Apparently I'm A Glutton For Punishment......Wish Me Luck

[thor447]

I'm getting started on this Wakmann triple calendar chronograph this weekend. This will easily be the most complicated watch I've attempted to restore. I have no clue how long this one will take me, but I figured I'd get the easy part done first, which will be taking it apart. Wish me luck, and may the watchmaking gods look upon me with favor and ensure I don't ping any parts into oblivion. These things are not cheap to find replacement parts for!

 

[wolfman1]

I'm great at taking things aapart. Putting them back as they were is another story..one we wont tell.

 

[coolhandluke]

That Valjoux looks pretty clean. I didn't realize that the day and month wheels were engraved metal. Also didn't originally see that it's a pointer date.

Are you going to re-plate the case?

 

[thor447]

I didn't realize that the day and month wheels were engraved metal. Also didn't originally see that it's a pointer date.

Are you going to re-plate the case?

Yep, triple calendar - pointer date - chronograph. My head hurts just looking at it.

Yes, the plan is to do a full case restoration. Strip it down to base metal, re-define edges, replate and polish. This one will be a freaking long video if I ever manage to get the watch done.

 

[coolhandluke]

Yep, triple calendar - pointer date - chronograph. My head hurts just looking at it.

Yes, the plan is to do a full case restoration. Strip it down to base metal, re-define edges, replate and polish. This one will be a freaking long video if I ever manage to get the watch done.

At least it doesn't have a moonphase complication too...

You'll finish it and it'll be phenomenal looking. I have no doubts.

 

[thor447]

At least it doesn't have a moonphase complication too...

You'll finish it and it'll be phenomenal looking. I have no doubts.

Moonphases are easy actually. Generally that complication adds significant cost to a watch, but mechanically they are very simple.

I just ordered a replacement mainspring for this watch and it was nearly 3X the cost of the normal springs I buy, lol. I haven't gotten down deep enough to get it removed yet, but I plan to replace it as just a normal part of maintenance. If the movement says 'Valjoux', parts are at a premium it appears.

 

[RickN]

Which is why I ordered a cheap Timex the other day. Those expensive watches are just more than I can afford or need.

 

[surjimmy]

You know I have a real nice pocket watch, I'm needing to trade off.lok

 

[dlbleak]

I can’t wait for that video. I have no doubt that it will look and run phenomenally when you are done with it.

 

[Perplexed]

Man, it makes my head hurt just to look at the internals…

Does this watch have the gearing to skip unneeded days each month, or does the owner need to manually wind the date pointer past those days?