Watch Problems

[Your Grandpa Dressed Cool]

I have a really cool Russian Military watch. I think that its a vintage. It was a gift that I recieved about 8 years ago, when I was a little kid. I have been wearing for about 2 months now. I had a problem with it where it would stop running after about 24 hours. My local watch repair man told me that I needed to wind it everday and thats how it was engineered. Well, I have been doing that for a while. Now all of a sudden, I will wind it in the morning when I wake up, and I look at it 10 minutes later and it stops running and then I have to wind it again. I showed it to my dad, and he said it might be a selfwinding watch (one that is wound by motion of the wearers arm). Well, I shake my wrist when it stops running and it starts to run again for about 30 seconds and then stops. Anybody ever experience this problem? I am sorry if this is not the correct place to ask this question. I am fresh to the Lounge. Thanks all. - Shaw

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Sounds as though the mechanism may be worn and/or dirty. Shaking the watch will start the movement temporarily, but it will stop soon after if dirt and dust are hindering the movement. If it is self-winding,you should be able to feel the weighted winding mechanism, and possibly hear it working when you shake your wrist. I don't think self winding watches were all that reliable, it was sort of a gimmick from the 50's and 60's that watch makers used to sell watches I think. I don't know of any company that made one after the advent of electronic watches.
A good watch repair guy should be able to fix it I would think though.

 

[Tomasso]

I don't think self winding watches were all that reliable, it was sort of a gimmick from the 50's and 60's that watch makers used to sell watches I think. I don't know of any company that made one after the advent of electronic watches.
.

Many of the top Swiss watchmakers offer automatic watches. I have a recent Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso with an automatic movement.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

I haven't seen one in a long time. Just going off my own personal experience. But then, the watch I had was not Swiss.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Sounds as though the mechanism may be worn and/or dirty. Shaking the watch will start the movement temporarily, but it will stop soon after if dirt and dust are hindering the movement. If it is self-winding,you should be able to feel the weighted winding mechanism, and possibly hear it working when you shake your wrist. I don't think self winding watches were all that reliable, it was sort of a gimmick from the 50's and 60's that watch makers used to sell watches I think. I don't know of any company that made one after the advent of electronic watches.
A good watch repair guy should be able to fix it I would think though.

Seems that I'm having the same problem with one of my watches. The trick is finding someone who does that kind of work. Most of the watch repair people around here only seem to know how to replace batteries.

 

[_Nightwing]

I just got a self-winding watch as a gift a few weeks ago and I have precisely the same problem as you describe. Get it cleaned then?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Get it cleaned and overhauled by a professional, not the guy at the watch shop. As someone said above, mostly they only know how to change batteries. It's amazing what just a little bit of oil will do for a vintage watch.

Having, as I do, a father who's a watchmaker helps. I'm trying to convince him to start a small business when he retires, but I'm not sure he's interested … He recently fixed a watch for a FLounger, and the NYC "watchmaker", or someone else in the past, had superglued the winding stem together where it had broken.[huh] Unsuprisingly the watch was not reliable.

bk

 

[Gijoe]

This Russian Watches where in the 1990s for around 20-40$ on the market. I buyed two of them You get what you paid. A cool looking watch with terrible mechanism.

 

[Dave E]

Sounds like it just needs a service. Most mechanical watches need one by about the 5 years old mark.

Oh, automatic watches are alive and well, and are plenty reliable.

 

[Shangas]

Sounds like it requires a trip to the watchmaker. A good mechanical watch should run for about 36-40 hours. You'll be able to tell if it's self-winding if you swivel the watch. You'll hear the rotor-weight spin around inside the watch. You may even FEEL IT as the watch's center of gravity changes due to the shifting weight.

 

[_Nightwing]

Thanks for the info Baron and others. Next thing is, how can one identify a professional watch man, as opposed to the guy with the superglue? Any keywords or other things to look for, or any trusted mail-out services?

 

[Shangas]

Steer WELL AWAY from Jewellers and your local watchman. If their sign says: "WATCH REPAIRS: We replace straps, bracelets & batteries", or words to that effect...RUN. They are not watchmakers. And they will most likely destroy your watch instead of fix it.

Look for folks with 'Watchmaker' in their title, who specialise in servicing and repairing vintage, antique mechanical timepieces. Look for people who will be able to TELL YOU what they'll do to the watch, or who will at least understand what you mean when you ask them to do a general servicing/overhaul.

Also, servicing a watch can take a while. They're small, delicate machines that require patience. If a guy says "Pick it up tomorrow", you know in all likelihood, he's not doing a proper job. Either that, or he's the fastest watchmaker on earth with bionic eyes and hands.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Ask where he did his apprenticeship. Learning the art of watchmaking takes time and dedication and, at least in the old days, involved a relatively long apprenticeship. It doesn't have to be a famous watch house, but the chap who's going to take care of your watches should have training enough to do the job properly. I understand fully that this is an elitist position …

The relative lack of watchmakers around today is exactly the reason I'm trying to convince my father to go into business for himself.

bk

 

[MB5]

Thanks for the info Baron and others. Next thing is, how can one identify a professional watch man, as opposed to the guy with the superglue? Any keywords or other things to look for, or any trusted mail-out services?

This person was recommended on the FL a while ago, but I have no experience with them.
http://www.paulswatchandclockrepair.com/

 

[Talbot]

I have a really cool Russian Military watch. I think that its a vintage. It was a gift that I recieved about 8 years ago, when I was a little kid. I have been wearing for about 2 months now. I had a problem with it where it would stop running after about 24 hours. My local watch repair man told me that I needed to wind it everday and thats how it was engineered. Well, I have been doing that for a while. Now all of a sudden, I will wind it in the morning when I wake up, and I look at it 10 minutes later and it stops running and then I have to wind it again. I showed it to my dad, and he said it might be a selfwinding watch (one that is wound by motion of the wearers arm). Well, I shake my wrist when it stops running and it starts to run again for about 30 seconds and then stops. Anybody ever experience this problem? I am sorry if this is not the correct place to ask this question. I am fresh to the Lounge. Thanks all. - Shaw

Shaw, sounds like it needs a service.

Mechanical watches have reasonably tight tolerances and if the internal lube gets a little gummy with age they slow up and stop working. A bit of a gentle shake will get the balance staff moving again, but their reluctance is still there and it will give up soon.

This is why mechanical watches need a service every five odd years. There should be soemeone here that can point you in the direction of a reputable service guy in your area. I spent a lot of money before I found someone I trust.

It could also be something else like a mainspring problem. Hard to diagnose without it in your hands. Did it use to feel like you could fully wind it , and now just seems to wind forever and only then runs for a little while?

Either way, time for an expert. Get your service guy to open the watch and show you the innards. You should get to know him anyway. It will give you an appreciation for the unit and get him to explain to you wether its an auto or not.

Show us some pics when you get time.

T

 

[Shangas]

It could also be something else like a mainspring problem. Hard to diagnose without it in your hands. Did it use to feel like you could fully wind it , and now just seems to wind forever and only then runs for a little while?

If I remember correctly, isn't that the sign of a broken (or slack) mainspring? If so, it would need to be replaced.

 

[Your Grandpa Dressed Cool]

Here are some views of the watch. I deeply doubt this will help me, but I have been wanting to show it off on here. Also, I live in the Charleston, SC, area. If anyone lives around this area and knows some good watch makers/mechanics/repariers, let me know. Thanks all. - Shaw



note: I apologize for the huge size of the pictures.

 

[Talbot]

Shaw, not a problem with the size. Thanks for sharing

Nice gift.

From the pics I'd say it was one of the many tribute style watches that are coming from the former USSR these days. Best of both worlds, vintage(ish) style with modern internals. Timepieces are a very individual thing, so as long as you enjoy it that's all that counts.

Many middle market Western European mechanical watches use a derivation of ETA or Valjoux movements. Most Russian watches use movements sourced from behind the former Iron Curtain. Movements are generic in concept, so servicing shouldn't be a biggie, but your person (when you find them) may not have parts in stock if it needs more than a clean.

 

[Talbot]

If I remember correctly, isn't that the sign of a broken (or slack) mainspring? If so, it would need to be replaced.

Shangas, you are correct. This is a worst case scenario, but happened to me....

I'm no expert, but I'd be surprised if it wasn't just a service, or even a short bout in the tank to set it right.

T

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Looks like a Vostok. They're as solid as a T-34 tank.