ultrasonic will help to get into any cracks.

Bargain!!

In case you need the other Bergeon part, here’s one that’s misspelled:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/323203260061

.

1 Attachment

Thanks.
No I didn't get the platform. Any tips to make one? (But first I'll try that eBay one...)
Noted for the silver brazing, it's what I have at home, but not watchmaking / jewellery graded, is that ok?
I'll clean as much as I can, no access to ultrasonic but it shouldn't be dirty in the crack as it just formed the other day when I was trying to de-bend the tab.

Aargh, my eyes. This is a fucking monstrosity of a watch. Badly relumed, looks entirely redialled, lume on minute hand doesn't match the hour hand (probably also relumed), that second hand is a shady cheap aftermarket, case polished to fuck, incorrect and shagged out bracelet that doesnt even fit, looks like it's been worn every day of its life on a building site... seriously a horrible example

.

Comic Sans numerals

lol those numerals :/

1 Attachment

Could just be the light I suppose

Something going on with the crown as well?

I have an ultrasonic cleaner. Let me know when .... etc

https://www.nobleandgraff.com/store/p148/Rolex_Fat_font_Explorer_I_1016_%28Price_on_Request%29.html

this specific dial features the unique FAT FONT 3-6-9, font very similar to early king sub 6200.
*** Please note: This fat font dials were made in 1967 only correct in the 1,7 mil serial range.

but yeah these look badly relumed

numerals!

1 Attachment

But... but it’s a ‘mega fat font dial’, guys.

To make one, just copy the original. So, three pieces of sheet metal, one upper piece slotted to allow adjustment. I can measure the thickness if you like. Brass would do. But personally I’d just buy one.