I have always been into watches, as such I owned quite a few gens and I still do today : Omega SeaMaster PO 600m Chronograph, Tag Heuer Calibre 1, Montblanc Heritage Spirit...
And recently I found out a crazy world called replicas. Some say you never get from a rep what you get in a gen. True, but the opposite applies : you can't get with gens what you get with replicas. What is it ? Attention to details, a predator's eye for flaws and critical knowledge of the specs of each and every model we lay our eyes on. That is the skills you build (at least you try !) once you step in thishobby.
I learned much more about watches from reps in a few months than with years of gens on my wrist. Why is that ? Because somehow we take gen watches for granted, we never point errors out, and if we do, we just send the watch back and wait for a return. It's legit, we pay for this, but in an other hand we know about nothing on how our timekeepers really work, or how to repair them.
Don't get me wrong : I love gen watches but replicas give a chance to dig into the tiny world of gears and springs.
As many of us, I read the forum and the wise posts of the specialists here (and I will never end being thankfull to you guys for spreading that much knowledge !) and I'm very impressed by some modder's work here.
So now I feel like trying to work on my watches myself. From light repairs to modding, maybe even frankening, I'll see where this get me. I bought basic tools and a "test watch" I can experiment on, there we go...
I am a total beginner today, the most I did was switching my straps till now, but I feel to try. I'll post here the different repairs and works I experiment on watches. I don't know if this thread belongs here, but mods can tell me if a move is needed.
Of course the specialists can comment and help if they feel like it.
I do this for fun and knowledge, I'm not looking to be a modder or something, and maybe it will give ideas or help other beginners with specific problems we go through sometimes with our beloved replicas.
Enjoy !!!
Here is what I begin with :
-An amazon basic tool kit with crystal press (39 €)
-Oiler kit 4 pins (12 €) + Moebius Oil 9010 (48€)
-A box of precision screwdriver (17€)
-Case opening rubber ball (3€)
-30x magnification Lens (5€)
-Nitrile gloves
And best of all, the ginea pig : a working Regmariner NoDate, bought M2M for 80 €. It is equiped with a 2813 movement.
This watch will be my "benchmark". The goal here is to strip it, repair it, even mod it, while keeping it working !
That's enough for the introduction, I'm on a business trip right now, but plan to start working when I'm back in a few days.
Good evening to all !!
And recently I found out a crazy world called replicas. Some say you never get from a rep what you get in a gen. True, but the opposite applies : you can't get with gens what you get with replicas. What is it ? Attention to details, a predator's eye for flaws and critical knowledge of the specs of each and every model we lay our eyes on. That is the skills you build (at least you try !) once you step in thishobby.
I learned much more about watches from reps in a few months than with years of gens on my wrist. Why is that ? Because somehow we take gen watches for granted, we never point errors out, and if we do, we just send the watch back and wait for a return. It's legit, we pay for this, but in an other hand we know about nothing on how our timekeepers really work, or how to repair them.
Don't get me wrong : I love gen watches but replicas give a chance to dig into the tiny world of gears and springs.
As many of us, I read the forum and the wise posts of the specialists here (and I will never end being thankfull to you guys for spreading that much knowledge !) and I'm very impressed by some modder's work here.
So now I feel like trying to work on my watches myself. From light repairs to modding, maybe even frankening, I'll see where this get me. I bought basic tools and a "test watch" I can experiment on, there we go...
I am a total beginner today, the most I did was switching my straps till now, but I feel to try. I'll post here the different repairs and works I experiment on watches. I don't know if this thread belongs here, but mods can tell me if a move is needed.
Of course the specialists can comment and help if they feel like it.
I do this for fun and knowledge, I'm not looking to be a modder or something, and maybe it will give ideas or help other beginners with specific problems we go through sometimes with our beloved replicas.
Enjoy !!!
Here is what I begin with :
-An amazon basic tool kit with crystal press (39 €)
-Oiler kit 4 pins (12 €) + Moebius Oil 9010 (48€)
-A box of precision screwdriver (17€)
-Case opening rubber ball (3€)
-30x magnification Lens (5€)
-Nitrile gloves
And best of all, the ginea pig : a working Regmariner NoDate, bought M2M for 80 €. It is equiped with a 2813 movement.
This watch will be my "benchmark". The goal here is to strip it, repair it, even mod it, while keeping it working !
That's enough for the introduction, I'm on a business trip right now, but plan to start working when I'm back in a few days.
Good evening to all !!
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