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Recommended Vintage Omega Watch Projects

noless
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finally managed to get my hands on some braking grease, so its time to move on from hand wind to an automatic movement, first up is a 1011 (well featuring the mainplate and keyless works of a 1012...)

now if only those mainspring winders were actually in stock anywhere... for now its been sort of ok as i have just been replacing springs, but it adds up
 
Willi
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noless noless
As someone who is just starting the journey of getting into watchmaking I have gotten my start mostly vintage ladies pieces as they can be found significantly more affordably (and when the missus gets a watch out of the deal it seems to soften the blow a good deal too)

When a 60's 70's ladies watch with a 620 or 625 can be found for around $50 if you are patient, an overhaul and a new crystal and you can have something you can be proud of for under $100 (if I ignore all the tools and consumables ive bought...)

Currently working on refurbishing a C-case constellation though, my first venture into a mens vintage project.

Not gonna lie though, I am nervous to share it due to all of the hate around refurbishing cases... but at the end of the day, I bought it for me, and not for its resale value.

keen to see the results.👍
Also good luck with your watchmaking journey. A long and winding road…!
 
noless
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Cleaning done, the million dollar question is will i be able to get it back together again...

The 2 million dollar question is will it run, as this is a mix of a rusted 1011 and a donor also non running 1012...
 
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Kik_Kat_Kish
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168.005 Connie on listed on UK Ebay, seller states it's not working and requires a service.
The list excludes the following countries: Bolivia, Haiti, Liberia, Nicaragua, Turkmenistan, Paraguay, Mauritius, Sierra Leone, Venezuela

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/-/403500037438

If I wasn't in the process of selling my watch collection I would have had a go at bidding on this one (those dog legs 😉).

connie 1.jpg connie 2.jpg connie 3.jpg


🤦

connie 5.jpg connie 4.jpg
 
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ChrisN
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Kik_Kat_Kish Kik_Kat_Kish
168.005 Connie on listed on UK Ebay, seller states it's not working and requires a service.
I suspect this will go for a significant sum. If they re-fitted the ratchet wheel screw, then it would probably run and they'd make more. Looking at the seal, it will need a service anyway but always better to start with a working watch

Buying non working watches strikes me as a bad idea, unless you're a watchmaker or have a special relationship with one. Servicing and parts costs soon mount up.

Cheers, Chris
 
noless
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an update, it took me a while but she runs!

need to put together the rest of the dial side, but since this started life as a rusted 1011, and a non running 1012 that this runs at all is such a relief
 
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Kik_Kat_Kish
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noless noless
an update, it took me a while but she runs!

need to put together the rest of the dial side, but since this started life as a rusted 1011, and a non running 1012 that this runs at all is such a relief

Would love to see the C-case Connie once you've put it back together 👍
 
noless
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hit a bit of a snag on the dial side, i think its the date corrector yoke thats worn out, but something starts to slip when trying to adjust the time or the date, it will turn for a little bit then it will slip.

perhaps @Archer knows if this is a common issue on the 1011/1012 movements?
there seems to be more resistance than I am comfortable with when in time adjusting position too, so I need to get to the bottom of that too, none of the dial side gears seem to have too much play but I am dealing with keyless works parts that I had to do some rust removal on.

A shame as everything else adjusted wonderfully at least in dial down position.
 
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Archer
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noless noless
hit a bit of a snag on the dial side, i think its the date corrector yoke thats worn out, but something starts to slip when trying to adjust the time or the date, it will turn for a little bit then it will slip.

perhaps @Archer knows if this is a common issue on the 1011/1012 movements?
there seems to be more resistance than I am comfortable with when in time adjusting position too, so I need to get to the bottom of that too, none of the dial side gears seem to have too much play but I am dealing with keyless works parts that I had to do some rust removal on.

A shame as everything else adjusted wonderfully at least in dial down position.

If it slips when adjusting the time, most likely the cannon pinion is too loose.
 
noless
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Archer Archer
If it slips when adjusting the time, most likely the cannon pinion is too loose.
that was just the advice i needed, tweaked the cannon pinion and time setting feels a lot nicer, discovered another head scratcher though, in date quick change mode the date only advances, but when setting the date back it slips, cant see a reason that would happen yet...
 
noless
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I finally got to the bottom of the date disk not changing, the yoke was worn so the clutch wheel wasn't engaging the date corrector lever properly in the date setting position. luckily I had a spare since this is now a good portion donor movement already.

I had accidentally ordered a single domed sapphire crystal so for now theres a domed crystal in there.
The replacement dial i got which was for a different 1011 constellation unfortunately does not fit, so I lost that bet as well...

waiting on a new case clamp screw but I think unless i come across a nicer dial and hands this project is done!

I moved right onto a project I had for the missus and immediately had an accident though...
driving wheel for 3rd wheel on a 630 movement, snapped the pivot and this is now just a very expensive 620 movement, so that was a shame...
replacement parts would cost me about the same as the whole watch cost... so I think i'll be quietly harvesting the crown and stem and pretending that this one was never bought...
 
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noless
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Interesting, I think i have one of those bracelets on hand too...

Though I trally should finish the money pit that my current C-case project has turned into before looking at any new projects...

Sometimes buying a watch missing a lot of information on auction can lead to a lot of headaches, replacing parts that are from the wrong movement... trying to source new incabloc springs when one decided to join the swiss space program...

I guess I did know that this watchmaking journey wouldn't be without its trials and tribulations, but it sure does sting when the incabloc spring goes flying right when you thought a project was wrapping up...

Time to invest in a jewel press I guess...
 
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