This is a step-by-step tutorial on how to change the datewheels on an Asian 7750 copy. I'm performing this upgrade on an ETA 3717 replica provided by Stephane for this very task.
There are a lot of pictures so please let them all load before starting. Also, when replying DO NOT quote the whole post as you'll make a lot of enemies that way. We don't need to see all the images twice.
Firstly, you'll need tools. These are all the tools I used:
From left to right, top to bottom.
* Toothpicks (invaluable tool from which you can fashion ad hoc tools), silicone grease (not essential), a movement holder, Glass Bowl.
* Tweezers, push-pin-poke-thing, awl, screwdriver (that's a Bergeon 1.2mm, but 1mm would do as well), hand removers, rodico putty, Joe the Blow
toothpicks again, Romy and Michelle's finest invention - post-its.
* Case opener, greaseproof paper, Cloth
* Watch box pad, Leatherman Wave.
Oh, and here's a better view of the bowl.
I'm going to let the pictures do the talking and, if as promised, they're worth a thousand words each, this is a whopping 76,000+ words long.
Here's the watch and wheels:
Open the bracelet using a toothpick and a pusher.
Store the parts
Open the caseback
Note the use of a spring and inside cover to hold the movement in. This wavy circular spring and the stem are the only things holding the movement in place
Take off the rotor
Remove the stem. If you can't do this, you have no business on the dial side.
Tip the movement out onto a piece of paper
Store the case and caseback under a dust cover. You really, really need to do this on the 3717 as the AR coating inside the crystal should never be touched.
Put the movement in the holder.
Open the dial clamps.
One of these clamps was actually broken, showing replica QC at its best.
Remove the hands.
Using post-its to protect the dial.
small hands too
Then lift the dial off. There was tape as well as clamps, which is why they can get away with a broken clamp.
Movement without dial:
The day wheel just lifts off
Note this spring. I've lost one of these learning how to do this, so please be careful.
These are the screws we'll be removing
Here's a technique I learned to not lose the spring. Put a clump of rodico putty over the visible bend like so.
remove the previously mentioned screws and the plate they hold in. This is the only fixed part of the movement we'll be removing.
This lever makes the date roll over neatly. It's not held in with anything, so be careful.
Gently lift off the date wheel on the left and slide out to the right. Be careful not to ping out the lever.
Here's the base without the wheels. Use this as a reference if any pieces pop off.
Put in the ETA part on the right, under the change mechanism and work it in on the left, carefully. I'm using a post-it and thumb to hold in the lever so it doesn't fly awaywhile I'm replacing the spring that worked loose.
This is everything put back
Put the covering plate back on
In place, all tidy.
Put the screws in
and remove the putty.
All tidy.
The day wheel drops in neatly
Get ol' Joe out for a blow, but be gentle as you can easily lift the day wheel with Joe's gusts.
Put the stem back, drop on the dial (with clamps).
Stick a hand to a post-it to place it on the post.
Make a hand pressing tool using a toothpick.
Press the hand on
You can use Rodico instead of a post-it if you prefer.
Both little chrono hands on
And the sweeping seconds
One toothpick method for fitting hour hand.
Or use a custom tool
Note bent minute hand. This is an IWC speciality to reduce paralax errors reading the time.
On it goes
Set the hands until the hour jumps and that's midnight. This watch jumps about here:
The second hand has a bent tip too
All on!
See the angles?
Disaster! The chrono second hand isn't millimetre perfect! Let's remove it and refit it.
And now it's perfect.
Put the spacer ring back on. Note the pushers. These can fall out. Please don't lose them!
Drop the case over the movement, after a judicious use of Joe, obviously!
Fit the rotor back on
Then the first cover
Remove the o-ring
Get the grease out
Grease the o-ring
Refit the ring
Case spring
Put the caseback on
Tighten
Check it out... looks good!
refit the bracelet
with a prodinator
Check the chrono
resets perfectly
... and wear it well!
You're done
There are a lot of pictures so please let them all load before starting. Also, when replying DO NOT quote the whole post as you'll make a lot of enemies that way. We don't need to see all the images twice.
Firstly, you'll need tools. These are all the tools I used:
From left to right, top to bottom.
* Toothpicks (invaluable tool from which you can fashion ad hoc tools), silicone grease (not essential), a movement holder, Glass Bowl.
* Tweezers, push-pin-poke-thing, awl, screwdriver (that's a Bergeon 1.2mm, but 1mm would do as well), hand removers, rodico putty, Joe the Blow
toothpicks again, Romy and Michelle's finest invention - post-its.
* Case opener, greaseproof paper, Cloth
* Watch box pad, Leatherman Wave.
Oh, and here's a better view of the bowl.
I'm going to let the pictures do the talking and, if as promised, they're worth a thousand words each, this is a whopping 76,000+ words long.
Here's the watch and wheels:
Open the bracelet using a toothpick and a pusher.
Store the parts
Open the caseback
Note the use of a spring and inside cover to hold the movement in. This wavy circular spring and the stem are the only things holding the movement in place
Take off the rotor
Remove the stem. If you can't do this, you have no business on the dial side.
Tip the movement out onto a piece of paper
Store the case and caseback under a dust cover. You really, really need to do this on the 3717 as the AR coating inside the crystal should never be touched.
Put the movement in the holder.
Open the dial clamps.
One of these clamps was actually broken, showing replica QC at its best.
Remove the hands.
Using post-its to protect the dial.
small hands too
Then lift the dial off. There was tape as well as clamps, which is why they can get away with a broken clamp.
Movement without dial:
The day wheel just lifts off
Note this spring. I've lost one of these learning how to do this, so please be careful.
These are the screws we'll be removing
Here's a technique I learned to not lose the spring. Put a clump of rodico putty over the visible bend like so.
remove the previously mentioned screws and the plate they hold in. This is the only fixed part of the movement we'll be removing.
This lever makes the date roll over neatly. It's not held in with anything, so be careful.
Gently lift off the date wheel on the left and slide out to the right. Be careful not to ping out the lever.
Here's the base without the wheels. Use this as a reference if any pieces pop off.
Put in the ETA part on the right, under the change mechanism and work it in on the left, carefully. I'm using a post-it and thumb to hold in the lever so it doesn't fly awaywhile I'm replacing the spring that worked loose.
This is everything put back
Put the covering plate back on
In place, all tidy.
Put the screws in
and remove the putty.
All tidy.
The day wheel drops in neatly
Get ol' Joe out for a blow, but be gentle as you can easily lift the day wheel with Joe's gusts.
Put the stem back, drop on the dial (with clamps).
Stick a hand to a post-it to place it on the post.
Make a hand pressing tool using a toothpick.
Press the hand on
You can use Rodico instead of a post-it if you prefer.
Both little chrono hands on
And the sweeping seconds
One toothpick method for fitting hour hand.
Or use a custom tool
Note bent minute hand. This is an IWC speciality to reduce paralax errors reading the time.
On it goes
Set the hands until the hour jumps and that's midnight. This watch jumps about here:
The second hand has a bent tip too
All on!
See the angles?
Disaster! The chrono second hand isn't millimetre perfect! Let's remove it and refit it.
And now it's perfect.
Put the spacer ring back on. Note the pushers. These can fall out. Please don't lose them!
Drop the case over the movement, after a judicious use of Joe, obviously!
Fit the rotor back on
Then the first cover
Remove the o-ring
Get the grease out
Grease the o-ring
Refit the ring
Case spring
Put the caseback on
Tighten
Check it out... looks good!
refit the bracelet
with a prodinator
Check the chrono
resets perfectly
... and wear it well!
You're done
