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Asking about parts

janice&fred
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efauser efauser
Well, there goes 50% of the noob posts.

Those redundant noob posts y'all find so annoying will start looking pretty good when I start posting such provocative topics such as "Which is better to wear on a Tuesday, Omega or Rolex?" and "Does this new speedy make my wrist look fat?" 馃榿
 
JimInOz
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janice&fred janice&fred
Those redundant noob posts y'all find so annoying will start looking pretty good when I start posting such provocative topics such as "Which is better to wear on a Tuesday, Omega or Rolex?" and "Does this new speedy make my wrist look fat?" 馃榿

So you're the mole embedded here by WUS!
 
Vintagewtchzilla
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janice&fred janice&fred
Those redundant noob posts y'all find so annoying will start looking pretty good when I start posting such provocative topics such as "Which is better to wear on a Tuesday, Omega or Rolex?" and "Does this new speedy make my wrist look fat?" 馃榿

don't open pandoras box ....

-------------
about the hunt of parts and watches. in general it's for the most of us a hobby and by definition

HOBBY = spending as much time and money as possible to reach minimal or zero outcome
 
JwRosenthal
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JimInOz JimInOz
So you're the mole embedded here by WUS!
How much wrist presence does this watch have?
Is there really a difference between a Steinhart and a Rolex- it's just a watch?
Does this watch make my ass look big?
 
Vintagewtchzilla
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
How much wrist presence does this watch have?
Is there really a difference between a Steinhart and a Rolex- it's just a watch?
Does this watch make my ass look big?



can i wear a speedmaster even i am not an cosmonaut ?

if i lick a radium dial, will i become HULK ?
 
krogerfoot
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Vintagewtchzilla Vintagewtchzilla
can i wear a speedmaster even i am not an cosmonaut ?

if i lick a radium dial, will i become HULK ?
Is $5000 a good price for a 1980s Timex reverse panda "Evil Brenda" "Fat Aroma" with original sneeze guard? How much will this timepiece be worth in ten years?
 
Vintagewtchzilla
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krogerfoot krogerfoot
Is $5000 a good price for a 1980s Timex reverse panda "Evil Brenda" "Fat Aroma" with original sneeze guard? How much will this timepiece be worth in ten years?

would only buy if it has box and papers and a handwritten letter from original 3rd owner that it was used when they signed the contract that usa will use the metric system for everything. In that case it will be woth about 30-45k bald eagles per bowling center

go for it
 
Fritz
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Archer Archer
Based on how people don't read stickies, my prediction is that this will have no effect...but one can hope I suppose.

On the subject of parts, I am in general agreement - as a watchmaker it's my job to find the parts. That is certainly true for movement parts, or new replacement parts. If someone wants and original, used, period correct "whatever" for their watch though, that's when I say be my guest and find it yourself, because it will likely be cheaper than paying me to find it for you...


Agreed... The guy who works on my old pocketwatches does so quite happily, but when something is actually broken he tells me to go hunt the piece down myself, the watch usually isn't worth my paying his time to find the parts. But, If he's working on something modern I hear... "yeah, don't worry, I can get that".
 
JwRosenthal
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It's important to note that even watchmakers references can be incorrect sometimes. I had brought my watchmaker an early 60's Zodiac Seawolf (all watchmakers roll eyes here), and the winding pinion had a broken tooth. According to his reference material, this was based on an AS movement, and shared parts with a common GP movement. He ordered 2 different NOS pinions from eBay and neither were correct- despite the cross reference material saying it was the right part.
He was able to get the watch back together and working, albeit manual winding was a problem (it would slip when it hit the bad tooth), but watch worked perfectly with auto winding. I tracked down someone parting the same Zodiac movment on eBay months later and the pinion was perfect, I bought it and brought it to my watchmaker and he installed it gratis- watch works perfectly now. But he never charged me for his time to research, nor did he charge me for the 2 pinions he ordered that didn't work- and was out of pocket on those.
Sometimes it is a collective effort when it comes to these vintage pieces and both watchmaker and client need to work together and have realistic expectation of the outcome. I can't expect he can get anything and sometimes it's gonna be as good as he can get it. Then it's up to me to do the leg work to get the parts. I have had great luck sourcing parts from members here that my watchmaker couldn't get. The more resources, the better.
 
Archer
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
It's important to note that even watchmakers references can be incorrect sometimes.

This is likely related to the fact that when different brands take what is a relatively common movement, they sometimes make changes. A good modern example of this is an ETA 2824-2 used in the original Tudor Black Bay. As we know, Rolex changed the regulation system on this and removed the ETACHRON system, likely because they wanted to put their own stamp on the movement - this is actually a step backwards in my opinion, but brand's have their reasons for things.

I just finished assembly an AS 1475 alarm movement, and I can tell you that this was used by several brands, and there are differences in the movement depending on what brands used the movement.

Variations can include smooth or screwed balances, conical pivots or straight pivots, different types of shock absorbers, etc. Sometimes it's not easy to find the information for the very specific movement you have, when only rather generic parts lists are available. This is one reason it's my job to find these movement parts, because collectors would have no idea generally about details like this. What is the right crown or set of hands for the particular period of the watch? Yes, that's collector expertise, but the movement should be the watchmaker's expertise, as he has it apart in front of him.

Of course help like you provided can be welcome for sure.

Cheers, Al
 
JwRosenthal
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Archer Archer
Of course help like you provided can be welcome for sure.

Cheers, Al
I can't expect my watchmaker to have a saved eBay search for "zodiac pinion" and check it daily in hopes to find the part for my watch when it pops up months after he has already had it apart and moved on to other work. That is where we as collectors need to be of help- assuming the watchmaker is open to that help, and the help is actual help and not pestering.
 
airansun
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I鈥檝e sourced 321 movement parts for my watchmaker, particularly the ones that aren鈥檛 made anymore, as well as some vintage Omega and Rolex crystals that were no longer available. Honestly, I don鈥檛 mind. And, it gives me the opportunity to learn.

On the other hand, there have been times where he already had a vintage spare among his accumulated hoard of watch parts and movements. He鈥檚 in his late 70鈥檚 and has been at this for a long time.
 
Archer
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
and the help is actual help and not pestering.

It's a fine line is all I'll say. 馃槈
 
JwRosenthal
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Archer Archer
It's a fine line is all I'll say. 馃槈
In the case of my zodiac pinion, he sent me a picture of the broken pinion when he couldn't find the correct part. I had a broad saved search for "zodiac movement" on my eBay searches and looked at every one that popped over the next several months (my morning coffee ritual). When I saw one that looked like his picture from the same movement, I sent him the link via email and he responded "that's it- grab it".
 
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