Many people believe that watch accuracy can be achieved by simply adjusting the regulator screw towards the + or – position. Regulating a watch is a lot more complex than this. Watches that are inaccurate are inaccurate for a reason. Generally, these watches require cleaning and conditioning (oiling and greasing of the winding mechanisms). Conditioning also means ensuring that all of the train wheels are free from obstruction, the hairspring.. Read More

In this post, I am going to go over the steps to replace a balance staff in a Hamilton 992b Pocket Watch. The balance staff is the center shaft on the balance wheel. It has top and bottom “pivots,” or very thin points that the balance wheel rides on and that receive support from the balance jewels.   The staff pivots can be broken from a drop or hard bump.. Read More

Over the last few years, I have done a number of blog posts about how I repair a watch movement — everything from how it is taken apart, to replacing a balance staff, pressure testing and more.  The one part of the repair process that I have not discussed is how a watch case is buffed and polished. My dad would always say that no matter how great your job is on.. Read More

If you’re anything like the majority of all Rolex owners, chances are you’ve given very little thought to the water resistance of your watch.  Whether or not you realize it, water resistance is a concern every Rolex owner should have, regardless of the model or how you use it. In this post, I will go over what it takes to pressure test a Rolex. After the overhaul is complete, comes.. Read More

The generic watch market continues to grow and become more efficient, making counterfeit luxury timepieces more and more difficult to tell apart from their genuine counterparts.  Given the difference in value between a replica Rolex and the genuine article, any potential investor should know the tricks to tell the real from the fake.  Here’s a quick list of some of the ways to tell apart the genuine luxury watch and.. Read More

The generic watch market continues to grow and become more efficient, making counterfeit luxury timepieces more and more difficult to tell apart from their genuine counterparts.  Given the difference in value between a replica Rolex and the genuine article, any potential investor should know the tricks to tell the real from the fake. Here’s a quick list of some of the ways to tell if your watch is real or fake… Read More

In this third part of my blog on the “Tools of the Watchmaking Trade,” I will show you some of the machines that I use every day in the watch shop. Let’s get started with the heart and soul of my shop, my cleaning machine. Cleaning Machine I have been using the RM-90 German-made cleaning machine for the past 10 years. It is the true workhorse of my business. It.. Read More

This week’s blog post will continue showing you some of the tools and equipment that I use everyday to repair your watch. I was very surprised at the level of interest in last week’s post and I am glad to see that everyone is interested in how your watch is repaired and how a normal day is at the “watch shop.” Glasses and Loupe My glasses and loupe are the heart.. Read More

What is the most important aspect of any business?  Many times, a potential customer will research and compare price and location, maybe reading up on reviews as well. At the end of the day, customer service is a dealbreaker. It’s been said that how you handle problems is the biggest thing that you can do to keep your business growing.  My business is like any other service business, in that.. Read More