The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I'm interested in learning more about automatic watch movements and how they work. Not to learn to service my Breitlings or anything....I'd leave that to the pros...this is more for a hobby. In looking around....TimeZone.com Watch School caught my eye.

Seems all Text and picture based, but pretty well done for a forum of users to assist as well.

I'm wondering if anyone else had actually done it or done a different one that might be better?
I'd say I would probably learn better with some video as well.

Just doing some homework before going down a path of very expensive tools and equipment.

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Current:
Omega Planet Ocean 45.5mm

Sold:
Breitling Super Avenger / White Stencil / PROII
Breitling Hercules - Black

I looked into it. I am starting to learn watchmaking and wanted to have access to a few different options. In the end I decided not to go with TZ, the tools and movements that they sell as kits are fairly expensive and I wasn't convinced that it was for me.

I bought several books and the Chicago School of Watchmaking correspondence course from the 1950s - you can get it on CD from eBay for around $20.

If you are serious then you want to start with simple manual time only pieces, and probably pocket watches - same concept in a larger size. If you go down this route then I'm happy to help you out with the tools that I bought / decided to wait on and which ones I am really finding very useful. I'll also point you at a couple of websites.

I'm really enjoying it, although have a huge amount to learn. I'm also finding Craig (chronodeco) and Marty (onewatchnut) tremendously helpful.

That's a great question rtwilbur. I too have checked out the watch school at Timezone and wondered the exact same thing.

Thanks for the response Roff, great info.

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Happines is Good Health and a Bad Memory.
"Ingrid Bergman"

IMHO, Roff it taking the correct approach. It takes many hours of practice using small tools to acquire the skills required to work on a watch without leaving tool marks behind. The amount of pressure applied to tweezers is almost always too great when just beginning. After all these years, I'm still amazed at the velocity and distance achieved by small parts launched out of a pair of tweezers. Trust me, your floor time (time spent on your hands and knees looking for lost parts on the floor) will be greater than your bench time until you get proficient with tools and your bench practices.

You can usually pick up old pocket watches that need repair for next to nothing on eBay. If you happen to wreck something or lose a part, your loss is minimal. Additionally, a lot of earlier watches have features not found on newer watch movements. You can learn valuable lessons from these old relics.

If you can find an old watchmakers bench, buy it. New ones are available, but they are expensive. It is imperative that the work is postioned at the correct height to prevent back and neck strain. I have seen small bench attachments that can sit on a table to elevate the work to the correct height, but a regular bench is more stable.

Good luck! It is a rewarding hobby. We need more watchmakers. It is a dying trade. It's always good to be able to pick the brains of others who have the knowledge. Unfortunately, there are fewer of them every passing day.

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1809 Cosmonaute
1903 Navi
Navi Olympus
Super Avenger