Ranfft Watches, Master Desaster

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Informations: Repair Calculation - Master disaster

Watchmaker

He is usually the first address if one has troubles with a watch. He is skilled for his job, and continuously dealing with watches gives a routine, almost never reached by a hobbyist.

Unfortunately there are also some lame ducks among them, even with master certificate. No question, it needs a certain level of confidence to leave a job to a watchmaker. But when ever disasters happen, like the one described below, one should shrink the confidence to zero, and look for another watchmaker.

Index

Victim

Offender

Repair

To Overview

Victim

This Omega Automatic Seamaster Cosmic was sold on this site, informations here.

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Magnify images by clicking them

Fig. 1 and 2 show a watch in good condition, as well the exterior as the interior, and the investigation of the performance showed no drawbacks. Only the dial wasn't really crisp: At 4 and 11:30h the dial feet positions were visible, but all in all this could still be regarded as charming patina.

The Master's Oppinion

The new owner wanted the watch ready for daily use, and gave it to a lady master-watchmaker in Hamburg for a repair calculation. Her judgement was desastrous:
Crown not mountable,
crown and crown tube worn out,
dial distorted,
selfwinding defective,
manual winding gear defective,
further not detailed declared failures,
total costs more than EUR 400.00.

Right Diagnostics

In the shape the owner got his watch back, all these deficits applied anyhow.

Fig. 3.

Fig. 4

Fig, 3 shows the watch after having been investigated by the watchmaker:
     Of course the crown can't be mounted, because the positions of stem and crown tube at A don't match. The outer part of the split stem simply doesn't meet the inner part.
     Moreover the shadow at B shows that the contour of the movement's date plate was pressed into the dial when the movement was forced into the case.

Fig. 4 demonstrates the disaster more impressive: The dial is not only seriously dented - even the edge was forced to pass the reinforcement ring of the crystal at C.
     It is right that the crown tube is worn. The crown on a split stem is almost only guided by its gasket. And if the gasket is worn enough, the lower metal washer of the crown will leave scratch marks on the tube at D. But there is still no need to replace the tube, since at E, where the crown gasket is gliding, the surface is still smooth. With a new crown the watch will therefore be reliably waterproof again, and the metal washer will not touch the tube any longer.

Offender

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

The result of the investigation is obvious: The watch was efficiently wrecked. But how can this happen? A hint is given by Fig. 5 (before destruction) and Fig.6 (after):

At F a gap in the reinforcement ring is visible: Obviously the crystal was any time replaced, using the not perfectly fitting original ring. This will not seal the watch reliably, but it is not that worse. More interesting is, what is not visible: The signature "T Swiss Made T" is not mirrored on the reinforcement ring.

In contrast Fig.6 shows the mirror image of the signature clearly visible at G, and the only possible reason is that another ring was used.

Tiny Cause, Big Conseqence

Fig. 7

For demonstration purpose I cut a reinforcement ring as used in this watch, and a standard ring:

This watch needs a ring with a recess on the dial side, as shown in Fig. 7. This allows the dial to sink into the ring as visible at H.

If a standard ring is used as in Fig. 8, the dial is forced to pass the ring like at I, and will therefore be destroyed as soon as the crystal with this ring is pressed into the bezel.

And Why Doesn't It Run

Fig. 9

The lady master preferred the simple diagnostics: Doesn't run neither after manual winding, nor after automatic winding (shaking). Both defective though.

A sensible hobbyist would notice already in Fig. 3 (on top) that the second hand sticks to the minute hand, and the magnification in Fig. 9 shows it more than clearly: Not only the dial was distorted, but the hands too. They don't only touch but even cross each other.

Quick Repair

Straighten hands - ready.

No Need for Service

No need to mention that both, manual and automatic winding properly work.

Even the rotor bearing doesn't shows the wear, which is common for many if not most old Omegas.

If unsufficiently lubricated the bearing rapidely wears, an the rotor is soon touching either bridges and/or the case back. But for this particular sample Fig.10 demonstrates best performance:

Fig. 10

Even with a reasonable weight (nut) on one side of the rotor, the distance between rotor and bridge is the same at J and K.

In the item descripton no need for service was mentioned, and in fact there is none. Here a photo of the movement on the timing machine:

Fig. 11

Smooth steady oscillation, no remarkable beat error,
deviation 0 s/day,
amplitude 269°.

Even from a brand new chronometer nobody expects more, and for a 43 years old watch it is remarkably good.

Repair

Not much to do for me, except waiting.
Waiting for the new dial and the new crown.
Waiting for the movement, cleaned and lubricated by the watchmaker.
And scacely, but occasionally happening: Waiting for the right crystal.

Fig. 12

Fig. 13

Case Design

In many cases of this kind the movement with dial is fixed only by the pressed in crystal. When shocked, the (relatively heavy) movement is only supported by the dial edge. Sooner or later this will damage the coating of the dial, and corrosion will appear along the dial periphery, as typical for such case constructions.

There are many designs to prevent this disadvantage. One is a kind of bayonet joint as applied in this watch.

The case (Fig.12) has a collar L to carry the movement. In this collar there are two recesses M for the two casing clamps O at the movement (Fig.13). The movement is dropped into the case with the clamps O passing the collar at M. If it is now turned clockwise, the lugs O are shifted under the collar like in a bayonet joint, and fix the movement in the case.

Moreover there is a third recess N. It gives space for the inner section P of the stem, while turning the movement.

Fig. 14

Fig. 15

Watch the Signals

Since the kind of fastening is not visible after lifting the crystal, the manufacturer gave hints and assistance (Fig.14):

1) An arrow Q near the edge of the dial can only be interpreted as advice to turn the dial counterclockwise. Click on the image to see it better magnified.

2) At the dial edge there is one notch R to turn it to the left, and another S to turn it to the right. The brave among us apply a screw driver here; I'm a bit anxious, and prefer a pegwood T to avoid scratches.

In Fig.14 the movement is dropped in with the casing clamps O passing the collar L at M. If turned clockwise with T at the notch S, it is fixed. Now the crown with the outer section of the stem is snapped in place, and the crystal is pressed in - ready (Fig.15)

Figures (cf. Service Prices)

EUR    53.00 standard service automatic
EUR      8.00 additionally for date
EUR      4.00 repair black inlays of hands
EUR      4.00 straighten hands
EUR      6.00 apply luminous matter of hands
EUR    15.00 add luminous dots on new dial
EUR 182.80   dial, genuine
EUR    34.00 crown, genuine
EUR    12.50   plastic crystal round, reinforced

EUR 319.30 total (in 2010)

That wrong the lady wasn't with EUR 400.00. But keep in mind that a fraction of EUR 211.80 was caused by her individual treatment of watches. Moreover the perfomance of the movement didn't require a service, and it was only done to make sure that she hasn't also damaged the movement. But fortunately no repairs were necessary.

The disaster published here is not typical, even not for unskilled hobbyists, and the less for real watchmakers.
The watchmaker around the corner is still the first choice to maintain your watches, but you should not acceppt all he is doing.

...the alternative - free of charge!

Dr. Roland Ranfft
Im Eichfeld 8
41844 Wegberg-Wildenrath
Germany

phone +49 (0)2432 491604
fax +49 (0)2432 491605
email: info@ranfft.de

Last update: 06-27-11