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What do you use to open casebacks? Care to make a recommendation?

  • Thread starter G
  • Start date

G

Getting To Know The Place
9/5/10
52
0
0
I have never opened a watch caseback before and I am planning on buying my first rep, a Rolex submariner. It is advertised as only ETA, and I would like to confirm that there is an ETA inside when I get it. Googling it poses simply too many options, and I don't know which brands are critiqued as good or bad. I also don't know if a rep would open with an opener meant for a gen. Let me know what equipment I should buy and from where. Thanks.
 

polaris

Active Member
27/11/08
398
1
0
I use a lint roller, the kind you get from dry cleaners - the peel-off sticker kind.
Or a sticky ball made from sellotape.

EDIT: however I never use my watches near/in water and have no concern about water proofness
 

relayman

Active Member
12/9/09
296
0
0
A ball of duct tape works for any type of threaded case back that I can think of.
 

14060 or 16610?

Renowned Member
2/3/07
688
2
0
Be forewarned that the machined threads on some reps is of very poor quality and/or some gorilla may have tightened down the caseback. In such cases only an opener designed for Rolex fluted casebacks will work. That's what I use.
 

merlinfe

Getting To Know The Place
4/3/09
27
0
0
Strangely...I use a red rubber weighted Yoga ball. It grips like hell and has never failed to get open a screw back case.

Plus, you can do Yoga with it ( or just go to the gym and pretend to Yoga while you watch the "show").
 

trailboss99

Head Honcho - Cat Herder
Staff member
Administrator
Certified
30/3/08
43,897
20,090
113
If you go have a look at Watchbitz, the forum's tool dealer you will find a whole section of case opening tools HERE including all the types talked about above.

Be very careful buying Rolex style openers from just anywhere, a lot of them have badly made dies that do not fit the caseback correctly. Offshore goes to GZ and HK once a year at least to source the best of the best for us.


Col.
 

katt

Trusted (Watch Repair)
Trusted Dealer
Vendor (Watch Repair)
14/9/09
1,041
43
48
The most reliable method is to use a Rolex Open All .
 

coldwin

Active Member
8/8/09
252
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0
I use the duct tape then the rubber ball and nothing for the sub then i use...
Scissors! to risk if you ask me :lol:
 

2Rol

Getting To Know The Place
16/4/10
44
0
0
Use Bergeon N° 2533 . Easy and not expensive for all oyster Rol...
 

regmadel

Getting To Know The Place
5/5/10
46
0
6
yesterday i have open my old poor submariner (20usd) to see the mouvement inside. It's simple and easy take a squash ball heat it a little beat in your hand press it to the case back take you sub in your hand and turn ! it work perfectly and dont scratch your watch !!! try it's magic lol