My 2025 watch projects

Hello!

I am posting this thread to keep tabs on myself, I have too many watch projects these days. I tend to set them aside and accumulate. Most are watches just needing a service. I also recently bought a pile of boxes from a closed watch shop. I thought it was mostly trash, turns out it is not... Lots and lots of bits to sort out:



So, even more projects. Excluding complete watches (some quietly waiting for years already) here is a first list of things I 'd like to bring out of the graveyard. Feel free to comment.

From 2024, things I bought:

#1 boley leinen reform.


#2 RAF WW2 aircraft clock, jaeger 8 days. A stuck case screw, I have drilled the head already so I can open it. Still some more drilling, and service.


#3 Breitling 7750, waiting for some subdial hands and I have everything


From the 2025 big pile of boxes:

#4 Mark II, needs a movement


#5 small seamaster, idem


#6 300m diver, issue engravings on back


#7 Doxa impermeable


#8 bezels!


That's all, for now. Some updates are incoming already 😀

I did say they accumulate... I forgot those 3 🤦. This list is already useful!

#9 a Tissot stadium I was gifted last year. Blocked pusher (rust), spend half a day removing the movement from the case, rescued the pusher. Still needs a service.


#10 a sterling silver Cyma from years ago. Most pivots worn out, case hinge shot. I had the hinge restored and bought new parts. I must see if it is still missing something.


#11 an early Seiko KS45 36bph from 1968, needed some parts. Bought a well working one cheaply to cannibalize.

#4 is coming along nicely... still a ton of work to do but most of the parts are there.

Sapphire upgrade

I must find the time to reassemble the movement. I managed to touch up the paint on the sweep hand:

A fery fine brush can be useful but for such a small surface I use a bergeon dip oiler to deposit a few drops of paint, which even itself while drying.

Well, I'm testing it right now...

I had to do some work on the mainplate I had. Why was it junked the first place ? The minute wheel pivot was broken off. It is directly machined in the mainplate in this case. So, it was either buying another mainplate, or drilling it precisely and making another post, then setting it in the hole. The goal was to spend the least amount of money possible while having a qualitative result, so I choose to repair it. It feels right to practice these repair skills regularly...


Now complete with a steel brake:


The only things that are not 100% satisfactory are the mounting clamps screw heads (not pretty), the balance wheel (very good timekeeping but has only 3 spokes, since it is from a Lemania movement) and the crown tends to stick to the tube. IMHO only the latter issue will need some further work. Also, I saw I missed a spot when touching up paint on the hands. Meh, it will stay as is.