The Tools of My Trade

Many people, both friends and strangers, have wondered how I picked up watchmaking. The question that generally follows, however, relates to how I fix watches in the first place. That's what this post is all about (something I've actually been meaning to write for some time now).

To repair a watch that has a swinging balance and no broken or missing parts, a set of screwdrivers, a pair of tweezers, oil and an oiler, and some Rodico are the essentials. Screwdrivers and tweezers for taking apart a watch, oil to keep the watch running consistently, and Rodico for cleaning it. I began my watchmaking adventures with just those tools. 

Eventually, I acquired a couple more tweezers, a balance tack, a loupe, a movement holder, and two gauges (one for movement sizes, the other for mainsprings). The additional tweezers came as a result of my abusing the first one by using it more as a metal toothpick to pry things or poke parts out. The balance tack is really quite pointless, but it was fun to play around with when I first began examining balances. The movement holder is one of my favorite tools - it is incredibly helpful at keeping a watch steady while I work on it. The fact that it isn't a flat surface on top helps, too, because any part that protrudes from the base plate doesn't get damaged. The gauges are straightforward tools for measuring sizes.

I also have the containers I use to store parts while taking apart a watch pictured. Any sort of container to store pieces would technically work, but these slots are great at organizing. I have three of the smaller size for non-complication watches and surplus parts. The larger box, obviously, is for complications. One of the most rewarding feelings I get when fixing watches is seeing the tens, even hundreds, of parts laid out in those boxes and then knowing that sooner or later, they'll be ticking together harmoniously.