Vintage Vibes on a Budget: Gruen Precision Watch Restoration

Join me on an exciting journey as we restore a classic Gruen Precision watch from the late 60's or early 70's with a severely damaged hairspring! This is the second watch in the series of 'Vintage Budget Rebuilds'. In this detailed video, we'll show you every step of the process, from fault finding and disassembly to the final touches of the rebuild. Despite the challenge of a mangled hairspring, we'll triumph over the restoration process and create a fully functional and stunning retro timepiece.
The cost breakdown of this watch was as follows:
- Watch - $27.50 (including shipping)
- Donor Movement - $25.88 (including shipping)
- Bracelet - No cost (used one from a previous project)
Total Cost - $53.38
For $53 this is a great looking watch that will run faithfully for several years to come. As I continue to grow with this hobby, I might re-plate this case when I get around to ordering the items and learning how to do it. For now though, this is a great everyday watch.
Gruen Precision - 21 Jewel
Movement - INT (International Durowe) 7522-3
Behind the scenes of KZbin content, there's dedication and hard work. If you enjoy the channel, I'd kindly request your consideration in joining this effort on Patreon. Your support keeps the channel going. One hundred precent of all funds received go directly into the channel. With my sincere gratitude, thank you so much for your consideration.
/ weekendwatchrepair
Enjoy the video!
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:07 Inspection
1:56 Yikes Hairspring!!
3:36 Automatic Works Removal & Disassembly
7:11 Case Removal
8:11 Dial & Hands Removal
8:48 Dial Side Disassembly
13:59 Rear Side Disassembly
18:37 Pre-Cleaning
19:25 Balance Lubrication
21:51 Balance Inspection
22:28 Barrel Lubrication
23:15 Mainspring Installation & Lubrication
26:32 Center Wheel Install & Lubrication
27:49 Barrel Bridge Arbor Port Repair & Install
30:22 Wheel Train & Bridge Install
32:56 Wheel Train Lubrication
33:44 Click Spring & Crown Wheel & Ratchet Wheel
35:29 End Shake Test
35:48 Pallet Fork Install & Lubrication
37:15 Balance Install & Inspection
38:54 Initial Regulation
40:12 Keyless & Motion Works Assembly
46:59 Calendar Works & Final Dial Side Assembly
53:05 Automatic Works Assembly & Install
1:00:56 Dial & Hands Assembly
1:03:22 Crystal Restoration
1:04:49 Gaskets - Casing - Final Assembly
The original video was removed after about 1 hour of being posted. I caught an error in the video edit only after uploading! There was a shot of the finished watch that was out of sync the rest of the video, so I pulled it after about 1 hour of being posted to correct it. This is the second upload with the error now corrected. Enjoy the video!
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
uppbeat.io/t/jonny-boyle/swin...
License code: B2DIWWW496B03EXK
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
uppbeat.io/t/jonny-boyle/swin...
License code: ODWZETKXL5YPJ9JA

[@frankcabrera734]

THANK YOU

[@frednurc4088]

The greatest part of a mechanical? The escapement of course

[@phillipdridge9775]

Great video, Adam❤

[@WeekendWatchRepair]

Thank you very much.

[@SkyBlue-le7cd]

Nice job. Between the automatic works and the calendar works, it seems that the movement was more complex than other movements. Beautiful watch. Thanks for the video.

[@WeekendWatchRepair]

It was definitely different, but after service it is running quite well. Thanks for watching!

[@ForestWoodworks]

Stellar work again! This is my second time through this one, so pardon if I already commented!

[@rossjackson3670]

Really impressed. Visual and verbal continuity so good. Explanation and display of the automatic system was just excellent. thank you

[@WeekendWatchRepair]

Very kind words, thank you Ross.

[@rockchalk06]

Another great video Adam. Great job!

[@WeekendWatchRepair]

Thank you Richard. I really appreciate it.

[@Looey]

Whenever I see you use that black hold down tool, I think of when I worked at a computer factory and used one for dressing wires, etc. We also used wooden ones. They were called spudgers LOL. Nice video !

[@WeekendWatchRepair]

lol, thanks!

[@Looey]

We shaped the spudgers as we needed, and did not lend them out much...We used the cuts at the flat end to grab and pull 30 gauge wires. I had to smile as you presented the ascending grades of abrasives lol.thanx again@@WeekendWatchRepair

[@nickjohnson217]

Lovely tutorial video buddy, thanks for sharing it with us, I watch videos like yours when I have nothing to service or work on, you can never have enough knowledge in this hobby and watching someone else’s methods sometimes gleens something I didn’t know or a better way of going about things, all though this movement wasn’t complicated you did a pristine service and restore. Keep up the good work buddy your a credit to the watchmaking hobby. 👏👏🙏😉⏱

[@WeekendWatchRepair]

I also enjoy watching videos from other people and try to learn new techniques, methods, etc. There's always more to learn, and I still have a long way to go. I appreciate your comment very much and am pleased that you enjoyed the video.

[@ygrbooks]

Thank you for this great and instructive video on a watch with a really weirdly complex movement.

[@pipodorologio1648]

thanks for sharing...very nice vintage style Gruen

[@WeekendWatchRepair]

Thank you very much.

[@markstevens8142]

Great job, nice watch, throughly enjoyed the video.👍👍👍

[@WeekendWatchRepair]

Thanks a bunch Mark. I really appreciate it.

[@justinbjork5682]

Keep it up, buddy! You’ll be right up Marshall’s ass before you know it with this quality.

[@WeekendWatchRepair]

Haha! I’m not trying to compete with him. I’m just trying to do my own thing, but I really do appreciate the kind words. That one made me laugh!

[@Heuamoebe]

Thanks for the amazing, detailed video! I just got an old watch with a Durowe 7522/2 and this will help a lot with bringing it back to life. Especially knowing where the springs are haha

[@WeekendWatchRepair]

That's fantastic. I'm glad you find it helpful. I try my best do provide as much detail on the movements as I can.

[@fjalsen60]

Great video i love it

[@WeekendWatchRepair]

Thanks so much!

[@johnpinner1]

Very enjoyable

[@WeekendWatchRepair]

Thank you John.

[@blownouttransmission5832]

i wonder if that main spring and barrel design was done that way to create a safety mechanism to prevent over wind ? i would surely act like a self locating ratchet on all those spring hooks around the inside of the barrel.

[@WeekendWatchRepair]

Yes, the spring will slip along the inside edge of the barrel wall. Some barrels have those recesses along the wall, others do not. The purpose of the braking grease is to allow the spring to grip enough to hold tension at a full wind but then let it slip against the barrel wall if winding continues, thus never allowing the watch to be over-wound.

[@hockeyrd99]

Nice job! I'd like to offer a suggestion on how the hairspring got that badly mangled.. someone did it on purpose! I once bought a lot of around 10 watches from someone online. Maybe they weren't happy with the price they sold for? When I got them it LOOKED LIKE someone removed the back of each watch and pulled the hairspring out just like that on all 10 watches. My guess is they were purposely ruined. Who knows why?

[@adamytacct]

You might be right. I remember that watch had zero bids and a little less than a day left on eBay. I put in a starting bid of $20, figuring that I’d probably lose it at the end of the auction. No one else bid, so the seller may have been disappointed at the low selling price. I’d prefer not to think that it was done intentionally but you never know I suppose. Nevertheless, it turned into an interesting project. I’ve already had someone local want to purchase it. I might sell it later, but I’ve only had the thing running for a short time and I am enjoying having it in the wear rotation. I’m glad you enjoyed the video and appreciate your comment.

[@look4truth480]

thinking when i get caught up to your newest video if you will be narrating as you actually are working. we'll see...

[@WeekendWatchRepair]

Sorry, no. I still narrate after the fact. Normally I have a TV or something going on in the background. For copyright reasons I cannot have that audio in the video. Star Trek wouldn't be too happy if I blast their episodes in the background of my watch videos, haha!

[@tiberiuvincze8288]

Nice video! insane automatic system! nice movement! great job! what kind of brass tweezers are you using ? I saw that is made in italy? waht brand ? Thank you for all!

[@WeekendWatchRepair]

They are 'Viola' tweezers.

[@boydsargeant7496]

I’m really disappointed you didn’t attempt to straighten the hairspring on camera😂 I laughed my head off when you said pop the escapement wheel in and won’t expect it to stay there!😂 what tweezers did you use to hold the barrel arbor? And what mainspring winders do you have, they looked very new. Wondering if they were Chinese and if you like them? Great to see a cheap watch service!

[@WeekendWatchRepair]

Yeah, I am as well. Clearly the old hairspring was fixable, but I just didn't have the nerve to attempt it, haha!! Regarding the tweezers I use on when installing the arbor, I am using the Dumont #7B. The serrated edges on that really help grab onto the arbor and I find I have much less chance of losing my grip on it. The best way would be to use an arbor vice, or a larger pin vice, but those 7B serrated tweezers do the job quite nicely. On the mainspring winders, they are Bergeon. I have just pieced individual pieces together though, as the full set is incredibly expensive and I'd probably never use 70% of the sizes in that set. I have found that probably 90% of the watches I work on can be wound with either a L or R wind 5, 6, or 7 size winder. There are some specialty winders for certain movements, but most of the watches I've messed with can be done with one of those 3 sizes. The winders can be used in either direction. Even though they market the handles as left or right handed, you can use the handles to wind in either direction. The only parts that are truly specific to L or R winding is the arbors. I've got a L & R arbor in 5, 6, and 7. One drum in 5, 6, 7, and a handle. I'm into those parts for about 15-20% the cost of the full set, and I hardly ever need to use anything else. I could possibly get a size 8, but it is rare that I find a watch when I need one. For that size, I have a very old winder from the 30's that still works well. I also wind them in by hand if need be, as I did with all of them when I started. If you do it carefully, you can hand wind a spring just fine. It just takes practice. The same goes with the Bergeon winders. I had several ruined mainsprings before I got the technique down. I actually thought about just going back to winding them all by hand, but I stuck with it and eventually figured out the proper way to do it.

[@boydsargeant7496]

@@WeekendWatchRepair many thanks for this detailed reply, awesome! I still wind my mainsprings in by hand too. Thanks essentially why I was asking, I’m always wondering if I’m missing an opportunity for more accuracy or amplitude with proper winders? Thanks for all this content, really useful! Looking forward to the next one.

[@WeekendWatchRepair]

@@boydsargeant7496 Thanks so much. If you do end up getting a mainspring winder, make sure you practice with some springs/junk movements at first, as you will most likely produce a few damaged mainsprings before you get the hang of it. I read that on a forum and they were absolutely right! It took me few tries before I was comfortable enough to use them on a watch that I couldn't risk damaging the spring.

[@boydsargeant7496]

@@WeekendWatchRepair thanks, great idea!

[@roxanneshadwell5017]

Would have to make a video just to be sure!

[@anthonycaryl1079]

I had a timex where the hairspring did that, freshly cleaned, ran for a few days then stopped and when i opened the back the hairspring was all over the place, i guess it was fatigued/rusted and cleaning mean the movement was running with much more force so it snapped when in motion

[@WeekendWatchRepair]

That's odd. I haven't run into a situation where a hairspring did that while running (yet). Perhaps I've been lucky thus far. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment!

[@adrianbirkett594]

Hi, could you have gotten a new spring?, as these watches are hard to find.

[@MidnightWatches]

Nice work, Adam! I just finished one of these myself, it was a pleasure to work on. Where do you get those polishings sticks that you use for pivots?

[@WeekendWatchRepair]

Thanks a bunch. It was a pleasure to work on that watch. I enjoyed it. The polishing sticks are called EVEFLEX, but you can find off brand ones that work exactly the same as the EVE brand. On Esslinger they are listed as 'Silicone Polishing Pin Set with Mandrel 3mm". Cousins has the EVE brand. I use the green (fine) silicone inserts for the pivots.

[@MidnightWatches]

@@WeekendWatchRepair You're awesome, thank you! Think that fellow over at Vintage Watch Services uses those too. Looking forward to your next project!

[@WeekendWatchRepair]

Thanks a bunch. I know who you're talking about. I've seen some of his videos and enjoy watching his process. You'll like those silicon polishing pins. They do a great job. I've got the filming nearly finished on the next one. It is an absolute stunner of a watch, and am really excited to get this video finished.

[@GentlemensWatchServices]

Great stuff. A real watchmaker would have fixed that mainspring 😂

[@WeekendWatchRepair]

Haha. Well I am a hobbyist after all.