Ok team, an update.
Finally got the energy yesterday to spend a few hours doing the transplant and got it all ready.
Pulled apart the watch and then the replacement movement from AliExpress.
VERY carefully tried to get the gem (is that what they're even called?) off that sits under the date wheel that I lost previously and it wouldn't budge... Turned the hour hands a bit to make more room and it clicked over the 24hrs and SNAP! The gem flew off just like it did on my original movement. The wave of panic that went over me was up there with the best of them. This time I did hear the gem land and I think it was on my workstation.
After looking for a while, I looked right in front of me and I think I saw it... Now for those of you who have never pulled a watch apart in real detail and have only ever admired from the sidelines on forums like this, when you see the images they are under such magnification, it's hard to describe. Now I don't profess to have perfect 20/20 vision anymore, but I don't wear glasses and it's still very sharp. This gem was RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME on the desk and I could hardly see it. Granted I have a black workstation and they may well be a reason that professionals have green, but CHRIST ALMIGHTY these parts are smaller than you can fathom. You'll see in the images below that I have it on a piece of Rodico for reference next to a tiny screwdriver.
The good news is it was found. I realised that I had to pull the date finger out and do this properly so that's what I did. I also looked up the manual and saw what needed oiling as I thought that given how badly it was running, it needed something to help it along. I used the Moebius 9010 for all the bits I did. Also oiling is incredibly difficult to get right and I'd be pretty sure mine wasn't spot on.
Regardless, there were some ups and downs and issues but it all went together well in the end and it is working again.
As for timekeeping? Well, I'm pleased to say that it isn't stopping after 4-9hrs like it was and I'd be pretty sure it was due to that modified and probably bent old date wheel that I tried to put a new piece of metal onto. The date ticks over again and she isn't stopping. I will do a test and see how long it does last, but I think anything over 24hrs and I'll be happy.
The average (I won't say bad, but I don't love it) news is that the timekeeping isn't great still... it's better than it was, but upon the first 24hrs on the wrist, I estimate that it lost just over a minute.
However since I changed the date and reset it again today, it seems to have gotten worse and on the last count, it lost a minute in the last hour!
I'll keep monitoring it, but I've come to the conclusion that I am at the peak of my desired watchmaking skill right now as to clean and oil an entire watch would require so much new equipment and also time for me to learn that I don't think it's worth it. If it's really bad, I think I'll just have to bite the bullet and purchase a good mechanism and just transplant it.
I want a really good timekeeper as I'm pretty anal about that stuff. A part of me still wants a timegrapher so that I can know but the issue is then I will actually really know how bad it is and won't be able to do anything about it.
If any of you who have experience want to chime in on modifying the timing and if you think it's really hard or if I could do it, I'm all ears.
The only other thought I had was I have read a lot about de-magnetising watches and that it can make a huge difference. If that's not too hard would also like to hear about it.
KJ2020 I had a pretty good look at the movements and they're not the same, they're close but my ZF one is finished far better and the engraving on the back is also much more defined. Colours of the wheels are better on mine etc. Images below of the AliExpress one.
Regardless, still out and about enjoying her!
Finally got the energy yesterday to spend a few hours doing the transplant and got it all ready.
Pulled apart the watch and then the replacement movement from AliExpress.
VERY carefully tried to get the gem (is that what they're even called?) off that sits under the date wheel that I lost previously and it wouldn't budge... Turned the hour hands a bit to make more room and it clicked over the 24hrs and SNAP! The gem flew off just like it did on my original movement. The wave of panic that went over me was up there with the best of them. This time I did hear the gem land and I think it was on my workstation.
After looking for a while, I looked right in front of me and I think I saw it... Now for those of you who have never pulled a watch apart in real detail and have only ever admired from the sidelines on forums like this, when you see the images they are under such magnification, it's hard to describe. Now I don't profess to have perfect 20/20 vision anymore, but I don't wear glasses and it's still very sharp. This gem was RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME on the desk and I could hardly see it. Granted I have a black workstation and they may well be a reason that professionals have green, but CHRIST ALMIGHTY these parts are smaller than you can fathom. You'll see in the images below that I have it on a piece of Rodico for reference next to a tiny screwdriver.
The good news is it was found. I realised that I had to pull the date finger out and do this properly so that's what I did. I also looked up the manual and saw what needed oiling as I thought that given how badly it was running, it needed something to help it along. I used the Moebius 9010 for all the bits I did. Also oiling is incredibly difficult to get right and I'd be pretty sure mine wasn't spot on.
Regardless, there were some ups and downs and issues but it all went together well in the end and it is working again.
As for timekeeping? Well, I'm pleased to say that it isn't stopping after 4-9hrs like it was and I'd be pretty sure it was due to that modified and probably bent old date wheel that I tried to put a new piece of metal onto. The date ticks over again and she isn't stopping. I will do a test and see how long it does last, but I think anything over 24hrs and I'll be happy.
The average (I won't say bad, but I don't love it) news is that the timekeeping isn't great still... it's better than it was, but upon the first 24hrs on the wrist, I estimate that it lost just over a minute.
However since I changed the date and reset it again today, it seems to have gotten worse and on the last count, it lost a minute in the last hour!
I'll keep monitoring it, but I've come to the conclusion that I am at the peak of my desired watchmaking skill right now as to clean and oil an entire watch would require so much new equipment and also time for me to learn that I don't think it's worth it. If it's really bad, I think I'll just have to bite the bullet and purchase a good mechanism and just transplant it.
I want a really good timekeeper as I'm pretty anal about that stuff. A part of me still wants a timegrapher so that I can know but the issue is then I will actually really know how bad it is and won't be able to do anything about it.
If any of you who have experience want to chime in on modifying the timing and if you think it's really hard or if I could do it, I'm all ears.
The only other thought I had was I have read a lot about de-magnetising watches and that it can make a huge difference. If that's not too hard would also like to hear about it.
KJ2020 I had a pretty good look at the movements and they're not the same, they're close but my ZF one is finished far better and the engraving on the back is also much more defined. Colours of the wheels are better on mine etc. Images below of the AliExpress one.
Regardless, still out and about enjoying her!
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