Would you take the risk starting self studying watchmaking?

STANDY

When the tools to service a Speedmaster cost more than a Speedmaster. Then you need a few years of experience. Then it’s not a viable option in my book.


My analogy is,
Anyone can cut meat, anyone can read a book to dress a deer or animal. But to become a butcher it’s a 4 year apprenticeship.
( I go hunting with mates and it takes me two minutes to do what usually takes them 20 )


My advice is
So become a home butcher or home Chef but not a home watchmaker, heart surgeon

Canuck

There are few of us who, after a lifetime at this craft, know it all.

oinkitt

That's a bold claim, "know it all".

K killer67

I thought the same thing...people sling mud on the OP when he says he was just looking for recommendations on how to understand and possibly service his OWN watches (with all the intrinsic risks that entails) and the keyboard experts shut him up and down for it. Then you realize why....some guys already know it all so how can they come down to our level?

JimInOz

Lagavulin

Walrus

What we won’t try something because it’s hard

JFK said:

We choose to learn to service a watch in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard

ChrisN

I suspect that due to the global nature of the forum, your comprehension of the phrase @Canuck used is not what he intended. He is not saying that he "knows it all". He is saying that even after a lifetime of this work, very few people would make the claim that they "know it all".

Regards, Chris

Walrus

IMO it makes no sense not to stand by you. You have a desire to learn something. Of course you will probably break a few watches that’s how you learn. What we won’t try something because it’s hard. We have all learned skills. I didn’t get training to become a landlord or screw around with stocks or fix my snowblower or learn magic and card tricks. Why on earth should you be discouraged from doing something you would enjoy? Your not here asking if you should do drugs. I demand you start learning. Even try one of those online courses where they send you a watch and then teach you how to break it down and put it back and what everything does. I’ve been thinking of doing it. I did some things to an old benrus and got it running well. Fixed the crown on a vostok it’s still working OK.

I don’t think I’d learn well out of books the visual for me helped but I’m sure some books would be good for references or people who learn better through that format. Let me know when you got it down I’ll send you a watch to service for me.

JimInOz

If you want to get started and become a hobby watch tinkerer, check this basic tutorial. It lists some tips and pointers and shows the minimum you need in tools and supplies.

(Note that it only goes to Chap 14, then you just reverse what you have done).

I did that some years ago and have since ended up spending many thousands of dollars on better tools, proper lubricants, books, spare parts, Lagavulin etc etc.

Give it a try and see if you're up to the task, both physically and mentally, only then will you know if you are cut out to join the AOHWT.

ChrisN

I suspect that due to the global nature of the forum, your comprehension of the phrase @Canuck used is not what he intended. He is not saying that he "knows it all". He is saying that even after a lifetime of this work, very few people would make the claim that they "know it all".

Regards, Chris

Kargol

I don't want to take the job of anyone.

ChrisN

I can fully appreciate that you want to understand your watches more as they are clever little things.

If you just want to talk to a watchmaker, you don't really need any more information than any other casual user. I see, though, that the watchmaker you use asks you to source parts and try and find out why some things don't work. I suppose it makes sense that if you stick with that person, you build more knowledge to help him/her but it would be easier to find someone who understands the way these work. I remember a 613 date quickset you had where the watchmaker had not engaged the pin so, it couldn't work. No parts were needed, it just had to be assembled correctly. Was there a Zodiac as well?

The thing is that if your trained watchmaker can't identify and solve these issues, it won't be any easier for you. You could end up introducing long term issues with wear if you don't clean correctly as well. You won't know that until the next service when you find lots of worn parts.

De Carle is light on theory in that book but, he shows all the parts of a 30 series Omega (I think) so, it covers the strip and inspection of a basic movement without any complications so, you would learn something. Be careful of YouTube videos as they are not peer reviewed so, are often littered with errors and bad procedures.

I doubt you'll ever save any money at this. The expense in time and equipment runs so high that servicing your own watches will cost far more than paying someone else. You clearly have an interest so, why not build an ETA 6497/6498 watch yourself? You can source the movement, dial, hands, case and so on. Then clean, inspect and rebuild the movement making some adjustments as you go - I think you'd find this rewarding and remember that 6497/6498 parts cost about 10% of those for a fifties or sixties Omega.

The 30 series or ETA 6497/6498 have everything that you see in the base movement of any sixties Omega (more or less) so, that would give you an understanding of the basic movement. Then you start to look at complications: central sweep seconds; date; automatic; day; seconds only chrono; seconds and minutes chrono; seconds/minutes/hours chrono and so on. That would be a long way in the future though if you want to understand everything as you go.

Like I say, for your good watches, it will be far easier and more cost effective to build a relationship with a watchmaker who understands these things and keep this as an interesting hobby.

Good luck, Chris

Kargol

Of course I don’t! 😀

Walrus

Do you give regular customers price breaks. My guy has really been discounting the work he does for me. I’ve also sent him a couple people which I’m sure helps

gostang9

The best watchmakers have too much business and so they turn many away, why should they “discount” they work that has greater demand than they can supply?

For me, having a top watchmaker agree to service my watches while they turn others away is worth much more than a discount. @Archer had done a level of restoration on my watches that puts them back in like-new condition. He had to find, source, repair and adjust many things, and this work is very valuable. I have always been happy to pay his rates (which he could make even higher if he wished) as I know the experience, knowledge and work he does has great value.