My Most Difficult Restoration Yet - Wakmann Triple Calendar Chronograph
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- čas přidán 19. 04. 2024
- Kick back and immerse yourself in the restoration journey of a vintage Wakmann Triple Calendar Reverse Panda chronograph! Witness the process as we attempt to breathe new life into this timepiece through extensive work, including a full case strip down and electroplating. Additionally, the Valjoux 723 movement underwent a comprehensive top-to-bottom service. This video may be lengthy, but every moment is packed with dedication and effort. Join us in celebrating the culmination of time and passion, and I hope you'll find the end result as enchanting as I do!
My thanks to VGreen for their generous offer of 15% off any of their excellent hand-made leather watch straps.
Visit their site at - vgreenco.com - and use the code - WeekendWatchRepair - at checkout
You can also go through this link to have the discount automatically applied: vgreenco.com/discount/Weekend...
Behind the scenes of CZcams 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! - Jak na to + styl
With all the problems in the real world its great to sit back and enjoy a satisfying repair , with thanks to all that helped in their contribution with replacement parts .
I’m very glad you enjoyed it. Thank you.
I have to rewind several times before getting to the end, as I find it so relaxing, I fall asleep. Thank you. 👍
WOW. I absolutely love the outcome. I also enjoy the commentary and the honest description. Keep this going awesome.
Thanks a bunch.
My gosh, what a gorgeous piece of a watch❤
I agree. They really did a great job designing that watch.
Riveting! You walk the walk, talk the talk. Great video content, excellent commentary. I learn something every time from your instruction. Thank you
Hey Ross, thanks so much! I'm really glad you liked it.
Adam, wow, I am just extremely impressed with both the quality of your watch work and your video production. I have been watching your content from the beginning and you have progressed so far in a short period of time. Just fantastic work and thank you for sharing. Beautiful watch. John S
That means a lot to me. Thank you very much.
A fabulous complex restoration, I can see why you’ve always wanted one. Stunning watch and great end product, keep the great content coming and stays safe 😊
Thank you.
Yet again an exceptional video. I really look forward to these and your camera work is superb. Thank you for the time and effort you put into these.
I appreciate that a lot, thank you.
Wow! 🥰It's gorgeous and you have done a great job with it.
I appreciate it, thank you.
What an adventure!
Tell me about it, haha!
41 springs is A LOT in this type of watch ⌚️. I'd invest in a wheeled magnet 🧲 tool from Harbor Freight, so ya can eliminate getting down on all fours to find your spring. This is a GREAT tool to have around, for those springs that decide to spring away. I know just how frustrating 😒 this is, but this wheeled magnet tool could also save ya a lot of time, since ya can cover greater floor surface with it. I hope I brought ya a GREAT suggestive tip!! Your friend, Jeff!!
And still people buy Rolex and Breitling when they could have something like this, restored and still have money in their pocket and have people want to talk about their watch, rather than ignore them with their garish, tedious watches.
Excellent restoration. I'm almost inspired to do my Sicura chrono now.....just need to summon up the courage.
Thanks so much. I'm really glad you enjoyed it.
I agree. You can get a lot more watch for your money if you steer clear of brands like Rolex, too.
In case you didn’t know, Wakmann and Breitling’s history are very much intertwined.
To avoid the tariffs imposed upon completed Swiss watches, Breitling movements were imported instead, to be cased and timed in America and sold under the Wakmann brand.
A lot of Wakmann watches are actually rebadged Breitlings.
Kudos on the work done for this watch.
Thank you.
I have two hobbies. First is my love of guitars for the last 21 years. Second is more recently watches and servicing. Never thought I see an Ernie ball string reference in a watch services video haha! Great fast thinking.
Same hobbies here as well.
Beautiful watch!!!
I think so too.
This is the equivalent of getting a black belt in Martial arts when you can say you restored a Walkman 7750, it’s big gun territory in the watch fettering world. 🤣😎👏👏 well done mate you surpassed yourself on this old girl.
Thank you very much.
When you use a cotton mop like that for the first time, there’s a tool that looks like a hairbrush with very stout bristles called a buffing wheel rake that you use to strip the loose fibres out of the wheel. There videos showing how to do this here on CZcams.
Congratulations Adam, that came out fantastic! (Both the watch and the video...) There are so many great moments in this project. I have to try spinning the case on the buffer wheel now! Well done, I know you will wear it proudly.😁
Thanks Mike. I'm wearing it right now!
Now that was a long one. Found it very interesting , keep it coming from uk.
Thanks so much. I generally do long videos, but that one was REALLY long. Even still, there was some footage not shown in the video because of a failed memory card (hands and crystal installation). I just didn't see any way of making it shorter without cutting out critical parts of the rebuild. There's a lot going on with this watch. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
as a 10 year mechanic whos new to the hobby, watching you put the screws back so they dont get mixed up makes me wonder how long the guys have been doing this who strip em bare !! i can strip an engine and not have a problem as nuts and bolts have a specific "look" for an area but this 🤯 the mind boggles !!
I do not have any desire to try and figure out where each screw should go. This watch was worth the extra effort to put them back in their original slots.
It's just like engines. Practice make perfect. Also everything should fit perfect. If you get lost with bolt/screw location. Test it and see if it stick up too far, if it bumps into other parts, if the shoulder doesn't cover, etc. My dad always told me if a bolt sits more than a 1/4-5/16", it's too long. I apply the same logic to watches, just scaled down. Then, with today's tech, use you phone to take pictures as you go for the more complex movements.
A lot of experienced watchmakers who strip time only and time, day date watches completely as you do an engine often replace screws immediately as seen in this video when working on a watch like this.
Great work on very cool watch - thank you for sharing this: 👍👌👏!
Thanks for watching.
Extraordinary Video, liked it very much. Detailed shots and informative voice over. Thanks !
Many thanks!
Great work Adam, regards from New Zealand 🇳🇿
Thank you very much.
A very impressive service, Adam.
I enjoyed watching it. Thank you
Thanks a bunch.
I really enjoyed watching that! Thank you for helping me pass a pleasant 1 and 3/4 hours 👍
Thank you. I'm very glad you enjoyed it.
That's a beautiful watch, and you did a terrific job with it!
Thanks so much.
Gorgeous movement on that watch. Thanks for the video. I’m wearing my Seiko 6139 Pogue today. It’s running great. 😊
That's awesome! Those will always be one of my absolute favorites.
Great work! I am happy I discovered your channel... Beautiful watch. Have a nice weekend (from the UK).
Thank you very much. Hope you have a nice weekend as well. I am currently trying to avoid tornadoes today!
Real nice work, fantastic 😊😊
Thank you.
Such a great job! Thanks again for sharing with us!
Thanks so much.
I'm a couple of minutes into the video and it looks like the watch was kept in a tackle box!
Haha
Wow, amazing work, Adam! If I attempted this, I'd have springs flying everywhere and need a dozen extra of each! 🤪 Absolutely beautiful watch. Love that strap, too!
Thank you very much. I am really glad I found VGreen straps. They do great work.
Great Video, as per usual, great content. If you're a hack what hope for the rest of us
Haha!
Hey there Adam. A great video and a fantastic result. 👍🏻
Thanks
Another great video, Adam! I just recently bought a beautiful 18K rose gold Sandoz with a Valjoux 72C movement with a shock protected balance and this video is a fantastic reference in the event that I ever work up the courage to clean and lubricate it! Additionally, I've only had mine two weeks and I'm very glad to know that the month display has to be manually advanced! If I hadn't discovered that by watching this video in ten days I would have assumed it was broken and probably risked damaging the watch inspecting it to see if I could fix it! Thanks again for all of your fantastic videos!
Thank you Dayton. I'm glad the timing of the video worked out well for you! I took my lumps and learned my lessons during disassembly. As for the assembly, although a lot of time had passed, I found it to be much less daunting. I know you'll service your Sandoz properly when the time comes. Like me, I'm sure you've had watches you found intimidating when you first got into them, but you got more comfortable as you worked through the project. That 72C will be no different. Just make sure you record and share it! Your videography is always spectacular. I appreciate your thoughtful comment. I enjoy your channel as well!
Great job as always! I try wearing my fathers old Seiko but it runs way too fast so I really just wear ir for show. Back when I could afford to fix it I couldn't find anyone to work on it. All I ever heard was that it's not worth fixing. I guess personal value really doesn't count. It goes to my daughter next so maybe she'll get it squared away. Thank you for making these videos, I truly enjoy every one of them.
Thanks so much.
Was wondering when your video was coming, but after seeing this, realize why it took so long. An epic restoration Adam. Love the re=plating. Have always wanted to try my hand at it, but need a few more tools first. And you are NOT a hack! Bravo.
Thanks so much.
just awesome! well done!
Thanks a lot.
Thank you for another great video. Thanks for the in-depth on how you do these chronographs. As far as the photos, very nice with one exception. The hands weren’t set at 10:10! You know if you know
Nobody is perfect, lol.
@johnvaluk1401 10:10 covered up too much of the Wakmann logo, so I opted for 4:35 for some of the shots. Less coverage of the logo and subregisters that way. It was a fully wound movement at the time, so I decided to just take the shots and let the hand placement be damned. 😂
@@coolhandluke8247 nothing bad meant. Just a little fun. It drives me crazy when they are all set to 10:10!
Outstanding work. A real beauty.
I appreciate it, thank you.
Props👏
Thanks.
wow that really turned out amazing! Nickel plating FTW!
Glad you liked it!
Fantastic work (as always) Adam. I could tell this was a keeper from the way you talked about it. Such a lovely piece.
Also: thank you! I was thinking the same about grease on the pallet stones.
Thanks a bunch. I'm thinking I'll use the 9415 for everything 28,000 bph and above, and the 941 for everything below. It seems to be working well thus far.
@@WeekendWatchRepair sounds like a plan :)
Moebius 9415 was initially recommended for use on high best movements, because 941 didn’t stay in place well on faster moving escapements.
9415 is now preferred if you have it for both slow and fast beat movements. It will not rob you of any amplitude and will remain where it’s needed better than 941, especially if you aren’t using epilame.
Moebius 9415 is a thixotropic grease. It’s grease like at rest but liquifies when the parts slide across eachother, so it has the properties of a thin oil when it matters but doesn’t spread or get displaced when its ‘at rest’.
9415 even works very well on cylinder escapements.
All of my watches receive treatment of epilame. It’s just not shown on the video. I am aware of the characteristics of 9415 and 941. I just wanted to give it a try.
I tip my hat,this was the most complicatet movement I ever saw!
Thank you very much.
Wow! Great video!
I just discovered this channel…it’s great.
I have an early 70’s Sicura jump hour that that could use someone with your skills to see what the issue is.
It was working until just recently.
Is this something you’d be interested in looking at?
Happy to compensate of course!
-Andrew.
Hi Andrew, thanks so much. At the moment, I am not able to do commission work. That is something I’d like to change in the future, but right now I’m just not set up for it. I really appreciate you reaching out though. Thank you.
Awesome watch
Thanks
Great work, this is a huge step up from servicing time only or time/date manual and automatic movements and you did a great job.
It’s common practice to set the timing of the day, date and month on these triple calendars to happen in a staggered sequence.
Loading the spring to flip these over robs power and amplitude.
If you’re loading them all simultaneously you it can cause the watch to lose so much amplitude it runs badly around changeover time, or sometimes it will even stop the watch completely.
Set the movement so that you’re loading these mechanisms and look at it on the timegrapher, and you can see how much this impacts this specific watch.
I set everything back to factory specs. It stages over about 20 minutes.
Nice!
Thank you.
Boa noite. nunca tinha visto um serviço bem feito igual esse.
Obrigado
Amazing work! Fascinating. Are you accepting watches for repair, or are these your personal watches? I have 70s chronograph that shares same maker of Wakmann movement, minus the triple date. It keeps good time but chronograph not functioning. Valjoux 7736 movement. Looking for someone to service it. Would love to send it to you! It’s a beauty
Unfortunately I am not able to accept commissions at this time. There are some things I need to have in place before I can accept such requests. Thank you though.
Wakmann, that has to be the same Wakmann who makes 8 day clocks for aircraft. I've got one in need of overhaul myself. It works when wound, but only runs a short time, then stops. Century and some other aircraft instrument shops can overhaul them.
I believe they are the same.
It is the same Wakmann. Their history was intertwined with Breitling, and much of their Swiss movements came from Breitling.
There is excellent watchmaker who specialises in restoring Aircraft clocks like yours called Dewey Clark. I highly recommend him, a consummate professional and his work it top notch.
Wow great video. Do watchmakers every work in a desktop booth?
I wouldn't really know, but I'd image that some people might. As long as you can get good light on your workspace, it would probably work just fine.
Newbie here. While you are working on the watch, are you on the microscope or naked eye or loupe or screen connected to the microscope? I have an Amscope SM-4TP. Thanks in advance all the feedback ✌🏻
I'm working through a microscope.
Those tweezers are helping you one bit
!!!!!!!!
Glad you liked it.
And people act surprised when recieving the bill after getting their chronograph serviced 😂
A lot of work definitely went into this watch.
There's one on Watch Recon for $2550 right now...
I haven’t heard of that website before. Going to check it out.
Too cool to sell
Yeah, I agree. It really hit me as I was finishing the restoration that I needed to keep this watch. It's just fantastic. I'll just have to work through what I've got left and not buy any new projects for a bit.
and i'd bet the spring you 'broke' was at least partially gone already, you feel when your forcing them past the break point, unless they're already partly gone
Could you use a solvent to dissolve whatever is left of the old crown gasket?
@@anthonycaryl1079 It's possible. I'd like to think it was so at least I wouldn't be completely at fault. It was the same outcome though, as I had to buy a replacement part and wait a few weeks for it to arrive.
@@anthonycaryl1079 It all came out in tiny pieces quite easily actually. The problem was installing a replacement, which I found basically impossible without disassembling the crown. I still have it and if I can find a way to put a replacement gasket in there without damaging the crown I'll put it back on the watch. For now I went with a new replacement so I could keep the watch sealed up properly while wearing it. Having the original crown on there wasn't worth it to me if moisture could easily get inside.
You don't want the day and date to change at the same time.. puts too much strain on the movement. Most watch makers purposely set them up to change that way yours was set up.
That makes sense. During assembly, I put it back to factory specs according to the documentation and it seems to change about 20 minutes apart between the day and date. It’s been running great, so I don’t think any further adjustment needs to be made, but I can see why someone did make that change at one point.
I'm pretty sure that you could perform brain surgery with just an instruction pamphlet 😮😂..AMAZING
I'm positive I couldn't do that! But thank you though.
too many commercials. I'm out
I’m sorry to hear that. I’m still pretty new to CZcams, but I don’t think I have any control over what commercials they play. EDIT: Apparently I was mistaken. I was able to remove some of the ad spots, and you're right, there was quite a lot of them. I took about 50% of the ad breaks away. Hopefully the video should be much more watchable. I appreciate you bringing this to my attention.
The ball that you use I feel is a bit of BS. I have tried this on a Hammilton and the back doesnt budge. Actually none of the watches I have will come loose as easy as you show.
Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. I'd say around 50% of the watches I work on will come loose with the ball. If it doesn't come loose, I'll move it over to the case back removal tool.
@@WeekendWatchRepair I want to apologize for my comment. I did not mean to make it come across as rude and disrespectful. Your videos are awesome.
The case may be a little rough but that movement is absolutely stunning . I know people don't like Frankenstein watches but I would have to track down a stainless case for it. I can't stand plated brass cases
I used to feel the same way. Since I've been able to refinish plated cases, I really enjoy them now. Perhaps its due to the amount of work that goes in to each case, but I've been thoroughly enjoying wearing them.
@@WeekendWatchRepair Can you show a video on how you plate watch in more detail than this one. Where you get you solutions, voltages, etc.. Thanks!