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Advice regarding the purchase of a case back opener
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adrienbelanger
·LG/Bergeon Jaxa wrench with the right pins. Use a movement holder, and go slowly! A piece of protective plastic is a good idea too.
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Pahawi
·I do my own 😀
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philh
·Thank you all posters for your kind advice
Bought a ball (intrigued as to how it will function) a forked opener and a watch holder.
Practice watch is an old fashioned 1960s Omega I found in a sock drawer left there by an old uncle. I think its called something like a speed something or other and belonged to some guy called Ed White but I know from a lot of the older forum members that this is not worth posting about as it annoys them
When I have finished practicing on it I will post some pictures if anyone is interested ?
Bought a ball (intrigued as to how it will function) a forked opener and a watch holder.
Practice watch is an old fashioned 1960s Omega I found in a sock drawer left there by an old uncle. I think its called something like a speed something or other and belonged to some guy called Ed White but I know from a lot of the older forum members that this is not worth posting about as it annoys them
When I have finished practicing on it I will post some pictures if anyone is interested ?
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mrs_LA
·Looking for a nice caseback opener as well to check movements, etc. It would come in handy for purchasing some watches in the future. Is the sticky ball enough to open Rolex oyster cases or would the set from eBay/Amazon (usually around $23-25) be the better option?
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JimInOz
··Melbourne AustraliaLooking for a nice caseback opener as well to check movements, etc. It would come in handy for purchasing some watches in the future.
1. - I DOUBT ANY SENSIBLE SELLER WOULD ALLOW YOU TO OPEN THEIR WATCH.
2. - AS SOON AS YOU OPEN A WATCH AFTER PURCHASE IT BECOMES YOURS - NO REGRETS, NO RETURNS.
Is the sticky ball enough to open Rolex oyster cases
NOT IF IT WAS CLOSED CORRECTLY.
or would the set from eBay/Amazon (usually around $23-25) be the better option?
DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH DAMAGE YOU WANT TO INFLICT ON YOUR CASEBACKS.
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Wryfox
·Love these. Won't help for Rolex. Expensive as all Bergeon tools are:
http://www.amazon.com/Bergeon-Watch-Case-Opener-Four/dp/B002CVUO1A/
Good god, Bergeon has to have massive profit margin. Its good to be them.
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nonuffinkbloke
·I must confess I have thought about buying a case back opener... probably a @Pahawi with 6 contact points??? ........ just to take another peek at the old 321 ticking away. 😕
but then I can here my old Dad's voice in my head from 50 years ago: 😲
"Oye!!!... what are you up to?...........don't start 'fakkin about' with my Omeeeyga! .... you'll get a kick up the arse!" 😡
I smile to myself and think " maybe I'll just phone Simon Freese". 😀
but then I can here my old Dad's voice in my head from 50 years ago: 😲
"Oye!!!... what are you up to?...........don't start 'fakkin about' with my Omeeeyga! .... you'll get a kick up the arse!" 😡
I smile to myself and think " maybe I'll just phone Simon Freese". 😀
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ICONO
·I must confess I have thought about buying a case back opener... probably a @Pahawi with 6 contact points??? ........ just to take another peek at the old 321 ticking away. 😕
but then I can here my old Dad's voice in my head from 50 years ago: 😲
"Oye!!!... what are you up to?...........don't start 'fakkin about' with my Omeeeyga! .... you'll get a kick up the arse!" 😡
I smile to myself and think " maybe I'll just phone Simon Freese". 😀
Initial pictures are looking good, Jonathan !
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Canuck
·What to buy? Depends on how specialized you want to be.
For Rolex only.
View attachment 755882
Blume & Mercier only.
For Rolex only.
View attachment 755882
Blume & Mercier only.
Edited:
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nonuffinkbloke
·Initial pictures are looking good, Jonathan !
@ICONO wrote:
"Also be aware that light has different ‘colour temperatures’ It is ‘blue’ in the morning …and ‘yellow’ in the Evening…that colour temperature affects the final image. If you shoot in the evening you may dramatically over emphasise the ‘brownness’ of the dial…without intending to do so.
Try late morning / early afternoon ?"
https://omegaforums.net/threads/help-i-know-nuffink-about-taking-photographs.94114/#post-1221277
For a novice photographer, with a very basic camera, this was very interesting and I'm going to try it again over the weekend.
It's always great to learn new things. 👍
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whippetman01
·If you need perfection buy this
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Dan S
·Looking for a nice caseback opener as well to check movements, etc. It would come in handy for purchasing some watches in the future. Is the sticky ball enough to open Rolex oyster cases or would the set from eBay/Amazon (usually around $23-25) be the better option?
I have the L-G "Openall" version of this tool that mounts in a bench vise. I have opened quite a few oyster cases with no mis-steps. Unfortunately, I think the price is closer to $100 than $25.
I also have an L-G case wrench that is my favorite for opening screw-in case backs. It's much less expensive than the Bergeon wrench mentioned above, and I don't know how a professional would view it, but it seems to be a high quality tool. It is solid, with very little play, and is a huge improvement over the cheapo wrenches that come in typical watch repair kits.
I like to use both of these tools with a nylon-pin case-holder, which can also be mounted in a vise to free up your hands.
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STANDY
··schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collectorNew guy with something that may be of help to any watch collector. I found this thread rather than start one. I've been collecting and tinkering with watches for about 30 years, and I have scratched up more than my share of backs in that time. Yes, most can be opened with a rubber ball, two point case tool, dreaded 3 point (jaxa) tool. I like to call that one the Terminator, as it has probably destroyed more case backs than Kim Jung Un has obliterated double cheeseburgers .
After running into a couple of watches that seemed impossible, even when taken to pro watchmaker with better tools, I bought a decent opener. The basic item is shown a couple of posts above mine. It is generally referred to as the Bergeon 5700, and that tool is excellent, but I was able to compare it to the much less expensive 5700 style openers you can find for about 100 usd, and I was very impressed.
The Bergeon is still superior in build quality, tighter, better opening dies, etc, but at 800 usd on Esslinger compared to 100 for the wannabe, I highly recommend the Chinese version for amateurs. I don't want to make this a full review, but it is worth noting that the lesser unit is still a very formidable piece of equipment and will open anything that can be opened. It comes with some very nice Rolex dies and can use any die made for the Bergeon. Honestly, there is very little difference between the two devices.
No, I have no financial interest in either, but I do love watches and know that owning one of these for 100 will save many, many case backs from being badly scarred. There are probably several brand names, but you can search for 5700. They are cast iron, and I have found the parts to be very well made. When you run into one of those screw down backs that is 50 yrs old and has never been removed, the ones with the gasket that has turned to epoxy, this tool (and sometimes a little heat) will open the watch without damage. Sorry for dragging on.
FIFY 😁
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STANDY
··schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collectorAnd a heart-felt FIFY to you. Is that French?
No just a good old Aussie smartarse “Fixed It For You” in young people speak.
PS, I’m old
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roman9662
·I'm frankly surprised that no one is offering the three point openers with engineered polymer pins. They would reduce the case back scratches . Properly designed they could shear before scratching the metal back. Imagine different shear pressures for different metals.
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gefmey
·I've always found the "ball" capable of opening almost anything screw back. It has the least potential for doing damage, and if in the end it will not open, there's always the watchmaker. You do have to make sure it's pumped up all the way, and clean. Dust and dirt will stick to it and reduce effectiveness. A little rinse and dry with lintless cloth does the trick
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gefmey
·The ball works for me most of the time since I can't do any damage with it 🤬 and as a strict amateur, any problem backs will go to the watchmaker. I agree that if you are going to seriously try to open lots of watches, the ball alone will not work for you.
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BenBagbag
·Make sure to clean the rubber ball before using it. If it's got schmutz on it I think it won't make a good seal and can leave swirl marks on caseback.
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