Rusted Rolex Resurrected from Ruin
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- Опубліковано 6 лип 2024
- This rusted 1978 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust ref 1603 is in dire need of repairs. Inside the watch is the 1570 caliber 26 jewel movement, which features automatic winding and a date complication. The watch has much sentimental value to its owner, Octavio. It was gifted to him by a family frield who was WWII bomber pilot and who employed his father for 30+ years.
I knew there was going to be some water damage since the watch had been missing it's crown for quite some time. To be honest, it was in awful condition and I had my doubts whether it would ever run again.
If you're looking for an incredible watch repair or antique restoration project, be sure to check out my video! I'll show you how to fix this vintage watch and get it back to working order.
#restoration
#watchrepair
#wristwatch
#swisswatch
#rolex
Contact info: cspinnerwatchrepair@gmail.com
Many of my tools I use are affordable. If you're interested in getting started with watch repair and would like to use what I use, I've included some links below. I earn a small commission from Amazon if purchases are made using these links.
Useful Texts:
Watch Repairer's Manual: amzn.to/3knrwdG
Watchmaker's Lathe: amzn.to/3D02WGb
Tools:
Micrometer: amzn.to/3vPPuUy
Micrometer Stand: amzn.to/3vPPuUy
Microscope: amzn.to/3ZrQ3Pn
Movement Holder (pocket watches): amzn.to/3H9JBUv
Movement Holder (wrist watches): amzn.to/3JeG2iv
Ceramic Tipped Tweezers: amzn.to/3QP1qMH
Finger cots: amzn.to/3CXbXzJ
Micrometer: amzn.to/3QNGN3C and Stand: amzn.to/3iIyF86
Rodico: amzn.to/3kr5RBb
Tweezers: amzn.to/3GNFEVi
10X Loupe: amzn.to/3iLfome
Levers: amzn.to/3XB4RZG
Demagnetizer: amzn.to/3ZINUhS
Screwdrivers: amzn.to/3Xr7gqo
Cleaning:
Mesh Baskets: amzn.to/3ITqikE
Ultrasonic: amzn.to/3wcO7wg
Mason Jars: amzn.to/3WkUfgB
Cleaning Solution: amzn.to/3XwQ16I
Rinsing Solution: amzn.to/3wdgAlA
Cleaning Brushes: amzn.to/3QPnSp8
Lubrication:
Oilers: amzn.to/3Xi8LXR
DX Grease: amzn.to/3ZO0kVU
Moebius 941: amzn.to/3Hf6g2X
Moebius 9010: amzn.to/3CVGM7Y
Moebius D5: amzn.to/3ITqikE
Buffing and Polishing:
PolyWatch: amzn.to/3XlVTja
Polishing Compound: amzn.to/3QQ1r33
Bench Buffer Polisher: amzn.to/3OlcW2E
Otto Frei Tools and Parts:
www.ofrei.com/
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:29 Disassembly
14:05 Balance Staff Replacement
18:56 Building a Frog Polisher
21:54 Screw Head Polishing
23:22 Pinion and Pivot Restoration
25:25 Cleaning Sequence and New Parts
27:42 Begin Assembly
39:34 Balance Installation
40:29 Initial Timegrapher Readings
41:44 Light Case Work
45:45 Casing the Movement
46:50 Rotor Axle Replacement
49:04 Final Assembly And Microstella
-- - Навчання та стиль
Thank you so much! It’s the only watch I’ve been wearing since I got it back! Thanks Chris!❤
I have owned my dad's 1603 since I was 12 (when he died) and it's my most precious watch. I've only ever had it serviced by Rolex and it's in good shape but I'd never open it myself. Bravo to you for taking this one on, particularly with the difficulty of getting parts for it!
Such an awesome story about your dads (your) Rolex. I wish you many happy and healthy years wearing it.
That was an incredible project of restoration that you undertook Chris. In the beginning of the video, my heart sank at each exploratory turn of the screwdriver and as you kept removing parts that looked like they were rescued from the Titanic. The mainspring barrel was so bad that I almost had a coronary infarction when it exploded as you were opening it . And to watch the entire video to arrive with bated breath for the piece-de-resistance! The moment when the balance sprang to life. You woke it up from certain death, and that watch owes it life to you. I dub thee Maestro Chris Spinner. Truly a special treat.
The best video I've seen in a long time...not that the others were bad, it was the story behind the watch, the massive damage and the repair of what could have been a lost cause. Thank you for sharing this video and also kudo's to you for mentioning others who helped you out.
Can i just say, what an absolutely amazing music choice for this video!
And the frogs 😂
@@light1531 Frogs?
With great patience and skill you have saved another time piece did anyone else spot the smiley face in the parts lay out 😀
I think you executed a perfect balance between parts restoration and replacement. I have seen videos of others trying to restore parts only to have the watch returned with problems. I really enjoyed this restoration video!
You did an amazing job with that watch! I'm sure that there are plenty of watch repairers that would not have touched it.
A lot of work went into this restoration . You did a great job . Best wishes from scotland.
i think most watch repairers refuse this restoration job ,even R. service center
.......'cause R. service center : " You better buy a new one, but not the same model "
Besides a great watchmaker you are also an artist 👍👍
The whole repair was very interesting. Rolex should take a look at this video and improve your status so you can get non bogus parts supply. Thanks for your time and effort.
Rolex also doesn't supply parts to other watch repair channels on YT.
Rolex should thank it's lucky stars for watchmakers like Chris.
The Shawshank Redemption scene murdered me. I'm still in tears 😂
Hats off to your skills and dedication! You managed to salvage a better part of a watch to an exceptionally good overall result. I think that it's very important for the owner and that such kind of service couldn't have been provided by professional watchmakers.
This was an amazing video. I enjoyed so many parts of it, but watching you make a tool to polish screws was the stand-out moment for me. This really was a fantastic restoration, given all that rust damage. You did an outstanding job, given the parameters of the service. There is real sentimental value in keeping a timepiece 90% whole, and he has this video as part of the watch history. Great video!
You did a very nice job on that one, thank you for taking the time to video it for us see..
I love a project like this! You did a fantastic job Chris, I couldn’t believe the finish of the movement afterwards. I particularly liked how stuck you were for a while getting the movement out!
Amazing restoration! You cracked me up with that sweating scene! 😂
😁
Just a few lines to let you know how much I love watching you take something in such bad condition and bringing it back to life. You are amazing. I also appreciate your explanation of what you’re doing, your voice has a calming effect so thank you. Will continue to watch your videos!
The frogs and thunderstorms. Oh yeah, all the watch restoration too...
Amazing work!
Beautiful work!
So my father bought his dad pretty much the same watch in the 60's. Around servicing time my grandfather found out how much it would cost to get it serviced and instead had a local guy in southwestern Louisiana service it. The service was done badly and seawater found it's way into the watch destroying it. My father was upset and took the watch from my grandfather and kept it in our kitchen for years. Fast forward almost 20 years. I had moved to nyc and figured I would secretly have an estimate done for repair. I took it to Aaron Faber, which is across 5th ave from Rolex's HQ. The staff didn't think it was possible but their watchmaker said they would do it. I was always curious as to what the watchmaker saw when they removed the case back. Thanks for doing this video. It gave me the glimpse I needed.
Chris, you have again shown your talents which are impressive. This is the reason I talked to you about my watch, (I still have not decided yet). I was a maintenance machinist where I learned to kind of McGiver many tasks. It is so good to see your approach to repairs. Again great work!
+1 for not over-polishing the case. The scratches that occur from use and wear are part of the item's history and don't need to be removed, completely, during a restoration. IMHO.
Amazing. Thank you for allowing us to tag along for the ride!
Well done, excellent work. That movement was in ruff shape. The result is a testimony to the quality of Rolex and there abilitie to be reborn after being in such bad shape. I have a 41mm datejust I bought in 2022 that I plan on passing down for many generations to come.
This was an awesome transformation, as the watch in its original condition looked like it did not stand a chance. Also, it looks like a smart and efficient use of new parts to make this restoration as cost-effective as possible. My favorite part of the video was the surprise when you replaced the main spring.
Video recommended since I was watching some dj reviews, but stayed all the way, that says a lot about the quality of the video.
@@anakinskywalker9752 thanks! I appreciate that 🙏
Love the smiley face in the cleaned parts layout. Awesome work!
Awesome work !
Patience is a virtue with a project like this….great restoration
What an incredible repair! This watch looked like a goner and you brought it back to beauty and accurate functioning!
You're one of the most underrated watch channels who does acutal watchmaking. Totally didn't binge watch most of your videos... Yes.
You are The Man of watchrestorations🤘👌
I hadn't laughed this hard over a watch service ever. What a great job and just awesome video. The funny bits really did it for me.
Wow, that was a rust bucket, but it turned out great due to someone's expertise.
Chris, your work gets more amazing all the time. Really enjoyed watching the process of restoration of that fine watch. You ROCK
This time of year there is a storm every afternoon here in South Carolina. But it's over quick and back to being a sauna. Great work on the watch, turned out much better than I thought was possible and saved a lot of money by saving some of the parts.
I’m very impressed with your ability to clean all those parts so well! I have seen others who have done similar cleaning attempts and they did not have close to the same results! Well done!
Great work! Good thinking with that full face helmet. Safety first!
Love watching these videos. Chris repaired my family heirloom 1955 Tag Heuer A&F watch flawlessly and it's now running like new. Can't wait to get the excuse to send another one when I can.
Loved the entire process and the way you documented it. Favorite part was the Shawshank Redemption insert....Nice!
As i watched this video, i kept wondering how you would get thru this. As usual, you did not disappoint.
Wow, really amazing! I think no professional would bother with much of what you did, just replacing parts instead. Octavio is a very lucky man.
Great video, not and easy start but you surely save this watch life !!
Thanks for sharing this one is a very interesting restoration !
Best Regards !
Alain
"Game of operation!" Great humor!
Absolutely fascinating - what an epic restoration! From eeeoww to woweee in a flash of evaporust and an amazing amount of skill! Brilliant, yet again!! ❤
All puns aside it was great to see the angry beaver claws out again and what a fine restoration and result Chris. Regards from New Zealand 🇳🇿
Fantastic video. You really should have more subscribers because your repair videos are that good. I am glad the owner is able to enjoy this watch for years to come. Keep up the great job Chris and looking forward to the next video.
I've seen all the watch restorer's videos, and I must say... I like your blend of info and comedy. The parts delivery was too funny! New fan here!
Beautiful time piece. Excellent repair. Well done ,Sir!
Beautifully done my friend. You are a great asset to any old watch and far from any hack! 😊
Fantastic!
It's amazing that you only class yourself as a hobbyist, your skills are extraordinary and your investment in tooling is remarkable.
Great to see such a thorough revival in great detail.
🍻
Nice to see restoration is done in a sympathetic manner. I think I will stick with optical restoration (microscopes, telescopes & binoculars) as watches just look a bit on the difficult size (although I have done old clocks!). Thoroughly enjoy your videos.
Le voy a ser sincero, me he quedado sin palabras, es uno de los mejores videos de restauración que he visto.
Ingenious way to remove the stem! A little bit of knowledge goes a long way!!!
A great enjoyable video with the right amount of humour. Fascinating to watch ,please keep your format exactly like this. Thanks for taking the time to record and edit the videos.
What a great job restoring a beauty back to operation. Best wishes from Virginia.
What a incredible transformation! Hopefully Octavio takes better care of it now.
Great video! I like the mixture of live commentary and voiceover 👍 I'm impressed with your perseverance; any other situation than intense emotional attachment and this is what I'd call a donor movement!
I enjoyed watching this clip very much. Interesting und informative. Just the right amount of talk and explanation. What a fantastic recovery of that rusty watch.
I am looking forward to watching more of your videos.
I was thinking during most of the video that I was going to subscribe to the channel, but the bad puns during the assembly of the automatic winding works made me pause the video to comment and subscribe. Thank you sir.
Really nice work. Your channel is my favorite channel for watch repair!
It was indeed ebjoyable. Love the frogs singing!
Thank you so much for sharing this brilliant and beautiful video with the watch-loving community on UA-cam: 👍👏👌❤! And seeing how many tools, techniques and skills you have, you should drop the "amateur" in the description of yourself as a watchmaker. Let us say semi-professional 😊.
My favorite part was the smiley face in the clean parts review.
Crazy work and amazing results! Enjoyed all parts of the video!
Another nice video - I've never seen an oscillating weight axle/staff replaced before. :)
my favorite part was the sweat on your noggin while opening the main springs
case. LOLOL
Fantastic recovery, as crusty looking as it was it came out fantastic!
Great restoration and amazing job! Thanks for the video
20:05 ''clickspring'' ain't got nothing on you! Great video!
Cool, you don´t see that everyday on YT, a big thanks!!
Holy moly, that movement was in rough shape
You are making this a lot of fun . This is something I would not try .
Nice job Chris! You continue to be an inspiration!
What a turnaround!
Great video, very relaxing to watch and listen. Thanks 🙏
That was splendid! I think you exercised excellent judgment in choosing what to replace. I should point out that cyclops is not the plural of cyclop any more than Thomas is the plural of Thoma. A name can end in an s without being a plural form. You should look it up. 😉
Lol. I chuckled when you had that little video outtake about obtaining watch parts. From eBay to cousinsUK, et al. I’ve been there. Then there’s the wait. Especially if it gets stuck in customs for no good reason.
It’s like Christmas morning when they all finally show up !
great video - and congrats on your milling machine!
Excellent video & repair❤❤❤
Great video , I am so glad my one was not in that condition. It came in handy mine was missing stop spring which I now have . Now I see it’s held down with a screw and sits under the train ( 8074 ) cousins have but will check if I have a subtitle first . I found a better supply for parts I required Gleave & co London . Interesting I bought a new barrel , arbor with main spring from the states cheaper than picking up the parts local uk , enjoyed video Andrew
Outstanding work sir!
Do you have a email? I’d like to ask you a question about a watch.
Haha that Shawshank clip was perfect
Bravo. Beautiful result👍🏻
Love the rolex the one on your wrist and the one your working on amazing work love the video 💯 😊😊
Hi C! (Bad pun) 😂. Loved the editing and comedy. Shawshank was a nice touch. I think you’ve transitioned beyond hobby as you’re more professional than most watch repair professionals.
Thank you so much 😁
Nice job on what was damn near a basket case. I've found that Poly-Watch will also work on celluloid. Such as the scales on an antique straight razor. It's useful in aspects other than plastic crystals.
incredible resto!
Awwwww man ! I was hoping to hear the frogs ! Lol .
Awesome video! The more wrecked the movement the more I enjoy it! I have been watching your older videos and have noticed a significant improvement in camera work, editing, and your confidence! Keep it up! FYI, "family frield who was WWII bomber pilot" in the description above has a typo. Thanks!
Thanks for the call out! I’ll fix that
A great restoration for a wonderful watch 🙂👍
Thanks for the great video. You did an amazing job.
I think Switzerland just clapped👏👏
Great video m8, thanks for sharing....I love the humor, really 👍👍 amazing job on the burnishing/polishing
First time watching your videos. While I've mainly watched one other one horologist-like persons channel, your editing and approach to the subject are comparable, and enjoyable. Also yours is definitely more amusing.
Fantastic job!
fantastic video really enjoyed it im learning slowly
Nice! Wow, courage and skills.
That spring flying. I’m dying 😂