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Hey KO67

B

blue65coupe

Well-Known Member
Why would a watch less than two years old just decide to die? Is there any use in having it looked at? I've actually got two, one an ESQ and one a Kenneth Cole, and both of'em have evidently just died according to a jeweler. Is there any reason to have 'em looked at or are they garbage bling now?
 
"blue65coupe" said:
Why would a watch less than two years old just decide to die? Is there any use in having it looked at? I've actually got two, one an ESQ and one a Kenneth Cole, and both of'em have evidently just died according to a jeweler. Is there any reason to have 'em looked at or are they garbage bling now?
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Modern battery watches are quartz watches. They work by applying a regulated voltage to a quartz crystal that vibrates at a known frequency. That vibration frequency controls the on and off cycles of a step motor that moves the hands. If the quartz crystal, the voltage coil, the step motor or the circuit board that links them together quit, the watch is dead. No one that sells battery powered quartz watches makes their own movements these days. There are a few swiss companies that make high quality quartz movements, but most use japanese or chinese movements. Watch parts companies sell the movements to watchmakers for suprisingly cheap prices. Kenneth Cole and ESQ are nice mid range department store watches with chinese movements. They have very little value as used watches. If a new battery from the kid in the booth at the mall did not restart the watch, it is possible that a watchmaker can get it running. Most watchmakers (me included) have a magnetic impulse device that will manually advance the step motor and free up a stuck wheel train. Most watchmakers (me included) also have test equipment that will tell if the crystal, the coil or the step motor are bad. If the quartz crystal or the coil is bad, which is rare, the movement is unrepairable in a watch like you describe. I see these watches all the time where someone has damaged a small wire during a battery change. I also see a few that need to be "shorted" to restart the movement. (movements that alert the user to low batteries are notorious for this.) All of these movements can be replaced very easily and are pretty cheap. The problem is the labor. A watchmaker can do the movement swap in a pretty short time, but by the time you pay retail for the movement and pay for an hour of shop time, you are at the value of the watch. Unless the watch has sentimental value, you are upside down when you start. I recommend that you take the watch to a real watchmaker for a battery change. If something simple can get it moving, they will do it without even telling you about it. If the movement is dead, they can tell you that too. PM me if you want me to look at them at the stangfix rate....
 
So what Kevin's saying; is to put the watches on and short them out by crossing 220v wires on them!
 
Maybe that will teach you not to buy watches from the guy hanging out on the corner with a bunch of watches attached to the inside of his trench coat.
 
"RustyRed" said:
Maybe that will teach you not to buy watches from the guy hanging out on the corner with a bunch of watches attached to the inside of his trench coat.
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Are you familiar with looking in a man's trenchcoat or something?
 
"blue65coupe" said:
Are you familiar with looking in a man's trenchcoat or something?
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I'm guessing, every chance he gets!
 
OK, to get the thread back on track (I know, what fun is that):

Kevin - another quick question. I have a Stienhausen self winding watch that has quit working. I have always kept this watch on a winder when not wearing it. It's a skeleton watch with gold plated innards. Similar to this one, but more classic styling, less modern looking:

http://www.steinhausenonline.com/mens-watches/beethoven-automatic-skeleton-watch-tw523.html

Not a very expensive watch, but it was a gift, so some value to it - it hasn't worked for more than a year, but I keep it for the sentimental value. Nothing looks out of place that I can see - but it has been dropped once or twice. If you think there might be a chance, Id like to get it fixed. I'm asking because I was suprised the electronic movements could be kickstarted, so perhaps there is something watchmakers secret for these. Worth taking to a repair facility?

I
 
"apollard" said:
OK, to get the thread back on track (I know, what fun is that):

Kevin - another quick question. I have a Stienhausen self winding watch that has quit working. ...

Nothing looks out of place that I can see - but it has been dropped once or twice. If you think there might be a chance, Id like to get it fixed. ..

Worth taking to a repair facility?
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Ok, here is the deal on Stienhausen watches. Stauer and Steinhausen are old names in watchmaking, but the current versions are fairly new. The watches say that they are Swiss designed, but they are all made in China. Not that this is bad, but it is just not a Swiss watch. Parts for the chinese movements are sometimes hard to get, but it is usually easier to source the movement as a whole than the parts. Stienhouse uses fairly standard movements that are readily available for replacement. The exceptions are the multi-function movements (called complications) or skeletonized movements. They can be hard to repair or replace, particularly given the price point of the watches. The problem with skeleton movements is that material is removed from plates and bridges for aesthetic reasons that maye have been there for an engineering reason. I have seen skeleton movements that have gotten bent or torqued because they were flexible in places that should have been stiff. PM me. I can take a look at the watch if you want and let you know your options and whether it can be repaired. Ask Coleman about my watch restoration work.
 
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