Anyone even contemplating opening a watch without the right knowledge and proper tools - watch out - I am going after you. And anyone who proposes the use of pliers, vises, etc to noobs asking for advice will be hunted down.

If you need to open your watch for any reason - take it to a real watchmaker. Not a jeweler, the pawnshop or to your uncle who tinkers with watches. You do not take it to the guy in the mall who changes batteries in watches - and makes keys - and fixes your shoes while you wait.

This is my 18k rose gold, 14381, Connie. Looks great does it not? Almost perfect. Probably a one owner watch and almost not used.




Well... An idiot tried to open it and look what he did:



I bought it anyway but just some days earlier the caseback was pristine. If I could just get hold of that person...

My cal 354 Seamaster Chronometre:



Before cleaning but you get the picture...



My 20357 Polerouter:




There are other ways to ruin a caseback. Someone thought it was OK to use a perlon strap and then let the dirt and sweat dig in for years - 18k rose gold GL Connie:




All these watches are in almost top condition except for the caseback. Due to morons, do it yourselfers and idiots.

Please post your own examples to deter people from doing this - and selfproclaimed experts encouraging it.

 

My Longines Flagship cal. 345:



An ignor-anus tried opening mine, too:



Somehow, luckily, they spared the enamel ...

 

Meet me at ΩF's armory room and I'll dispense the aluminum bats as needed.

 

Don't bother. @styggpyggeno1 already has his own armoury.

 

Good point. Fortunately, for those who insist on tinkering anyway, there exist specific tools for watches that are not likely to slip and mar the caseback. I'm using the one mentioned here for Speedmasters, for example:

 

It probably cost 200 when they did it.

 

I opened a watch that I semi-recently bought in front of the owner to check the movement. I used my case opening ball. He was incredulous when I took it out.



"Where did you find THAT?"
"I bought it from a watch tool supplier."
"THAT is designed to open case backs?"

Yep, buddy. It sure is. No scratches neither.

 

This is the reason my only watch repair specialty remains exclusively with changing straps!

 

For those who insist on opening case backs to take movement photos, or to check movements, please remember to completely and thoroughly clean around the case back where it meets the case to remove any body cheese or dirt that might be in that seam. If you don't then it may end up in the watch movement...I recommend using a toothpick that can be sharpened well to really get into the seam to clean out the crap.

Cheers, Al

 

Good advice. Glad you put it here before member theridewill told people to scrub their watches with hydrochloric acid and a grill brush.

 

It can happen in any bracelet...



It's the really "waxy" body cheese that turns my stomach the most...







I do often wonder if anyone ever cleans the bracelets on their watches. And yes I wear straps most of the time...

 

Thanks a lot--and I was planning on having pizza soon

 

Again with this "boody cheese"!!

 

Oops body cheese, booty cheese would be worse!!