Vintage Pocket Watch Repair

Use a case blade to pry open the snap-down case back of a vintage pocket watch. Lay a screw-down case back model crystal side down in the palm of your hand and use the other palm to unscrew it counterclockwise to open, according to Thewatchguy.homestead.com.

Let down the mainspring, a rolled ribbon of steel inside the mainspring barrel, to unwind the vintage pocket watch. Rotate the crown at 12 o̵7;clock a few notches to identify the stopper over the mainspring gear. Hold the crown and use a precision screwdriver to push aside the stopper to free it from the gears to unwind the watch.

Remove the movement with a screwdriver by unscrewing the two screws fastening the movement to the case. Place all parts in separate compartments in the parts tray so none get lost.

Place the watch hands remover over the hands post to hold the hours, minutes and seconds post. Place the hands-grabbing tool on its feet atop the dial. Pull each hand individually from the post. Remove the screws that fasten the dial to the movement.

Remove the hour wheel (a gear under the center of the dial) with tweezers. Remove the cannon pinion (a smaller gear on a shaft) with the needle-nose pliers. Remove the bridge (the flat piece of metal covering the mainspring) with a screwdriver.

Remove the balance wheel underneath the bridge with a screwdriver, and remove the T-shaped balance fork from under the balance wheel with a screwdriver. Use tweezers to remove the jewels, tiny gemstones, from their holes on the bridges.

Replace the mainspring, whether or not it̵7;s damaged, as a precaution. Soak the rest of the parts in Naphtha in shot glasses and scrub parts with a brush.

Use the jeweler̵7;s loupe to examine each part for cracks, hairline fractures or bending. Replace damaged parts. Place parts on lint-free paper to dry.

Lubricate the jewel holes with oil using the oiler. Install the parts in reverse order of their removal.