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How do you guys get pictures of your watch movements

STANDY
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IanES IanES
All you guys who post pictures of their watch movements - do you all have special tools to open watches? Where do you get them? or how do you open them?

Thanks
Ian

Only cases I open are Cases of Beer
0EF81575-0F05-4D82-AA63-479A482A0635.jpeg



Use pictures from services or from sellers. No need to open a watch if your not going to repair or service it.

A lot do but my view is unless you have seals and experience your just letting dust in.
 
krogerfoot
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You're being a good sport in the face of a bit of inhospitality. As JimInOz said, it only takes a bit of practice to open most watches, but you don't want your initial misadventures to leave gouges on a valuable piece. Get a decent case wrench and practice with some cheap watches before you tackle something you don't want to damage.

I got a cheapo three-pronged case wrench that probably wasn't much better than taking a pair of pliers to my watches. The tool I use now is this proper Meikosha two-prong device that's also optimal for messing up any table you place it upon.

IMG_6816.JPG


To reiterate: Try the sticky-ball method first. Then practice getting the back off some less essential pieces before you tear into something you don't want to damage.
 
kkt
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Most of the watches I buy need service. When I pick them up from service, I ask Nesbit's to open the case and I take photos on their counter. They have a nice north-facing window. I'm sure they'd also be happy to open the cases when I do the occassional pressure check.
 
Dan S
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IanES IanES
I'm sure there's video, pictures and advice "on the web" answering every question ever asked on this forum.

Hey. This site is also "On the Web". Why should advice from 'other' sites be any better than the advice from members of 'this' site?

Most people arrive here the first time after 'googling' for advice and finding this site top of the search results. If everyone clicked on the second result on google then nobody would arrive here at all and you'd have the place to yourselves.

There's no harm in asking, but you might also want to peruse some of the previous threads on this same topic. In some of those threads, people posted photos of the specific tools they own, and provided additional advice about opening difficult cases. However, after posting that information once or twice, they may not bother to go into so much detail in subsequent threads on the same topic.
 
Archer
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IanES IanES
Years ago I bought a tool for opening Rolex. It came with 5 or 6 dies and a t-bar. One of the dies fitted real snug and I went for it. I guess I didn't have enough downforce because it slipped and made a real mess of the case back. Never tried to open a watch again.

Rolex uses one of the stupidest designs out there IMO. Those fine teeth are often mangled when I get one in for service, in particular on precious metal cases...
 
IanES
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Archer Archer
Rolex uses one of the stupidest designs out there IMO. Those fine teeth are often mangled when I get one in for service, in particular on precious metal cases...

In light of an answer I gave somebody a couple of posts above I 'have' looked at quite a few utube videos of people opening speedmasters. Some using sticky balls, others using tape. Many using 'pronged' tools with t-bar and some using fancy expensive looking case holder with threaded screw-down tool to hold the die. I assume Rolex, with those fine teeth, are designed for opening with one of those special tools with case holder where the die can be screwed right down into the grooves and can't pop out.

and, in light of my own disaster/experience with my submariner, I'm just reluctant to try anything less than that full case holder with screw down tool - so was curious as to what you guys use on your speedos.
 
Archer
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IanES IanES
In light of an answer I gave somebody a couple of posts above I 'have' looked at quite a few utube videos of people opening speedmasters. Some using sticky balls, others using tape. Many using 'pronged' tools with t-bar and some using fancy expensive looking case holder with threaded screw-down tool to hold the die. I assume Rolex, with those fine teeth, are designed for opening with one of those special tools with case holder where the die can be screwed right down into the grooves and can't pop out.

and, in light of my own disaster/experience with my submariner, I'm just reluctant to try anything less than that full case holder with screw down tool - so was curious as to what you guys use on your speedos.

I use a Bergeon 5700 case opener, with brand specific dies when needed, and most of the time with urethane dies that are non-marking.

https://www.esslinger.com/bergeon-5700-watch-back-opener-for-waterproof-watches/
 
gostang9
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trash_gordon trash_gordon
I try it first with a squashball. No risk of damage.
If it not works with a squashball i use doublesided powerstrips attached on the table and put the watchback on it and turn while pushing it down.
Who holds and pushes down the watch while you turn the table?
😕
 
IanES
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gostang9 gostang9
Who holds and pushes down the watch while you turn the table?
😕

I wouldn't be able to turn the table on my own - We'd need to get some friends in.

Now that would be a damn fine utube-watch-openin video 😀
 
gostang9
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IanES IanES
I wouldn't be able to turn the table on my own - We'd need to get some friends in.

Now that would be a damn fine utube-watch-openin video 😀
Might need to invest in a turn table... 😉
 
gostang9
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STANDY STANDY
Use pictures from services or from sellers. No need to open a watch if your not going to repair or service it.

A lot do but my view is unless you have seals and experience your just letting dust in.
A properly serviced and maintained Speedy has a water resistance of 50m. Once you open it, there’s a chance you’ll pinch or damage the seal thereby ruining this. Not worth it in most cases.

I did purchase one of @Pahawi’s caseback openers and it’s pretty cool, but more for show than actually opening the case back.
 
jolyon
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Opening it is the easy part though - remember the seals can be damaged and you can lose your water resistance. Not to mention, if you move the anti-magnetic shield, dust and dirt can get in. Good luck though, it's fun checking out the calibre!
 
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