Total watch building rookie here.
Short version of the much longer backstory:
Back in 1989, I saw this ad, or one just like it, and decided that I wanted an LL Bean Deluxe Field Watch.
It was a quartz watch, made by Hamilton, and had the LL Bean logo on the face (not necessarily something I would choose today, but I liked it a lot back when I was a kid). Bought it, loved it for a couple of years, but then sold it to help finance the purchase of an old motorcycle that I decided I wanted more. I never really regretted selling the watch, and went many, many years without ever wearing another watch.
A few years ago, I decided that I kind of missed that particular watch and decided to replace it. It had long since been discontinued by LL Bean, and there wasn't really a comparable watch available from Hamilton anymore. (This was pretty low end for a diver's style watch).
So after some searching on eBay, one finally turned up ("Just needs a new battery!"), so I bought it, dropped in a new battery and... nothing. I filed a complaint, got my money back, and the seller told me to keep the watch. I tossed it in a drawer for a couple of years, but never forgot about it.
I have a new Hamilton watch now. It's much nicer, much bigger and much heavier. I like it a lot, but I actually miss the feel of the lighter, cheaper old watch sometimes.
I wrote to Hamilton, as well as a couple of watch repair specialists and no one wants to work on a quartz watch.
Last night, I found this guy's blog. He actually collects LL Bean branded Hamilton watches, and said that an ETA 2804-2 mechanical movement will fit inside the case.
In another post, he also talks about just dropping in a replacement quartz movement, assuming I can figure out what's in there, and then find a new replacement.
I've never done this before, but since this watch is otherwise useless, I'd like to give it a shot.
I'm okay with the idea of keeping this one Quartz, but would consider either Quartz or mechanical options.
First, I need some tools. I have a cheap watch repair kit ($18 on Amazon), but I bought that for removing links for the bracelet of the other watch, and even all the metal parts seem to be made of single-use Chinesium.
I've opened the case of the old watch by hand, but I'd really like to get the proper tool to do that job, along with anything else that I will need. I don't need top of the line stuff, but I don't want crap tools either.
Once the tools arrive, I will need your collective wisdom, because I have no idea what the hell I'm doing.
Thank you.
"Hamilton 9399"
Caliber is ETA 963.116
Who makes the best tool for opening and closing the back of a watch case like this?
In reply to Woody (Forum Supportum) :
I have the cheap tool and it works fine. I'll dig it out when the cat gets off of me.
Woody (Forum Supportum) said:Who makes the best tool for opening and closing the back of a watch case like this?
I like this 3 pin tool, Harbor Freight sells one too. The 2 pin tools slip easily and can scratch the case.
There are also rubber balls that use friction on the back to twist it, even less risk of scratches with that.
I also use this wood holder so it doesn't slip in my hand.
In reply to j_tso :
In my mind, it just seems like the two pin tool would be easier to hold securly against the case, but I've never used either, so I'm just guessing here.
In reply to Woody (Forum Supportum) :
I hold it like I'm using the 2-pin tool, so it's more points of contact. I wouldn't use the handle for leverage unless the watch is clamped in a holder and the holder is securely mounted to the table. I scratched up the back of my Seiko SKX the first time using the 2-pin tool in the HF kit.
I think Victorinox makes a tool to open up watches with. I'll have to see if I can find a link to one.
This is what I have
The tool is the big thing on the left
I decided that I was probably going to need a few more specialized tools, so I ordered a tool kit that includes the three prong tool from Jules Borel. It looks like the same kit as sold by Esslinger and Teddy Baldassare.
http://www.julesborel.com/s.nl/it.A/id.32113/.f?sc=31&category=991205
Items included in this kit:
I wasn't able to track down a new ETA 2804-2 mechanical movement (and I don't know enough about this stuff to figure out what else I can effectively stuff into this case), so I decided to hit the Easy-ish Button and ordered an NOS replacement ETA 963.116 Quartz movement off eBay. It's coming from Switzerland and won't be here until the middle of September, so I should have some time to get on YouTube to watch and learn (!), and maybe I'll have some idea of what the heck I'm doing before I actually try to do it.
This is a really cool thread. Now I need to ignore any thoughts of copying it.
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