Vintage Pocket Watch Repair
- 1). Use a case blade to pry open the snap-down case back of a vintage pocket watch. Lay a screw-down case back model crystal side down in the palm of your hand and use the other palm to unscrew it counterclockwise to open, according to Thewatchguy.homestead.com.
- 2). Let down the mainspring, a rolled ribbon of steel inside the mainspring barrel, to unwind the vintage pocket watch. Rotate the crown at 12 o'clock a few notches to identify the stopper over the mainspring gear. Hold the crown and use a precision screwdriver to push aside the stopper to free it from the gears to unwind the watch.
- 3). Remove the movement with a screwdriver by unscrewing the two screws fastening the movement to the case. Place all parts in separate compartments in the parts tray so none get lost.
- 4). Place the watch hands remover over the hands post to hold the hours, minutes and seconds post. Place the hands-grabbing tool on its feet atop the dial. Pull each hand individually from the post. Remove the screws that fasten the dial to the movement.
- 5). Remove the hour wheel (a gear under the center of the dial) with tweezers. Remove the cannon pinion (a smaller gear on a shaft) with the needle-nose pliers. Remove the bridge (the flat piece of metal covering the mainspring) with a screwdriver.
- 6). Remove the balance wheel underneath the bridge with a screwdriver, and remove the T-shaped balance fork from under the balance wheel with a screwdriver. Use tweezers to remove the jewels, tiny gemstones, from their holes on the bridges.
- 7). Replace the mainspring, whether or not it's damaged, as a precaution. Soak the rest of the parts in Naphtha in shot glasses and scrub parts with a brush.
- 8). Use the jeweler's loupe to examine each part for cracks, hairline fractures or bending. Replace damaged parts. Place parts on lint-free paper to dry.
- 9). Lubricate the jewel holes with oil using the oiler. Install the parts in reverse order of their removal.