The Breitling Watch Source Forums

That looks amazing!! Love seeing the movements on these watches.

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Hi Renè,

Looks really great and certainly shows off the movement well.

Any chance you could share with us some of the technical details on the new back?

What is the applied finish? Looks great, but was it machine finished or hand lapped? What type of glass is the exhibit window, sapphire, crystal? Also, the seal or gasket between the glass and the case back; is this a cured liquid seal or is it a pre-sized gasket. How is the glass held in place without popping in or out?

_________________
Jim

"You have Control".

Hi All,

This is my first post here, let me shed some light.
I made this caseback on request from Rene.

First, i intended to use the original caseback, but it proved too damaged and to thin to put a crystal in.
In the Facebook link that Rene provided earlier in this topic, you can see i started with a new piece of stainless steel.

Steps i've taken:
-measure up the original back
-make a detailed technical drawing, with modification for the crystal
-turn the caseback on the lathe
-sunburst grinding
-pressing in the crystal.

the crystal is 1mm mineral, pressed in with a gasket-ring, it rests on a ridge in the back, so no risk of popping in.., and popping out?.. you'd have to remove the back first..

This pressing in of the crystal is probably the cause of the back not really clamping on the back of the watch, but as Rene did, by "forging" the inner edge, it now fits.

I determined the size by turning a disc, representing the back of the watch, and fitting the original caseback, i then knew to what diameter i had to machine the new one.. and that fit nicely without the crystal.. i should have tested it WITH the crystal.. a lesson learned here..

It might not be evident.. but this is the first caseback i ever made, i've made a number of watchcases sofar, but always to fit a caseback of some "donorwatch" i took the movement from..
Glueing the crystal might be a good idea, since that doesn't stress the caseback, something i surely will investigate when making new casebacks.

The finish is a Freehand sunburst.. this requires a real steady hand, but gives me all freedom of movement of the abrasive wheel in the proces..

to give you some other examples:



My first watch, the Instrument 1



And my newest project, the Instrument 2

welcome to the forum, Jan; great work !

Great work indeed Jan.

I may well have a new friend if you can make cases - I may well need that at some point

Well.. basically, i schould be able to even make complete movements, but i don't have access to all machinery needed to do such a task..

i've made gears to convert a Corvette Odometer from miles to kilometers, all kinds of small mechanisms, and.. thusfar 1 complete watch.

the "instrument 1".. currently i'm working on my first Titanium Watchcase for the Instrument 2..
Currently i don't own a Breitling watch, so if i want an exclusive timepiece, i have to make it myself..



42 mm diameter, 47.5 lug to lug.. 10 mm thick.. kind of a biggie for me, since the Instrument 1 is only 36 mm in diameter.. built around an ETA 2763 movement taken from my father's first watch..

i've yet to build the first case with a bezel, but.. that will be on my to do list after i finish Instrument 2..

A Breitling in a Titanium Case.. well.. who knows.. i don't mind making custom parts..

Awesome work Jan!

Thanks.. to me, watchmaking is about having fun, i really enjoy making watchcases, and designing watches..

you might want to take a peek here: https://www.facebook.com/jhbwatches

you will not only find pictures of the Navitimer caseback, but also my other projects..

Thank you for the description Jan. You projects are very exciting. Cheers

_________________
Jim

"You have Control".