Knowledge

Hall of Fame

The finest timepieces we have repaired Photographs of some particularly beautiful, rare or special watches we have repaired become part of our „Hall of Fame“. This collection is continually being expanded. 2026 Extensive restorati…

Repairing an Omega 3303 chronograph

Ref. 178.0515 Omega calibre 3303 shares its construction with Omega calibre 3313, but has a Swiss lever escapement instead of the Co-Axial escapement. There are further Omega variants, such as calibre 3612 with split-seconds chron…

Lubricants in watches

An entire watch movement needs only two to four microlitres of lubricant, barely a tenth of a drop of water. For years, this tiny quantity must stay precisely in place at dozens of contacts where metal rubs against ruby or metal. …

Epilame

An oil drop placed correctly during a service should stay there for years. This does not happen on its own: on clean steel, brass and ruby, watch oil spreads out and creeps away. Epilame prevents this. With good epilame treatment,…

Animations: escapements and movement mechanisms

Many thanks to Volker Vyskocil for providing the files! Each animation opens on its own page so that they do not all load at once. There you can start and stop the movement, step forwards and backwards frame by frame, and zoom wit…

Complete Guide: Omega Speedmaster Calibre 861

A service report The Omega calibre 1861, also known as the Lemania 1873, has accompanied me since my training; I completed part of my WOSTEP final examination on this movement. I then repaired and serviced it many hundreds of time…

An alternative to making stepped watch crystals

For some watches, a simple mineral crystal is insufficient; a crystal with ground-in steps is required. Making such a crystal is possible but not easy, and it can take several attempts if the first one is unsuccessful. Old crystal…

Replacing crown seals

The problem Vintage watches sometimes have valuable original crowns for which exact replacement parts are no longer available. Replacing the crown can sometimes cause a substantial loss of value. After decades, however, crown seal…

Making a minute-jumper pivot pin for calibre 861

In rare cases, the minute-jumper pin in calibre 861 is broken because a watchmaker has carelessly pressed the bridge onto the work surface, for example to clean a bearing with pegwood. This engraved cock is a representative exampl…

Master watchmaker course – Cutting speed

As a specialist lecturer at the Hessian School of Watchmaking, I teach on the master watchmaker course. A master watchmaker must be able to pass on all the knowledge covered in vocational training and possess still deeper knowledg…

Technical terms

Some technical terms explained, from the old www.uhrenkunde.de website. More detailed descriptions of individual subjects will follow in separate blog articles. Oscillator A clock or watch’s oscillator is the component of a moveme…

Watchmaking tools

A few impressions from the watchmaking workshop. Machines, test equipment and the workbench Anvils and staking supports Hardened supports with different holes and recesses support small parts during riveting, pressing and driving …

Making a tourbillon

Tourbillon This project began in the third year of my apprenticeship as the greatest challenge imaginable. The task set for me was the complete design and manufacture of a flying tourbillon. After receiving the task, I began with …

Making a table clock

In their first year of training, many watchmakers learn the fundamental skills by making their own table clock. Skeleton movement My first table clock cost me many hours of painstaking handwork. In particular, filing the plates to…

Making a balance cock

Balance cock Few watchmakers possess the machines and skills needed to make components for small timepieces as well. Restoration, bespoke manufacture or repairing unique pieces sometimes requires making a bridge or cock. This seri…

Timeline of horological history

This timeline brings together selected milestones in horological history. It is intended to entertain, encourage an interest in the subject and provide a starting point for further research. Not every invention can be attributed t…

Restoring a minute repeater chronograph

Invicta pocket watch A minute repeater is an additional function of a watch that sounds the current time to the minute at the “push of a button”. In the classical version, activating the repeater first sounds the hours (1 to 12 st…

Making a hand pipe

Central hand of a chronograph A damaged hand pipe is a recurring discovery during watch repairs. Either the hand separates from its pipe when removed, often destroying the pipe, or the pipe is cracked and can no longer be pressed …

Making a display case back

For an Omega Speedmaster Mark 4.5 Ref. 176.012, calibre 1045 To make a display case back, a new case back is normally used so that the original is not damaged. First, the centre is cut out on the lathe (Schaublin 70)… …and then a …

Repairing a 2824 automatic movement

One of my first repairs as a qualified watchmaker Robin Israel The watch is to receive a movement service: a complete overhaul of the movement. The case remains untouched. Before opening the watch, winding, hand-setting, date chan…

Regulating the rate of clocks

If a wall, longcase or table clock gains or loses a few minutes, this is no reason to take it straight in for repair. The rate can normally be adjusted at the bottom of the pendulum. First, however, establish the ideal conditions …

Basic knowledge about wristwatches

…for complete beginners Anyone considering buying a wristwatch should know a few basics about its technology to help them make a better decision. Wristwatches can essentially be divided into two different categories, each with dif…

Instructions: setting up a serviced wall clock

These instructions will help you after a repair, a move or when putting your mechanical wall or longcase clock back into use. Also follow the operating instructions for your particular clock. Positioning the clock: Choose a suitab…

Training: making a wheel

A report by Yannik Weber, apprentice watchmaker, 15 April 2023 Planning comes first At a minimum, the number of teeth and the module should be known, as should the dimensions of the pinion onto which the wheel is to be riveted. Th…

Repairing a date-driving wheel

Certina 25-651 and 25-652: spring for date-driving wheel 2556 On these calibres, the date-driving finger regularly breaks. If a replacement part is unavailable or too expensive, the spring can be made from a bronze balance spring …

A new beginning

My name is Robin Israel, master watchmaker and founder of R.I.O. Uhrenwerkstätte. Along the way I have reached many interesting milestones: as a national skills champion, a graduate of the N.G. Hayek Watchmaking School with a WOST…