Halcro
157
Dried oil.....
I can understand the fact that the oils in a watch become 'used up' over time (say 5 years) due to heat and friction.......but I am amazed that in the 21st century.....man has not invented a synthetic oil which will not dry up from 'non-use'?
I know that Patek Philippe does not use oils in the watches in their museum collection as they do not 'run'......
My watch apparently had its newly serviced oils dry up in a safe over a year or two?
So if one were to keep some watches in a safe or bank vault or other form of storage.....should we also not use oils?
Or...put another way.....to prevent the oils in a watch from drying due to inactivity......what is the recommended interval to wind these stored watches?
Intending to adjust vintage movement myself?
Having just acquired a 1952 Patek Ref 1491 with Cal. 12-120 Movement..... I find that wearing it daily.....it loses between 15-20 sec a day. I intend to open the back and adjust the screw thread which moves the lever on the adjustment scale..... Any advic...
I believe that you need much more ...
Tools and equipments to do a proper adjustment. If the watch don't requires a full maintenance, a watchmaker can do this on a matter of minutes using a time machine and skills. Since the watch is gaining time, it also may need to be demagnetized and this ...
The watch has been serviced....
Thank you Nilo, The watch is losing time......not gaining.......and it has been recently serviced by the PP AD from whom I just bought it. I thought that regulating the precision of the timing..........appreciating that it is a. 60 year old watch......sho...
If the watch was serviced recently ...
And is losing time it should be a very simple regulation, provided that the watchmaker has a proper time machine. Few weeks back I took a watch with the same issue to my watchmaker and one of his assistants did a perfect regulation in less time that took ...
I am sure your AD will gladly do the adjustment...
I would not take the chance of slipping or any other mishap. With the right tools the adjustment should be very quick and easy (for a watchmaker) Don .
From your picture, something is wrong.
The regulator arm is more toward the "S" for slow than it should be. The F & S mean fast and slow, as I'm sure you've realized. In times past, moving the regulator arm on that scale was a quick, less professional way of adjusting the timing of one's w...
Thanks....
Firstly.....thanks to everyone who suggested I DON'T attempt a DIY fix......... I took the watch to my PP AD who immediately saw that the Amplitude was poor at 215-230° rather than 270°+.....but on opening the back.....saw that the movement was in a beaut...
Indded, very nice, pristine movement...
Hi, looks to be in very nice shape. I'd let the watchmaker check for the reason of low amplitude though - I guess you'll not achieve the best timekeeping with a low amplitude like this. I'm sure you know already, but keep in mind also that your movement d...
Here are what my watchmaker believes that ...
Can cause low amplitude: Weak mainspring (That was my first guess, based on the age of the watch) He asked if the watch is maintaining a good power reserve. Damaged or dirt pivots Wheels touching, any Damaged pinion gears Pallet pivot with dirty (old oil)...
That looks correct.
Ah, I thought it was very strange to have a watch straight from an actual PP AD timed by moving the regulator. As I suspected, there was more to it. Your actual watch appears to have its regulator arm centered, so it was most likely adjusted the correct w...
+/ - 1 Sec/Day
Thank you Ophluchus, You have such a clear way of explaining technical issues that I think you may teach watchmaking?...... If not?......perhaps you should? :-) I have taken a while to report back because after the watchmaker adjusted my watch (which he d...
your watchmaker? under warranty?
Hello Henry, I haven't been able to fully follow the story of whose watchmakers looked at it with which findings, but I'm not understanding the idea of having your watchmaker look at it after some several more months (close to a year) but before your warr...
Both Patek AD and Service Centres
Hi John, Thanks for your posting and your positive comments on the watch :-)..... Perhaps I wasn't clear enough in my postings?...... The watch was bought from a Patek AD and Authorised Service Centre in Los Angeles I live in Sydney The watch comes with a...
That's great news. However...
I would take whichever option has the watch being re-serviced as soon as possible. Assuming the worst, if a balance pivot is bent, or something else mechanically maladjusted just by chance, letting it run for almost a year will damage the watch further as...
I took your advice...
and gave my Patek to the the watchmaker last week for a full service. He found that the oil had dried on the balance wheel pivot....and there was brown 'gunk' on the pallet lever which he had to polish off. The amplitude is now 280-300° and it is keeping ...
Thought so
Thought so- sounded like dried oil. That will happen when they are just thrown in a drawer for a year! The stuff on the pallets was most likely the escapement oil dried up as well. I am glad you took my advice, and glad to see it was nothing other than dr...
Dried oil.....
I can understand the fact that the oils in a watch become 'used up' over time (say 5 years) due to heat and friction.......but I am amazed that in the 21st century.....man has not invented a synthetic oil which will not dry up from 'non-use'? I know that ...
