The "Doctor" is Always In!
In the course of a week, a large variety of watches can come into the shop all with their own unique problems. However, some of the same problems often occur. Let’s take a look at some of the most problematic watch parts that seem to be breaking constantly. Offset Cannon Pinion I have never understood the idea of the offset cannon pinion. A standard cannon pinion works great and has.. Read More
I have been asked many times if I could repair a flip over deployment clasp on a Rolex band. Until recently, I was not able to make this repair. I just found the needed pin assembly from one of my suppliers to finally solve this problem. I have shown below some before and after pictures of this clasp and the pin that needs to be replaced. If anyone needs this.. Read More
In this blog space, we normally look at interesting watches or take a deep dive at some of the intricacies of different watches. This week, we’re going to keep it simple. We’re going to talk about the proper way to set wind and set a Rolex watch, with some helpful step-by-step instructions. To start the process, first remove the watch from your wrist. Do not wear your watch while you.. Read More
Many old vintage watches—especially military watches—have gold or white-ish colored paint on their hands or the numbers on their dials. This paint could potentially be made of a phosphorescent compound mixed with radium. This compound would cause the hands/numbers to glow in the dark. This type of mixture was often chosen over others because of the superiority of its glow and longevity. Unlike any other glow-in-the-dark paints, the radium-mixed paint.. Read More
Most individuals within the watch collecting community will associate a ticking seconds hand with a battery powered quartz movement, but there’s also a less common mechanical complication that also ticks – deadbeat seconds. During a five-year period in the 1950s, Rolex actually manufactured a mechanical watch with this ticking seconds hand called the “Tru-Beat.” The complication worked similar to older pendulum clocks that made use of anchor escapements; essentially, the.. Read More
2020 was a great, but different, year at the Watch Shop. I thought to start off the new year, I should go over a few of the highs and the lows that happened in 2020. I had the opportunity to work on some beautiful watches and also had quite a few “basket cases” show up at the shop. The last year was a good one for my blog posts… Read More
In the watch world, there are many different styles, brands and types of timepieces. This week, we’re going to look at chronograph and chronometers. The chronograph translated literally means “time writer” — a mix of the Greek word “chromos,” meaning time and “graph,” meaning writing. A chronograph is a specific type of watch that is used as stopwatch combined with a display watch. A basic chronograph has an independent sweep second hand. It can be started, stopped and.. Read More
I have many customers who are getting a mechanical watch for the first time. They ask me questions about the care and feeding of their new watch. Because of this, here are some frequently asked questions and some answers. Can You Wind an Automatic Watch? Yes, you can wind an automatic watch from the crown. That will not hurt the movement. You will never come to the “end” of the.. Read More
Are Rolex watches anything like Ford pickup trucks? My thinking is simple: People buy a very expensive Rolex (anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000) and then they proceed to wear it swimming, gardening, and just literally “beat the heck” out of it. On the other hand, people buy a very expensive truck that is made as a work vehicle and designed to stand the rigors of off road trails etc, and.. Read More
It was the goal of many people to come out of the nationwide quarantine having learned a new skill or somehow bettering themselves. That’s not unlike what happens to watches when they visit the Watch Doctor. They come in the mail looking less than stellar – but, by the time they leave? Well, just take a look for yourself with some of these before and after photos! Bulova Self-Winding Watch.. Read More