What makes the 613/563 Quickset Date Fragile?

ErichKeane · Wed. 8:00am

Some photos of the 613 I pulled apart at one point for clarity of what I'm discussing:

I've now heard a few times (this time from a friend who sent their dad's watch to a NAWCC member) that one shouldn't use the quick-set date on a 563 (and presumably 613), as it is very fragile.

This got me thinking: I have a 613 I tore apart and frankly, the quickset, though awkward, doesn't have any parts that look particularly fragile? Can someone share what the failure mechanism is for these? This seems like a fairly robust mechanism.

Archer · Wed. 9:55am

Well, you are not showing the important part - mounted to the date indicator guard.

I think calling it fragile is a bit much, but I sort of understand it in a way. One of the issues with the way this specific quick set system works, is that it is by pulling the crown fully out, past the time setting position. Unfortunately when you try to just set the time, you can easily pull too far, and inadvertently activate the quick set when the date might already be in the process of changing.

So I can't say specifically what is being referred to, but my guess is that it's the date corrector. There as an older design, but Omega replaced that with a newer design.

The old design is the steel part that is laying on top of the package, and the new part is still in the package. The old part had no flexibility, so if you did engage the quick set when the date is changing, there's no give there. So this would either damage the teeth on the date indicator, or if you really forced it hard you might snap off the fine post that actuates this part, which is on the date corrector lever. Mind you even with the 100's of these that I have serviced, I can only recall one or maybe two of those levers having the post broken off.

The new corrector design is made to flex and basically deflect around the teeth of the date indicator if you activate the quick set at the wrong time. Sometimes the thin end will simply snap off, so it's possible that this is what is being referred to as fragile. But that is short sighted IMO, for the following reason...

New date corrector is approx, $25

New date indicator is approx, $65

New date corrector lever is approx, $95

So if anything is going to fail, you want it to be the corrector.

ErichKeane · Wed. 10:04am

OH! That makes a lot more sense. Though, I don't think I actually HAVE any further parts on my watch. Just the ones above, plus a cover plate. So it is just the pin above that does it.

That said, that is a 613, not a 564, so maybe the design is different? This would definitely cause the problem though.

Thank you!

sheepdoll · Wed. 10:06am

What I find fails in many of my examples is the setting Yoke.

Screenshot 2026-05-13 at 7.58.29 AM.webp

They are expensive at around 80 bucks or so in the usual marketplaces.

Not sure if these are machined or cast. Somewhere I have a thread where I attempted to cut one with the fiber laser.

The little pin breaks off easy.

I was more successful cutting the spiral corrector although finding the right material is tricky. These on the other hand show up a lot more often. Especially in job lots.

Archer · Wed. 10:13am

ErichKeane
OH! That makes a lot more sense. Though, I don't think I actually HAVE any further parts on my watch. Just the ones above, plus a cover plate. So it is just the pin above that does it.

Then you need some parts...the jumper, jumper spring, and date corrector are all mounted to the underside of the guard. That pin on the lever won't do anything by itself. The underside should look like this:

Arrow points to the old design as this was when I was taking it apart. Again this has no give to it, so you can often end up with damage to the teeth of the date indicator, like this:

That date indicator had to be replaced...

ErichKeane · Wed. 10:18am

Oh! RIGHT! I do have those parts. I see now! Thank you for being patient with my foolishness. I recall trying to line the pin up with that silly little guy in the past (I took FRIGHTENINGLY few photos of this tear down... it was my 5th or 6th 601 based in a row, so I figured I knew what I was doing apparently!).

I completely mis-interpreted what you were saying about where that replacement piece goes. I thought it went on the 'normal' date advance, not the quick set.

I guess I have to pick up a couple more of these so I can remind myself again 😁

Also, that carnage 🙁

Endshake · Thurs. 12:31pm

I think its also realy Importat to only use the quickset when this wheel is not engaged

ErichKeane · Thurs. 12:35pm

Endshake
I think its also realy Importat to only use the quickset when this wheel is not engaged

Yep! Thats exactly what Archer is saying above. If you do a quickset with that mid-move (the whole 10-2 am thing), it can ruin the date wheel. The design of it of course makes it easy to do accidentally.

Endshake · Thurs. 12:42pm

I once had a 564 where the date didn‘t want to jump Exept when i pulled the crow fast

Rasmus · Fri. 10:51am

Good to know!
Is the movement hard to service?
I just bought this movement from eBay, and im not an experienced watchmaker so I don't know if I bit of more than I can chew..

Also Im looking for a movement ring holder for this movement and the Seamaster deville 136.019 case, any tips on where I should start to look? Didn't have much luck on eBay..

ErichKeane · Fri. 10:58am

These movements are great. The second pinion design is IMO a weak design that makes installing a second hand tough on the automatics, but it is pretty straightforward of a movement.

No idea on a movement ring, folks that have them dont list/know where they came from, so its tough.

I have considered making one on the lathe a few times and seen folks make them on 3d printers, so that's the way I would go.

Endshake · Fri. 10:59am

There are many good videos on YouTube about this Movement. That helped me at the beginning.

Archer · Fri. 11:00am

Rasmus
Also Im looking for a movement ring holder for this movement and the Seamaster deville 136.019 case, any tips on where I should start to look? Didn't have much luck on eBay..

Are you sure of the case number? I don't see any ring listed for this case.

sheepdoll · Fri. 11:05am

Rasmus
Is the movement hard to service?

Not really. I think they are close to one of the easiest to work on. Never can get enough of them.

Note that there are several versions of the date mechanism. Some use the unforgiving wheels that are shown in this thread. Probably due to the issues mentioned they were replaced with a different design where a small spring moves the date wheel. This can slip out of the way when forced or reversed,

Quickset is really nice for when one does not wear the watch often. Just remember to set the time to 6:30 before setting the date. Then set the time.

As noted in other threads, these parts can be made with modern 'Maker' equipment like Fiber cutting and desktop milling. So the parts will be available for some time yet. At the moment they are readily available, although pricey, on places like eBay. So there is not a lot of incentive to make after market versions.

I suspect when the re-design happened (was there a recall?) that plenty of stock for the updated variation was shipped out to watchmakers back when that was a thing.

ErichKeane · Fri. 11:08am

Side note: I'd VERY much suggest working through an ST36 a handful of times before getting into something with Omega parts pricing 😀 While there is Omega parts availability, they tend to be more expensive when you screw up. Ive routinely paid more for individual parts on Omega stuff than an entire new ST36 movement.

So... until you're a more experienced watchmaker, I'd suggest tearing down/servicing a handful of the ST36, where the movement is like $40.

Archer · Fri. 11:17am

ErichKeane
The second pinion design is IMO a weak design that makes installing a second hand tough on the automatics, but it is pretty straightforward of a movement.

It's actually a very common design on vintage watches, using the friction spring on top of the pinion like this. It's only "weak" if you don't know how to install the hands properly. 😉

J/K but really if you use a piece of mainspring between the pinion and the spring, then use a proper movement holder with center support, they are as easy to work with as any other in terms of installing hands.

Rasmus · Fri. 11:17am

Archer
Are you sure of the case number? I don't see any ring listed for this case.

Yes, here's a photo of the case I just bought. Does it not use a ring ?

Archer · Fri. 11:18am

sheepdoll
Probably due to the issues mentioned they were replaced with a different design where a small spring moves the date wheel. This can slip out of the way when forced or reversed,

When reversed, yes. When forced - not really., That small spring is very stiff and it's not going to deflect and "fold" back.

Archer · Fri. 11:19am

Rasmus
Yes, here's a photo of the case I just bought. Does it not use a ring ?

As I said, no ring is shown in the bill of materials. Have you tried fitting the movement?

ErichKeane · Fri. 11:27am

Archer
It's actually a very common design on vintage watches, using the friction spring on top of the pinion like this. It's only "weak" if you don't know how to install the hands properly. 😉

J/K but really if you use a piece of mainspring between the pinion and the spring, then use a proper movement holder with center support, they are as easy to work with as any other in terms of installing hands.

Yep, I hate it every time I see it 😀

And yes, a proper movement holder with support becomes necessary, and it's a place that the LAST watchmaker often screwed up too.

My current Rolex 1530 project had a really beat up spring that I had to clean up.

What makes the 613/563 Quickset Date Fragile?

ErichKeane

Archer

ErichKeane

sheepdoll

Archer

ErichKeane

Endshake

ErichKeane

Endshake

Rasmus

ErichKeane

Endshake

Archer

sheepdoll

ErichKeane

Archer

Rasmus

Archer

Archer

ErichKeane

Similar threads

From The Archives: What Makes The Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321 So Special?

Cal 564 quickset date question

What Makes The Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321 So Special?

What Makes The Omega Speedmaster Alaska I Project Watch So Special?

What makes the dial 'sink' like this (vintage Heuer)