Horological Meandering

My interest in watches has grown steadily over the years. I'm always reading the magazines, spend a fair amount of time on PuristPro, I go to the shows when their in town, and I'm on ebay daily looking at pricing trends and looking for a "deal". I can't s... 

Forgive me if I laughed out loud - I admire your courage to venture into this fascinating world. Please keep us all posted. --Sancerre

Also have lost quite a few important parts. The carpet below my drafting table I call the "watch motel" : "Watch parts check in, but they don't check out"...  

Thanks for sharing this experience with us and for providing a bit of a chuckle.I think most of us,men anyway, have this innate desire to fix things whether we are qualified to do so or not.From experience and notably a particular friend's obsession in ti... 

I have some hands to adjust and a dial to replace on some of my vintage watches, so I decided to practice first on a junk watch with my new tools. It has been humbling and after destroying the components I now have only a movement, not a project watch to ... 

Hi Wade, Thanks for sharing your story which I can relate to. I laughed out loud at your "... started to speak with a Swiss accent" and "... exploded like a grenade". When I first got interested in horology I did the same as you and purchased some old poc... 

Wade, ROTFL ! The only suggestion that I could think of is to .......er........read the 'Beginner's Guide to Watch Repair' before the practical session...? MTF

No message body

Wade, I loved your post! Reading it made me smile and chuckle. I am working my way through a watch repair book. In reading it, I find that I understand a bit more about watches conceptually, but the practical, manual application of repairing a timepiece i... 

Always make sure to de-tension the mainspring! This will prevent the hand grenade effect. Not only are the parts a pain to find in the carpet, but flying gears can be a major hazard to your eyes and face. I second the suggestions from AndrewD. A 10X loupe... 

For your very witty insight to watch repairing. It made me smile and chuckle. I think that you have put into words, what most of us "Secret" watch repaiers would like to try and achieve. Why oh why, when you watch (pardon the pun) a true craftmanship at w... 

HI I also also suggest taking a sheer stocking ( woman's) and stretching it over the front of the vacuum hose. Then try to vacuum the area and you should be able to catch all the little bits ... Good Hunting Bill

Congratulations on taking that step, even if it might feel like a backwards step right now.

I love this site! Thank you all for the great suggestions and advice! I've gain a ton of respect for watchmakers and will resist jumping back in before I read up a little. Thanks again! Wade

Really a pleasure Wade. One final comment on magnets: those 30cm long, wall mounted knife holders work very well because of their 'wand' like shape. Just wave them over the carpet and the parts magically appear. That's the theory anyway; those little part... 

Don't give up. Experience counts for a lot. By the way, the first time I changed a watch strap, it took me about 20 minutes and I broke out in a sweat. Now it takes me only about 15 minutes. Regards, Richard.

Once you've finally reassembled a movement and cased it up...Well other watches start looking a little less special. Most of all, have fun. If it starts getting frustrating and you feel you want to hurl the watch at the wall...just walk away for a while.....