This is pure wizardry. My respect for this craft is almost infinite.

Every time I start watching these watch videos I know how it ends; the watch will be cleaned and fixed nicely, the timegrapher will say it is good and it will look perfect at the end. Then I ask why do I watch these videos? I have no answer, but I must watch them till the end. Sometimes I hold my breath when they install balance back or check the timegrapher results :)

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

😂 Sounds like a good summary of every video! Thanks for watching them, Yusuf :)

@vonkruel

2 жыл бұрын

What I found is that hobbies can sneak up on you like this, posing as idle interests that you never intend to act on at first.

@jeffreygoss8109

Жыл бұрын

I find the need to try this even though I am ham fisted

@darcos7535

Жыл бұрын

It's like they copied Hollywood or something.... I find them calming

@sergpie

8 ай бұрын

@@vonkruel Agreed. I went from not knowing what jewels were for, to figuring out how much a watchmakers bench costs to set-up in my shed 😭

That's the best disassembly/assembly video of a watch I've ever seen. It makes me appreciate my own 1967 Ultra Chron. Thank you.

Great to see this video. Bought my Longines Ultra Chron in 1969 whilst serving in the RAF stationed in Bahrain. Still working great today.

Very clear description of greasing the pallet fork jewel and the teeth of the escape wheel and great photography of that task.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Paul!

@wirdy1

Жыл бұрын

Ditto, have watched this done many times, but never so clearly shown & described. Bravo.

The slo mo on the pallet fork greasing was awesome!

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it!

I always wondered how people worked on such fine mechanical watches. I see it takes very special tools and equipment. I would like to see a video on those tools. And now I wonder how they made such small mechanical parts such as screws, gears and pinions. Thank you for showing the invisible world of mechanical marvels.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot, Jason! I'll hopefully make some wheels and screws on the channel a bit in the future 👍

@andre.bouchard

2 жыл бұрын

@@VintageWatchServices Subscribed because id like to see it too.

@scottadler

2 жыл бұрын

@@VintageWatchServices Please!

@philipmcgregor6231

2 жыл бұрын

Are you interested to sell some of these watches

@philipmcgregor6231

2 жыл бұрын

@@VintageWatchServices Are you interested to sell some of these watches

Fabulous service on this special classic watch. Always amazed at the workmanship of its production and the skills of yours, for servicing. Great looking Vintage piece. Kudos

Been a subscriber for a few months and I still can’t believe it took me so long to discover this channel. Informative and educational while also being entertaining. Love this channel.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Alex, that's very nice to hear :) More to come!

This is by far the best watch repair video I've seen on social media! Absolutely Beautifull!

@VintageWatchServices

6 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it!

I believe the Bulova Accutron watch with the 214 "Tuning Fork" movement might have put marketing pressure on Longines due to it's accuracy.

Very special indeed! I never tire of watching and today's was extra special, I never knew that they had doubled the beat to make it more accurate.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much, Fred! They did indeed and a higher beat rate does enable more accuracy but it's also no guarantee for it.

Absolutely fantastic movement. Longines is amazing.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Yep, vintage Longines are fantastic!

I watched this watch assembly video in honor of my brother-in-law. He's the type of guy who, if you ask him what time it is, he'll tell you how to build a watch. I'm sure you've met people like that at one time or another. So I wanted to see how a person would actually build a watch. Very informative!

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Toshiko! I think your brother in law will be very proud of you 😉

@thomasnuyts9725

Жыл бұрын

​@@VintageWatchServices 😅

Oh, I love this movement. I'm so glad you did a video with this watch. Thank you!

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Great to hear, Randy :)

Another great video. Could watch these all day long 😊👍🏻

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Awesome, thank you!

An outstanding watch; classy, advanced (for its time) and understated. Longines... terrific watches of the day. Another splendid video.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Clive, and yes, Longines was really on top of their game back in the day... I hope they will climb back up.

I'm a day late but its a great weekend when you debut a new video. Great restoration! Thank you. Cheers!

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much, Angel 😊

another amazing service and restoration of a beautiful watch Stian!

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much, Jon! Say hi to Jane from me :)

@De4thInc4rn4te16

2 жыл бұрын

@@VintageWatchServices I would, but she left me for John Doe, something about not being able to spell happy without an H ;)

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

@@De4thInc4rn4te16 🤣

That is an exceptionally beautiful watch. And thanks for sharing!

@VintageWatchServices

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Seems like the depth of the added jewel was good since you did not comment afterwards, what a master in your art….!

That was an amazing shot of the escape wheel getting greased! In all the videos I have watched I never saw that you grease each of the tooth of the escape wheel individually.

Very cool Longines. 🙂 Those high beats were the last gasp of the mechanical accuracy pursuit back then. Like you mentioned Longines, Seiko and Girard Perregaux. Interestingly all three were also pursuing the new quartz tech in the background, Longines with their Ultraquartz(and as part of the Swiss Beta 21 group. Longines had the cash back then), Seiko in what was to become their Astron and GP what would be their 350 series of quartz movements(with a little help from JLC), which was the movement that set the near universal frequency rate of quartz ever since. In the annual chronometer trials the Swiss had started to enter quartz movements from the mid 60's, which of course were winning. The last two that didn't go this route were GP and Seiko, Seiko having come late to the trials, starting off badly but climbing to the top year on year. For some reason Longines didn't bother with their high beat mechanicals. Odd given they had won more chronometer trial prizes than any other brand(Omega and Zenith were 2nd and 3rd. Brands like Rolex Patek and AP barely registered if ever). Though their Ultraquartz won a few. Odder again unlike Omega and others Longines rarely sold certified chronometers. It's very rare to find one with chronometer on the dial. I had an Ultrachron years ago that was certified. The movement looked the same except the rotor was gold coloured and it had "chronometre" on the dial. Sorry I sold it. 🙂 In the last chronometer trials the quartz won, but there were two mechanicals in the top ten, GP and Seiko which came in on top. So the last mechanical movements to win prizes were from GP and Seiko, and unlike the others you could actually walk into a jewellers and buy them. They could also officially print "Observatory Chronometer" on their dials, AFAIK the only brands that ever could. Of course the Swiss didn't like this upstart non Swiss Seiko winning so closed the trials down and took their ball back.

@deedee8568

2 жыл бұрын

I did not know that.

@joeskeptical4762

2 жыл бұрын

*You know good horology history!*

@MrGrentch

2 жыл бұрын

@@joeskeptical4762 :) not really Joe. Only my areas of interest, so early wristwatches, early electronic/quartz, some military stuff and some Longines. Beyond that I'm lost. :)

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Very nice write-up, thanks for sharing!

@terrybyford3605

2 жыл бұрын

I have an Admiral Automatic with "Chronometer Officially Certified" on the dial just below the Longines name and logo. It has a 28,800 bph movement and an eight sided case.

Now that's a very fine looking watch, especially with the grey dial. Lovely work Stian.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much, Luke :)

All the violence a watchmaker can muster LOL good video!

Excellent work as usual. A pleasure to watch.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks again, Ken!

Another great video and further demonstration of your expertise and knowledge. There is a lot that can be learned here.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks again!

Out of all the mid-tier brands I absolutely adore Longines. I have three in my collection and told myself I wouldn't add another Longines but that new Zulu Time GMT they just released is definitively going to join my collection.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Longines really is a great brand, and back in the day they were top tier. It's a bit sad that ETA put them below Omega when they were in fact at least at the same level until the quartz crisis....

@MrGrentch

2 жыл бұрын

@@VintageWatchServices +1000 Longines were very much at the top table. They had an aviation history brands like IWC and Breitling could only dream of. They were _the_ inhouse chronograph company of most of the 20th century. Every two button chrono down to today, that's a longines invention(not Breitling. They had them 6 years before them). Flyback chronograph too. First specifically for wristwatches chrono movement. Oh and the external rotating bezel on pretty much every diver out there? Longines again, though originally for pilots watches. Rolex may write "Superlative Chronometer" on their dials, but in the _actual_ chronometer trials Longines won more in some years that Rolex won in the entire history of the trials. When Swatch were putting brands in tiers I suspect Longines got the lower position because Omega had taken over from the 60's onwards, had more recognisable brand lines like seamaster, speedmaster(and the Moonwatch), they had weathered the digital crisis in a better position and the name was easier to pronounce and spell in more languages(not so daft as Hans Wilsdorf picked the name "Rolex" for those reasons). So Longines became the "heritage" brand and old style wider choice and cheaper brand.

@harrickvharrick3957

2 жыл бұрын

@@MrGrentch Wow, that's a great little piece you wrote. You do make the case for Longines! Lot of that I for one did not know... tx

@fincorrigan7139

2 жыл бұрын

@@MrGrentch I concur wholeheartedly, and they should also drop the group name Swatch in favour of something more befitting the whole product range. It breaks my heart that Breguet and Blancpain are associated with the Swatch branding: a name that encapsulates 1980's throwaway plastic digital consumerism - than precision engineering, artistry and Swiss heritage. Perhaps Groupe des Horlogers Suisses or other such nomenclature.

@ericashmusic8889

Жыл бұрын

@@VintageWatchServices, I had two early Quartz & good quality as well, but ditched 'em quick when I found the battery can "flat-out at any time..? & on one occassion an important event- for that reason they are a NO-NO in my book... "Why @ 29:11 was the second hand travelling acw? Also not a criticism, just an observation, given the glowing spec' on this T-piece? why no Timegrapher readout ?

Another great restoration of a lovely watch 👍

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Andrew!

I'm wearing my 1969 Seiko Lord Marvel today while I watch this - 36000 bph movements unite!!

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Very cool! There aren't too many 36000 watches around :)

Really love Longines watch the quality is there for sure !! Really love this services, wish to have one to service in the future !! Thanks for this video Tian !!

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching, Alain :) Stian

@alaindrolet_atlt_2019

2 жыл бұрын

@@VintageWatchServices Sorry for your name mistake !!

Another great video Stian! Thanks for sharing.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching it, Gary!

An excellent video! I think a frequent cause of failed center wheel plate jewels is watchmakers manipulating the center wheel to the side, in order to remove the barrel without pulling the cannon pinion and then removing the train wheel bridge. It’s easy to crack the jewel that way, and maybe not even realize that it happened. In any case, good catch and nice repair!

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Paul, and that might indeed be the case. A small crack can happen with not too much force and that crack will develop over time.

I always look forward to Saturday afternoon when I can take a break and watch a master at work. As always - nice history lesson along with the usual watchmaking lore. Thank you, Sir!! And I agree with Steve (below). That Zulu Time GMT has my name written all over it!

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

That's very nice to hear, Milan 😊 And the Zulu Time GMT indeed looks great. Longines still has a very talented design team and I really hope they get the brand back to old heights.

I'm glad to see you oiling the palette fork a few times because many watchmakers only oil the palette fork with '1 dab', and that isn't enough. I enjoy watching your videos, also my watchmaker daughter is learning much for you. And that pleases me, too. Also not polishing off all the scrapes from this lovely old 1969 Longines Ultra-Chron does retain the vintage look that is often preferred by buyers. Thank you so much for this video. Wishing you all the very best, Wendi 🌻

@VintageWatchServices

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Wendi and say hi to your daughter :)

I always enjoy following along with real pros plying their craft. What they make look effortless certainly isn't. My limited skillset (early 1900's American RR pocket watches - huge parts in comparison, simple movements - self taught too ...lol) always is confounded with the knowledge the master have. Thanks for the inspiration you imbue and the knowledge you impart! DT

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for watching, DT !

Speaking of quickset date mechanisms,I have an early '70's Lanco which you change the date by pushing in the crown.I believe the movement came from Omega via Tissot.That's what my research came up with........................................

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

That's probably the Tissot 2471 indeed, which Omega called the 1480 and used in some of their more affordable watches. It's a very good movement!

Ouch the timegrapher in the beginning…actually it fits the season 🤣🤣 great snow globe effect.

Zenith with the El Primero and Elite movements were hi beat movement at 36K They were great movements but as you said had to be serviced more frequently. I serviced mine every three years. They also had a variety of lubricants required for different parts of to the movement. Your quote about people ignoring the service intervals is such a wise one. I enjoy your input, and look forward to your posts. Regards Ian

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot, Ian!

thanks for these amazing videos!

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you like them!

Wow it moves so smoothly

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

It does!

Fantastic video again Stian. Every time you work on one of these Longines, I like the brand more and more, no other brand is like that for me. Maybe I am just getting older and appreciate refinement more :-)

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Alan! Vintage Longines' are really fabulous watches and among my absolute favourites!

Your timing is perfect! Longines just unveiled the production of a new Ultrachron with a 36,000vph. Cheers!

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

I saw it! Very cool to see. I truly think Longines is getting their groove back which is really great.

Awesome!

Congratulations on reaching 20,000 subscribers. Well deserved.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much Clive 😊

Awesome, good strap choice, looks made for it

fantastic to be allowed to see

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for seeing it! :)

Yes, great work and a handsome watch indeed!

Nice and very well done video and job. Greetings from Madrid,Spain.

Stain at the Arnold Schwarzenegger school of watch making they tried to calculate the imperail amount of oil used in serving a movement they gave up went to the gyro wheel spun it off its axis then had donuts for morning tea then back to the bench for hammer time. A great restoration as always and still in paradise I see. Keep well from NZ

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Well, you can't say they didn't try then! 😂Thanks Bruce :)

I just acquired this exact watch three days ago! I received it in the mail yesterday! I'm definitely getting it serviced! These Ultra-Chrons are one of the best series of watches that was ever made! Longines is the best vintage watch brand in my opinion.

@thomaswhite8974

2 жыл бұрын

@pc Thanks!!

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Very cool, congrats!

Love a good sweep, grate job 👍

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Andy!

Great work. Fantastic watch.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Ian:)

I do believe that the reduction in the beat rate was related to durability issues. Omega did the same thing with its co-axial movement, which originally ran at 28,800 bph and then was reduced to 25,200 bph and was accompanied by an increase in the warranty period from two years to four years. In any event, with its grey dial and pillow case, it is a very handsome watch that once again you have restored to its full glory. Well done, Stian.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Bullnose and yes, I think you're right. What drives those issues however is a lack of servicing, and that again is down to buyers basically just wearing their watches until it stops or runs really badly. With watches made before the quartz crisis, this could take decades, as the watches were made with the best materials back then. Nowadays, it can take less than one decade due to lesser materials and a different business models, where the brands change lots of parts in every service and charges the buyer...

@bullnose01

2 жыл бұрын

@@VintageWatchServices And that is why as much as I love chronographs, I don't own one. Too expensive to properly maintain.

A. Schild cal 1920 is an interesting high beat movement as well. Maybe more widely used.

Awesome vid. Thank you.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching it!

Klasse mit wieviel Liebe und technischen Wissen dieser Uhrmacher Meister die Uhr aufarbeitet.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Dankesehr, Sven :)

love your videos +your great sense off humour

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much :)

Love you rewind sounds, laughing so hard!!!!

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

😁👍

Thanks Stian for a great video on a really classy movement. I try to tell myself accuracy isn't so important on my mechanical watches but the more time flies by, the more I like my watches to be precise. A good result on this one indeed. Do you think the guys who say they can service 'do not open' mainspring barrels are just lucky or maybe they have a store of NOS parts? Cheers, Howard

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Howard! It's nice to have your watch show time accurately to a reasonable degree, but we still measure our lives in minutes and hours rather than seconds. So yeah, if your watch is off by a few seconds a day shouldn't really be an issue. You can open the barrels but I prefer to have a spare one if I do so. They can be tricky to put back together again without distorting them. Thus I generally try the old one first to see if it gives a good enough result.

Got my calipers out to check inch to mm (metric/imperial) - your right. Sometimes we don't hear that enough around the house. Thanks for the video.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching it!

GREAT VIDEO,,THANKS

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

You are welcome!

I believe the Imperial measurement you're looking for is called a "minim", which is 1/480 of a fl oz. So your 1/1000 ml would be approximately 1/60 minim. Ironically just as 1 second is 1/60 of a minute.

“as we can see, the seconds hand moves 10 times a second, 1.. 2.. 5.. (Three sir!) 3.. 8.. 8.. 10! “

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

😁

I own a rectangular Longines with fixed bracelet attachments rating from 1918. Still running fine after a short oiling and I wear it from time to time. Very light weighted. Must be one of the first men's wristwatch from Longines, since at that time they weren't very popular.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Very cool!

Nice work

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Cheers!

Thanks for another fantastic video, Stian!! Did you need to adjust the jewel depth? Starting with my last service, I *lightly* install the minute hand in any position before rolling the crown to find the date snap-over point. I roll the crown through 2 or 3 snap-overs to see how repeatable it is and average (to the minute) the numbers. Then, I pop off the minute hand and do a full hand installation. It worked really well on my last project. I believe you said the snap-over will be slightly different when the watch runs vs. rolling the crown. So, maybe this is a (slight) waste of time. Thanks again!!

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Hello Woody, I somehow managed to press the jewel into the right depth at the first try... I was surprised myself! For a watch like this I indeed turn the crown through a couple of date changes and count the number of revolutions. For this one I think it was 63. Then I make 60 fast revolutions and slow down for the last few. And yes, the movement will flip the date slightly slower than when you use the crown, typically some 2-5 minutes.

I have five of these and still I'm afraid to do a full-service on one of these calibers don't want to kill it. I've been practicing on basic old Swiss 18000 beats that are basically simple and forgiving.

I thoroughly enjoy watching an expert like you. Could you tell me how many years you've been working on watches.

@VintageWatchServices

Жыл бұрын

Hello Larry, thanks for watching! I've tinkered with watches for some 15+ years but only went full-time about 5 years ago.

Great! Thank you for the definition of the imperial measurement 🙂! Did you ever had servicing contact to a humming watch like a bulova 2181? Please let me/us know. Bests from germany!

Been watching you videos for quite some time and a few others here on youtube. I really enjoy your approach to making these videos and have started to get into this as a hobby a bit with some old pocket watches. Could I be so bold as to ask how do you source parts etc for older watches. I have looked and seems there are some but was hoping a professonal such as yourself could guide me in a more pointed direction. Keep these videos coming. I really enjoyed seeing this masterpiece of engineering!

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Hello David, great to hear you're getting into watchmaking! The main source is actually eBay, but there are also a lot of smaller dealers around the internet. Also, there are some good Facebook groups you could join.

@davidhendricksgolfprofessi2321

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the reply and information

I want one already!.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

😁👍

Evree time woching & i am watch mekar in india your work is soo good 🙏

Still love your work Stian 😘

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks 😅

Another top video thanks Stian! How do you choose your caseback gaskets size? Loved the Greek joke!

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Boyd :) I have a lot of gaskes and find one that fits 😉

24:08 .001ml converted to Imperial is 1/3 octosmidge.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

😂

The Formula 1 era of watch making. These speed demon movements are truly special!

super watch sir

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for being such a loyal viewer, Covai!

A very entertaining and educational video, thank you for making it. What is the rationale of the manufacturer behind making a mainspring barrel that they label 'Do not open'?

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Michael! I believe they did that to ensure that no one messed up the hairspring, but it's a bit short sighted obviously. Nowadays you do not see this anymore.

Hi! I’m wondering - before electronic beat counters, how did watch makers determine error rates and calibrate the watch? I’m sorry if you’ve addressed this elsewhere. Thanks!

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

They did it the way you probably imagine; by trial and error over a number of days...

8-8-10! Watchmakers,...so detail oriented! And second hand going backwards! Lol

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

It's the small things that count 😉

Awesome videos, next one in line to subscribe and watch, really nice explanation on how and why. What is the metal block with the holes called ? Where you cleaned the pins ?

@VintageWatchServices

Жыл бұрын

Hello Lucas, thanks for watching! It's a staking block.

@LucasGeniar

Жыл бұрын

@@VintageWatchServices When I google that I get a few results, personally living in the Netherlands and when I translate it I get a lot of blockchain results 😀 Will continue my search, but thanks for the reply.

Very nice watch mister. Now I want one. Btw I think I may have seen a stray grey nose hair while you were greasing the pallet jewels.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

You're right! 😂I removed it in between the lubrication :)

@freakysteve140281

2 жыл бұрын

@@VintageWatchServices they are starting to become the Easter eggs off the channel! 😂 for 10 points and a free sticker, where is the nose hair!

Beautiful....and I can see why servicing is expensive..... pondering whether it is cheaper to replace my little Seiko than to get it cleaned when it needs it.....unless of course I acquire the skills to do it myself.... oh dear... can't see that happening... Its 4207 movement is so tiny! 😀

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! And yes, servicing takes time and time is money, they say 😁 The 4207 is a nice little movement but indeed very small!

*The design and architecture are straightforward, the 10Hz rate is the unique thing. It’s great to hear....lovely service job, classic 70s case & dial design, arriving just a year early. Would a new mainspring increase amplitude above 300 degrees but more important, would a “heart transplant” improve accuracy over several weeks to a month?*

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

A new mainspring probably would increase the amplitude quite a bit indeed and this watch is still capable of fantastic accuracy. And 36000 bph is generally referred to as 5hz 😉

@joeskeptical4762

2 жыл бұрын

@@VintageWatchServices *: Thanks for correcting me! 10 beats per second, 5 cycles (2 beats, to & fro) per cycle. I studied electricity a long time ago, I should remember what I learned back then, courtesy of Herr Heinrich Rudolf Hertz.*

Gosh that thing really moves.

Another great video that I am certainly going to watch at least a couple of times: thank you Stian. The 5 Hz movement has its advantages (accuracy and just look at how smooth that second hand moves) and its disadvantages (wear and tear). Most of the vintage watch sellers that I have met over the last 30 years here in Zürich have told me that watches made in the 1950s are the ones anyone should really cherish and look for. They usually say that the tools had improved by miles then and that watch manufacturers could again procure excellent raw material (after the Second World War). The high beat watches from the late 60s were not so lucky - and if I consider my son's Zenith El Primero - still aren't. To make watches cheaper and therefore more accessible to the general public, watch manufacturers had to cut down on costs. It mostly shows in the material they have chosen to work with. In the long run it does only work at very high maintenance costs. Think of the Shelby AC Cobra 427: you put a huge engine into a small car and will have to replace the gear box every 2'500km. It looks great, it is fast, it has an incredible acceleration, but it is hideously difficult to drive properly, if you can drive it at all. Today, new, more restitant materials have emerged, but you pay for them in gold. And frankly, they do not look cool, but that is my opinion. Maybe you can enlighten us on this? I am a total layman and not claiming any deeper knowledge.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

What you're saying is pretty much spot on and you've certainly good knowledge :) I wrote a blog post about this topic here: www.vintagewatchservices.eu/single-post/the-problem-or-not-of-servicing-vintage-watches The business model of the watch brands has changed fundamentally in the last 50 years, sadly very much to the worse for us watch lovers.

@phmwu7368

2 жыл бұрын

" Very high-beat” movements were used by Zenith and Movado chronographs... " El Primero" comes to mind !

@ygrbooks

2 жыл бұрын

@@VintageWatchServices Only today did I read your excellent post - sorry. It is so informative, critical and a pleasure to read that you really should make a KZread video about it, which would enlighten so many watch enthusiasts. I would not even consider myself as belonging into that latter group, but I just love objects that were built to last and that can be repaired. Thank you for promoting exactly these ideas on your superb channel.

@rudolfwidmer3447

Жыл бұрын

It is true, my El Primero needs every 4 to 5 years an overhaul at the manufacturer in Le Locle. It always costs quiet a bit of money and ist takes 3 Monts of time. But after decades it still is loking very good and runs within a few seconds error per month. I wear it every day. Over night it is always in the same position. I am very happy to have a Chronomaster from the time they were COSC certificatet.

For polishing and keeping the edges you need to Google Split Lap Polisher. I use one in Canada and the result is crisp and machine -like-made.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip! I'm working on perfecting a lapping machine I've built and when I'm finished I'll use it for sharp edges 👍

Great video as always, thanks. At 29:06 the watch is running backwards.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Ah, you're right! Is it a feature or a bug 🤔

Great video. Could you have replaced the perspex lens for glass?

@VintageWatchServices

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! No, watches from this era mostly use plastic crystals and the cases are shaped accordingly. Putting in a crystal made from a different material would not only make the watch less original, it would also potentially damage the case.

Would love to see you service an American pocket watch... maybe a Waltham, Hamilton or Elgin.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

I have that on my agenda also, and hope to be able to do so soon :)

So , Resurrection time ! You are like JC , saying : " Longines , wake - up and wind " ! Amazing , isn ' t it ? Great moments , watching this video . Thanks !

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching it!

Oh great, another vintage Longines I have to add to my collection! Gorgeous. Although, I have two vintage Longines, I may have to look at a newer one. Perhaps the VHP Conquest would be more accurate and still have some of that high-beat heritage? :) BTW, don't think I didn't catch the yolk spring ping. I thought it would be in orbit. Maybe for 20K subscribers you could do a new "watch cleaning machine segment"?

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Sorry to do this to you, Clay 😁 I do get a bit lazy sometimes in the worst way and don't always secure parts that can ping. But in general they don't ping far on me!

Yes! Also got a Zodiac with the writing on the barrel that it can't be opened. But I opened it and was able to close it again.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Yep, you can open them, but they can be tricky to close properly without damaging them so I prefer to only do so when I have a spare :)

I really enjoy your channel. Question: Is there a watch you have not worked on that is in your "Bucket list" of watches you'd love to work on? Cheers from this old retired coot living the dream in Tennessee.

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Bob! And yes, there are lots of watches I'd like to work on :) The caliber 11 from Breitling and friends for instance, the Angelus 215, etc etc.... I'll get there in time!

Great video! What cleaner are you using for the case?

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

I mostly use an Elma product called simply 1:9, but in different parts of the world there are different solutions.

@lkw6640

2 жыл бұрын

@@VintageWatchServices thank you! :)

Do you have a watch service video where you worked on a watch with a smooth second hand. Usually you see them pulse slightly like this watch does with every swing of the balance wheel.

29:07 we have a reverse time keeper!

Im fascinated with the engineering on that scale. Also wonder about the lubricants, they must be truly something. Do you use torque adjustable screwdrivers ?

@VintageWatchServices

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, John! No, I use normal screwdrivers.

I have two Favre Leuba watches with the 36000 bpm movements. I thought that they were used by several companies and were basically the same so is the Longines any different apart from branding? A also have a 70s longines chronograpgh but sady, by this time they were using standard Valjoux 7750 movements - they certainly do need to recover their heritage!

@VintageWatchServices

2 жыл бұрын

There were a few companies and consortiums making 36000 bph watches back in the day, it was a bit the same race as for making the first automatic chronograph. ETA also made 36000 bph movements.