Can I Fix a 60-Year-Old Watch That Took a Trip Through the Washing Machine?

[@agistan7764]

Love your work and humor. Between you and Stian - you're some of best YT watch repair channels

[@Saving-Time]

Thanks 👍 I appreciate that.

[@CharlesThompson-ou7wp]

Thanks again for another entertaining and educational video! You’re a very talented man and I’m so grateful that I found your channel. Your friend sure was lucky to have you looking out for her. That strap really gave that Prim personality.

[@jasonmaccoul]

You kill it with your strap making. I’ve seen your other videos of it and I respect your skills and art in this. Your humour in the voice over is also top notch entertainment. Don’t sell yourself short, you’re at the top end of the watch making spectrum! 😂

[@Saving-Time]

Thank you very much I appreciate you taking the time to let me know. Cheers

[@joekudlata7113]

Love the match between the dial and strap. Nice looking watch !

[@Saving-Time]

Thanks she was very happy to get it back

[@tk_customwoodworks]

One of the best channels to watch, always entertaining, educational and enjoyable. Thanks so much!

[@Saving-Time]

Glad you enjoy it. Appreciate you letting me know. Thank you

[@darrenfry4695]

I bet she was so happy when you gave her back this gorgeous little watch(working)also that croc strap was so nice , t.y for sharing.

[@Saving-Time]

She was. I have never seen anyone like a watch this much

[@yveslauwereyns6677]

The improvements you’ve made over the last few videos is amazing, I’m cracking up from the very beginning while learning a lot! Awesome work

[@Saving-Time]

Thank you i'm glad you're getting something out of it. That makes me very happy!

[@jeffwilton-love]

The slippery stuff is probably fabric conditioner. Another excellent video! I'm so glad I found your channel.

[@jerrysnyder6576]

Excellent video. Good dialog to match the process. Thanks

[@Saving-Time]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@SkyBlue-le7cd]

Nice work and terrific video. As a hobbyist like you, I really like the watches that have the extra bridge for the wheel. I think that the extra bridge seems to make reassembly easier. Thanks!!!

[@Saving-Time]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I agree I think it does also.

[@Bluepeter62]

Funny little watch and great video, looking forward to the next one. Thank you Sir and keep them coming.

[@Saving-Time]

Thanks, will do!

[@WatchRestorationCottage]

All told, watch was in decent shape after such an accident! I love your straps - thank you for the amazing video!

[@Saving-Time]

I love your stuff, sir. Thanks for letting me know!

[@endy_fx]

Great stuff as always. I had exactly the same issue with the shock springs. I ended up having to find some kif replacements.

[@Saving-Time]

Thanks endy It's good to see you back, mate. www.cousinsuk.com/ do a mixed pack of shock springs for 2 quid very hand to have laying about.

[@TheChillieboo]

even better video than the last! absolutely killer

[@Saving-Time]

Thank you much appreciated.

[@federicoprice2687]

Thank you for yet another excellent video! I'm always impressed by your skill and knowledge, and your narratives are outstanding! 👏 👏 👏

[@Saving-Time]

thank you! Glad you liked it

[@matthewakin1235]

Yeah, that looks about on par for a watch that went through the washing machine. I serviced an AS 1916 that a coworkers wife put through the washing machine 20 years ago. coworker opened the back stuck it in rice and let it dry then threw it in a drawer for 20 years. Yes it felt slippery and soapy and had a opaque film on the parts, bits of fiber from the clothes in it too. The detergent left a coating on the steel parts which kept most of them in much better condition than i was expecting. A lot less rust than I was expecting, i basically had to replace the yoke spring, date jumper spring, and the pressed steel day quickset spring. The detergent congealed the lubricants so there was to much friction in the pivots for it to run.

[@Saving-Time]

Interesting thank you for letting me know. I also expected a lot more rust.

[@lightasp]

Thank you for your very wellmade videos and the sharing of knowledge and your love for well made micro-design. It makes me want to try myself also😊 I also like your choice of materials for the strap

[@thomasgabriel2213]

Another great video! Thank you for sharing your work.

[@Saving-Time]

No problem glad you enjoyed it.

[@johnhannon]

Thanks for the video! The Prim Cal 66 movement looks like a solid design. I will look out for one to add to my collection. Your watch strap work is excellent as usual.

[@Saving-Time]

The Cal 66 is worth adding to a collection. IMO lot of different styles of it out there as well

[@jakekaywell5972]

@@Saving-Time Dont forget about the Prim 52, a caliber I believe you also worked on. I have one of those myself, simply because I generally prefer sub-seconds vs a central seconds.

[@Saving-Time]

I'm with you on the sub-seconds :)

[@francispalmer9737]

Great job, love the commentary thank you.

[@Saving-Time]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for letting me know.

[@andyyoung3233]

Great video mate I always look forward to a new video from you I'm still trying to learn watchmaking and your rite lots of things that look like they take 30 seconds on a video can take hours well they take me hours I just leave it have a break and go back later to it can't wait for your next one. Andy. 😃

[@Saving-Time]

Thank you, don't worry, it takes me hours as well. It looks quicker on the edit; i'm not trying to make myself look better; I just don't think anyone wants to watch me for the hours it actually takes :)

[@nicklapietra3890]

Great video. Thanks. If it went through the dryer also, the hair and lint might make sense

[@Saving-Time]

Yes it would, however we don't use dryers here. I've lived all over Europe I think I've seen one in all that time 🤣 I have no idea why this is and it might have changed over the years but I always associate dryers with the USA. Just a fun fact, I'm happy you liked the video

[@YellowJello57]

It's always relaxing and enjoyable to watch your videos. Thanks

[@Saving-Time]

So nice of you. Glad you enjoy the videos

[@jeffreyhickman3871]

Some classic 👌 signs of a watch ⌚️ that has taken a trip through the washing machine. As long as it isn't too bad, this watch can be brought back to it's former glory. These watches ⌚️ are not water resistant, but they're sure some highly technical equipment. Your friend, Jeff.

[@Saving-Time]

Cheers Jeff nice of you to let me know mate

[@ross4693]

Great camera work!!!!!

[@Saving-Time]

Glad you liked it!

[@anthonycaryl1079]

great looking result

[@Saving-Time]

Thank you! She was very happy to get it back

[@roversgonemad]

The slimy feel of the parts tells me it did get washed. Think about the surfactants in the detergents and how they would coat things. The detergent is possibly what transported all the debris. Good save on this one. Enjoyed watching it.

[@Saving-Time]

I expected more damage but I talked to some more experienced watchmakers and they say they have seen similar in watches they know have gone through the wash. So I'm leaning in that direction. Glad you enjoyed it

[@HorologyHubub]

Educational and entertaining 😁👍 thanks my friend.

[@Saving-Time]

Nice of you to say, good to see you back here.

[@Mars-zgblbl]

Prim and proper! 👍

[@gordiefrench5342]

Wow sir Close ups are fantastic

[@tonyaxeman4381]

I replaced a main spring in a Waltham Cresent st pocket watch yesterday . It was very hard to do . I think it is one of the most good looking movements .

[@Saving-Time]

That Waltham movement is stunning; really, it's a work of art!

[@markcunningham2959]

This was very relaxing after a hard day at work. I watched his way too small for you.😊 great video

[@springbay1]

Another 37:39 min (see what I did there) that was an absolute pleasure to watch. I hope your Scottish friend won't dare to wash her watch again with that new beautiful strap. At least not with magnets.

[@Saving-Time]

Hopefully not :) glad you liked it.

[@faitestealer]

Your voice and sense of humor reminds me of the Benedict Jacka audio books about Alex Verus.

[@Saving-Time]

I can't see into the future though 😕 Big fan of Benedict Jacka, check out Craig Schaefer and Kevin Hearne if you have not already..

[@drevyek1785]

Honestly, the best thing for springs (yoke, shock, etc) is to use a plastic sheet and maneuver the spring in place. It contains any of the pinging and any of the danger.

[@gerryvickers7098]

I've got a Prim watch exactly like that! It had been discarded in a flat where I used to live in Nové Město nad Metují (if you know, you know 😊)

[@GentlemensWatchServices]

Excellent work! I was expecting a lot more damage, what cycle did it go through :) Absolute topnotch production too! Hope all is good in the Czech Republic.

[@Saving-Time]

The oh crap, I think my watch is in there cycle. Thank you, sir. All is well here. Stop by for a pint sometime.

[@mercuriall2810]

The degree of rust and it’s location is consistent with a watch going through the washing machine but it clearly didn’t end up completely filled with water - they often don’t. Regarding the slipperiness of the movement when disassembling and the amount of dirt present, I suspect whoever serviced this watch only disassembled the elements of the movement that needed attention (hence the mark on the balance wheel), but left the rest assembled. There was a period when watch material houses were advertising a ‘special’ product used as a final rinse when cleaning watches. The idea was you could put the whole movement through normal cleaning solutions (after uncasing, removing dial and hands), and then this final rinse was supposed to lubricate the movement for you. Plenty of watches were serviced this way, some still are today, and often the customer pays top dollar for it too. Of course, the lubricant in this rinse would end up coating the whole movement. There are still versions of this stuff on the market, but I’m hesitant to name it and thus potentially enable lazy or unskilled people to use it. ‘Servicing’ a movement this way left a lot of dirt in place, this combined with the deposited lubrication forms a grinding paste that accelerated wear as the movement runs. It also leaves it slippery. The movement in this video looks to have a lot of wear to the barrel arbour holes (they may need closing), and I can’t tell if this is the case elsewhere, but I would be checking endshake and particularly sideshake throughout the watch. When the next watchmaker goes to service a movement treated this way, the layer of lube over all the parts pollutes and ruins their watch cleaning solution, particularly the first jar. If you suspect a watch has been treated this way, pre wash it in either naphtha or soapy water, depending upon whether your cleaning solutions are waterless or water based respectively. The Seitz/Bergeon pivot straightener is indeed an expensive pivot breaker. Some WOSTEP instructors openly refer to them as such. They can be useful if you can get lucky and find one at a decent price. The jewels in these tools are graduated in half sizes (eg 0.08mm, 0.085mm, 0.09mm, 0.095mm, 0.1mm etc), whereas the Seitz metal plate style pivot gauges with graduated sizes of hole jewels in them only have full size graduations (eg 0.08mm, 0.09mm, 0.1mm etc). A couple of examples where this can come in handy is when measuring a pivot to decide what size hole jewel you should order to replace a broken jewel, or when you need to repivot an arbour and need to match the size to an intact pivot on the other end of the arbour. I can’t tell whether you did this or not for sure, but support the centre wheel jewel/bushing when you push on the cannon pinion. Otherwise you can shift the jewel/bushing and change the endshake. If you do it on a watch that has power on the mainspring, and push the wheel out of mesh, you could cause an uncontrolled release of power. The same goes for fitting the hands, particularly if they are a tight fit on their arbours. You can demagnetise a hairspring out of the watch. Remove it from the balance staff, fold it up in a bit of watchmakers tissue paper like a miniature envelope, hold the envelope so it can’t fly away and demagnetise. Sometimes it is easier to just put it back in the watch, though. Whilst you can sometimes get a shock spring fitted back into the setting by manoeuvring alone (after all, if it escaped, it must be able to go back in), if you have a Horia or Seitz jewelling press the way they are supposed to be installed is by pushing the entire shock setting up a bit, replace the shock spring and then push it back down to the original depth. Quite easy if you have the tools. The weirdest place I’ve heard of a pinged shock spring being found is in the eye of the watchmaker. A colleague spotted it on his eyeball when they were talking after he’d given up looking for it. I didn’t witness it firsthand, but I do believe it given who told me about it!! Looking at the oiling footage, I think you’re probably over oiling. Alex Hamilton of Watch Repair Tutorials channel on KZbin has an excellent video explaining this far better than I can with words. The functional difference between the excess oil I suspect you’re using and the correct amount is seen in how long a watch service lasts. Too much oil means the service interval will be significantly shorter, but the watch will often run quite well initially. Perfecting oiling is one of the most difficult parts of basic movement servicing, but it is well worth the effort to learn to get it right. You’re doing great, I don’t want to discourage you, just trying to help you to improve further. I really appreciate and enjoy your strap making content. You do an outstanding job and I’ve never attempted it before.

[@Saving-Time]

Thank you very much. I really appreciate the trouble you took to give me this information. I'll check out the video by Alex. Feedback like this does not discourage me quite the reverse; it just makes me want to get better. Really, thank you. It was nice of you to take the time.

[@mercuriall2810]

You’re very welcome, I can tell you have both the interest and ability to go far with this. I’m happy to provide help and advice where I can. Unfortunately good information is hard to come by unless you can attend one of the few quality watchmaking schools. Some of the most popular books teach some terrible techniques which become bad habits to unlearn as you progress. I only ever offer comments with the intention of helping. It is difficult to convey tone by text alone and it is sometimes easy to misinterpret the written word. If I ever come across as critical or negative, I apologise and please know that it is never my intention. You can take anything I say as first hand tested experience, unless I specifically state otherwise. Keep up the great work. I’m not sure if I’ve commented before, but you’ve clearly learned and improved a lot in the time you’ve been posting on KZbin.

[@Saving-Time]

Thank you. I started this channel to learn, and I've found in my life that the fastest way to get help is not to ask; it's to do something wrong in front of a group of people who know how to do it, then wait for them to tell me what I got wrong. I agree with you on the conveying of tone in text. I'm sure I sometimes come off as combative in the comments when that was not my intention at all. I like learning from books, so I'd appreciate some recommendations for good ones if you have any?

[@hromozvod72]

Cal 66 is really good movement, there is cal68 and thats movement with calendar function. I have 5 of them and 2 cal66 but many cases is destroyed. I have for sell one woman watch

[@banjobudha]

Just a heads up FYI... Us beginners are definitely not "newbs", we are Noobs which rhymes with Boobs. Love the vid and the channel.

[@jamesp3022]

Brilliant

[@StefanMarjoram]

Really fun video - nicely done. Looks like a good watch for the money too. Did you demagnetise the hands? I notice they stuck together when you took them off - perhaps it's not important. With the magnetism, fluff and soapy finish I'm in the washing machine camp :)

[@Saving-Time]

I did run the hands and the watch case through the demagnetizer just to be on the safe side. I talked to a professional watchmaker, and he said he'd seen watches in the wash more than a few times, and this was consistent with it. I really did think there would have been more damage. BTW, I am a huge fan of your work. If you ever fancy drawing a watch dial, I'll make the dial.

[@StefanMarjoram]

@@Saving-Time Thanks so much! I'm amazed how people manage to come up with so many variations of watch faces. It's beyond me - but I have got a fun idea for a jump hour based dial. I got into watching these sorts of videos when my son became a watchmaker a few years ago. He did start to give me a lesson - I got as far as dismantling everything but we've struggled to find time for reassembly. Of course I forgot where everything went about 2 mins after disassembling :) Keep up the good work!

[@scottwagstaff5121]

I'm inspired by you to start making straps, I see that you 3D print your templates, can you let me know where/how you create the template file, is this something you could share?

[@Saving-Time]

I make mine in open cad. I am planning to share the files it will probably be in the next video.

[@Saving-Time]

Good luck with the strap making

[@scottwagstaff5121]

@@Saving-TimeThanks

[@richardhanmer]

Another fantastic video . This is exactly what happened to my father in law; his old ancient Helvetia took a trip through the washing machine. IS there hope? Would you be interested in restoring it?

[@mariomartin6437]

I just purchased a new/old stock Prim, but it desperately needs a service. Do you service watches for a fee?

[@Saving-Time]

I appreciate the vote of confidence, but I don't do this professionally. Try instagram.com/clm_watchmaking/ send Chris a message; he works on old stuff and is a good guy!

[@mariomartin6437]

Thanks

[@m.cigledy6769]

Did you rinse the dial off? I'm not sure what laundry detergent will do to it long term if any did get into the case.

[@Saving-Time]

I did give it a wipe with distilled water. I hope you liked the video

[@m.cigledy6769]

@Saving-Time I did. The band was a great match for the watch. It is nice to see something with that much sentimental value brought back. It probably survived better than I would if you shoved me in a washer.

[@janeteholmes]

You said the movement felt soapy. This seems pretty good evidence it went through the washing machine to me.

[@Saving-Time]

Yup, I think it did. It's remarkable how little damage there was, though!

[@Wiktan]

try to place barrel arbor within upside down 90 degree tweezers like Stian from Vintage Watch Services

[@Saving-Time]

I will give that a go, thank you for the tip.

[@TheDasterdizzle]

Where do you get your tweezers? I've bought myself some that seem to be made of 100% chineseium.

[@Saving-Time]

for my main tweezers, i use www.cousinsuk.com/product/dumont-no2-medium-tips Dumont No. 2 lately, i have been using mainly brass: www.cousinsuk.com/category/brass-tweezers The cheap ones in brass are OK, as long as you don't mind spending a bit of time working on them. Out of the box, they are not great, but you can sand them into shape just fine. If you want to avoid that, get the brass Dumont ones

[@ABC-rh7zc]

do you have a website for your watchstraps?

[@Saving-Time]

Not at the moment, I only sell on referrals that may change in the future; if it does i'll post a video. I appreciate the interest

[@CCS676]

Where can i purchase one of your straps?

[@Saving-Time]

I'm not selling at the moment; I'm fully booked up for the next little while. I will put up a video when I have some time. I appreciate the interest and am sorry I can't do anything at the moment.

[@mullrump2]

Superb

[@Saving-Time]

Thanks 🤗

[@crazysdk]

I beg to differ. I would say that in the US the common people had access to accurate reliable timekeeping at lowish cost since before 1900 with pocket watches.

[@Saving-Time]

The first pocket watches came to the usa in the 1830s, 1850s saw them become more popular with 1896 seeing the introduction of the 1 dollar pocket watch. Very cool! However the population of the USA was less than 5% of the world's population at this time so it really would not matter if pocket watches were given away for free in the USA. I'd still say the mass adoption of accurate personal timekeeping came to the world in the 1940s

[@crazysdk]

@@Saving-Time hmmm…valid point.

[@Saving-Time]

America was ahead of the curve for sure, I love American pocket watches from the 1800s stunning work some of the best if not the best in the world!

[@slammermx]

The balance seems to be over wobbly.

[@Saving-Time]

IRL, it's rock solid. It might just be the lighting and the camera

[@morpheusmemnoch4160]

have you ever fixed a cylinder escapement watch?

[@Saving-Time]

I have not, but I'm sure I will at some point

[@morpheusmemnoch4160]

@@Saving-Time well they are cheap to buy and a pain to fix but I'd love to see how you do it as I have a couple. beautiful pocket watches though.

[@1959Berre]

I am pretty sure this watch has not been in the washing machine. There is no evidence of water inside, under or between the parts. Once water is trapped inside a watch it stays there for a long time. Condensation would be visible on the crystal, which is not the case. The "soapy" feeling could be excess oil from a previous servicing.

[@Saving-Time]

You could well be right on that one. There were water marks on the bridges, but they did not show well on camera. I hope you enjoyed the video.

[@andrewallen9993]

Vostok Komandirskie and Amphibia laugh loudly at the thought that a mere washing machine could possibly hurt them beyond scratching them a bit, Rolex oyster and submariner also smirk as they are designed to match Vostok specifications as well as being pieces of jewellery.

[@Saving-Time]

I've seen lots of water-damaged Vostok watches. The Rolex Oyster predates pretty much the entire Russian watch industry, so unless you suggest some sort of time travel, it would be quite hard for the Oyster to be built to Vostok specifications. I am not sure where you are getting your information from, but you are wrong.

[@andrewallen9993]

@@Saving-Time Practical experience :) Rolex oyster disappeared during rough swimming due to rubbish Rolex watch strap. Vostok Amphibia still here the strap hasn't broken yet. Neither watch leaked or got water damaged or stopped working despite incredibly rough treatment ( think 1972 Norton Commando and jackhammer use) and people worry about using a Rolex for golf! It is necessary to remember to screw the crown down on both watches though.

[@Saving-Time]

Rolex only offers straps for the Cellini Collection, and it has done so since about the 1940s, so if you had an oyster on a strap, it was not Rolex, or if it was, the strap was 80 years old. Also, you are not supposed to get leather wet, so if the strap fails in the water, that's on you, not the manufacturer. People seriously worry about everything that costs multiple thousands of dollars. Only an idiot would put undue strain on a mechanical watch. There is absolutely no reason to do so, so why would you jackhammer wearing a mechanical watch? It makes no sense at all. Just buy a g-shock; it's what they were designed for. Practical experience with a limited number of watches means nothing at all.

[@andrewallen9993]

@@Saving-Time The oyster date just had a stainless steel strap and disappeared 40 years ago. I haven't bought another one. What is the use of a tool watch with a strap that breaks no matter how beautiful? Im still wearing the Vostok with the awful looking, hair pulling, folded reliable stainless steel strap. Both watches have\had scratch able plastic crystals.

[@Saving-Time]

Well enjoy your watch, glad you found something you like.

[@RobbieHatley]

Interesting watch-repair video, but I think you failed to explain why owning a "Prim" would be desirable. Why not a Seiko SSK005 GMT ($300)? Or a Horage Tourbillon ($8000)? Or if you love ice-blue, a Seiko SRPE77 ($250) like the one on my wrist? Or if you're short on cash, a Casio quartz digital LCD ($10)? What is it about "Prim" that it would have more bang-for-the-buck than those? In my opinion, the watch you show in this video is ugly, though maybe that's just my own color preference ("burnt mauve", "maroon", and "dried blood" not being my favorite colors).

[@Saving-Time]

Well, for me personally, I'm not into Seiko. The Prim Cal 66 was used in around 50+ watches and can be had in some cases for around $20 USD , making it a much better choice for people starting out in watch repair than an ETA 1080 or IMO a Seiko. If you find a watch ugly or not, it is a simple matter of taste. The Prim Beruška (lady bird) was incredibility popular here, and I believe it was the best-selling women's watch the company ever produced. Mrs. Saving Time also has one. Glad you found the repair interesting. I'll be doing a Bulova next hopefully that will be more to your taste.

[@camillefelix9019]

'promo sm' 🎶

[@sy5441]

The ingenuity is fabulous, but it talks a little too much 😅

[@amphibiousone7972]

Sweet Movement. Thanks . 🫡🍻

[@trickyd499]

Please don't use AI images, they are so cringe

[@Saving-Time]

Cringe to whom?

[@trickyd499]

@@Saving-Timeyou are much better than that mate

[@Saving-Time]

I'm a VFX artist with 25 years of experience in the business. I've trained artists in every major film studio. Every artist I know uses AI, as do all the studios. It's an interesting tool. I could create thumbnails by painting on canvas or in 3D in Maya, but that would take up a lot of time. Tell me, do you think digital art in general is cringeworthy? Because when I started with it, most people did. So i ask again: to whom is it cringe? I'm 100% sure I know more working artists than you do.

[@llth_devices]

AI thumbnails are a huge disappointment

[@Saving-Time]

To whom?