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Your opinion on this cal. 321 movement issue please…

M'Bob
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You can see from the first photo that the cage holding the regulator jewel is normal.

IMG_3405.jpeg


In the second photo, the cage is completely mangled:


IMG_3404.jpeg


So, my question is: if you were buying the second watch, would you insist on this being fixed, or replaced? Is this part even available? Thanks
 
ahsposo
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Looking at the screws, I'd say they

a) are not the same watch

or
b) somebody beavered up a pristine looking movement.

I feel sure that is a replaceable part. Just don't take back to the butcher that did that.
 
M'Bob
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My fault, I wasn’t clear: the first watch was posted as an example of what the normal cage looks like. The second picture is a movement shot from a watch I’m considering.

I think the cage is too far gone to fix, and needs to be replaced, but: 1) not sure if the part can be found, and, 2), not sure how necessary it is to replace. A deal breaker?
 
gatorcpa
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I’m not convinced there is anything wrong. Looks like there are shadows and picture is way out of focus.

upload_2024-1-9_19-59-41.png


See if there are pictures of the movement from other angles.
gatorcpa
 
sheepdoll
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If by cage you mean the incabloc spring?

These are fairly common parts as the same size can fit many watches. They can be fragile. Usually one leg breaks off. There is usually a U clip underneath what holds the jewel assembly in place. My avatar is a fun toy that shows how all this fits together.

I wonder now who still makes the incabloc parts? I think at one time it was an independent company.
 
M'Bob
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sheepdoll sheepdoll
If by cage you mean the incabloc spring?

These are fairly common parts as the same size can fit many watches. They can be fragile. Usually one leg breaks off. There is usually a U clip underneath what holds the jewel assembly in place. My avatar is a fun toy that shows how all this fits together.

I wonder now who still makes the incabloc parts? I think at one time it was an independent company.

So, that specific part isn’t just for a cal. 321?
 
Dan S
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That incabloc shock protection device is one of the most common movement parts of all time, probably found in thousands of movements.
 
tritto
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The Incabloc spring will be available - that's not a big issue. However, it's not an easy part to fit. You actually need to remove the balance from the balance cock and then use a jewelling tool to press out the incabloc setting then refit the setting with the new spring and press it back in and adjust its height precisely. A watchmaker will do this, but not every watchmaker should be let loose on a 321 movement. I think the spring is actually ok, but ask for some better photos.
 
ghce
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Any Watchmaker worth his salt would do that in his sleep.
And if he can't he obviously would not be a trained Watchmaker.
 
Archer
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sheepdoll sheepdoll
I wonder now who still makes the incabloc parts? I think at one time it was an independent company.

That would be Incabloc...
 
Archer
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M'Bob M'Bob
So, that specific part isn’t just for a cal. 321?

That spring is used on 21 different Omega movements. There will likely be many more that are non-Omega.

BTW it looks fine to me...
 
M'Bob
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And while we’re at it…

Do these screw heads look unusually buggered, or par for the course on this age watch:

IMG_3404.jpeg
 
Archer
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Nothing out of the ordinary I would say...
 
M'Bob
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Archer Archer
Nothing out of the ordinary I would say...

Thanks. Anything of concern jumping out at you?
 
Archer
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Needs a service, but nothing other than that.
 
M'Bob
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Archer Archer
Needs a service, but nothing other than that.

Does what appears to be case corrosion in the lower right side of the photo look troubling?
 
Davidt
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M'Bob M'Bob
Does what appears to be case corrosion in the lower right side of the photo look troubling?

Certainly looks like pitting. More photos are required to see how bad it is.
 
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