This one goes out to @Kip with a very special thank you for providing me with the original watch for this surgical exercise.

THE PATIENT:
70 year old, brand new old stock Ernest Borel with small seconds. All stainless case.

PRE-OP CONDITION:
8/10 cosmetics (minor acrilic crystal surface cratches, minor base metal case and crown oxidation, some hand and dial corrosion, toasted leather strap)
2/10 mechanical (original, non synthetic oils and greases on every part had turned solid)

PROCEDURE:
Partial removal of dial material
Full skeletonization of main plate
Partial skeletonization of bridges with the exception of the balance bridge
Refinishing and reluming of the hands

OBSERVATIONS:
1- Never underestimate the effect of time on lubrication and other natural products used in watchmaking. The crown was glued to the stem tube by the decayed natural latex seal. The setting train would not budge due to the dry grease. A stuck click would not allow winding. The mainspring grease came off as flakes and dust. The balance stayed put when shifted.
2- The method of water proofing the caseback opening for this watch was to use a soft lead alloy compression washer as an o-ring. Took me a while to figure out why there was so much whitish dirt in the joint.
3- When using a saw, stay away from the cut line. There are reasons for the existence of corse files, and one is the fast removal of material left over after using the saw. I would have liked to keep the minute tick marks of the original dial, but I tried to save time by cutting on the line.
4- Helping a 10 year old with their math homework while having a patient on the operating table is not recommend.
5- skeletonizing a tiny 20mm movement is a lot more challenging than skeletonizing a pocket watch movement.

POST-OP CONDITION:
8/10 cosmetics (a little polishing did the crystal, case and crown a lot of good. Inked hands improved the hand visibility over the bare movement. The new leather strap makes a big difference. I could have certainly spent more time on the shaping and beveling of the movement, but alas...)
10/10 mechanical (lots of cleaning, and a complete lubrication with modern oils turned it back into a new watch that I could regulate to less than 15 sec loss a day.)

FOLLOW UP FUTURE PROCEDURES (non-vital)
Skeletonization of the main barrel to expose the mainspring.

I had a lot of fun cutting up this time gage. Learned a lot about old wristwatches and about myself, besides honing my skills with some tools and techniques.
Thanks Kip, for providing me with such a quality time gage to practice on, and I hope nobody will be too horrified by what I did to it...

Nice work!

Incredible. That’s absolutely beautiful. I really appreciate you posting your observations too. I think that in general we appreciate the term’hand made’ as being a mark of quality, but don’t always really know exactly what that hand work entails. What a great post

Dan

Wow that’s impressive work and I admire you for taking this project on and for what you have achieved. I do however have a couple of comments, but I’d first like to caveat them by saying I fully intend them to be positive feedback and not in any way a criticism. I know you have asked for feedback on your work previously and it’s only because you’ve done this do I feel authorised to say this.

Can I highlight two comments from your post first.

Greatpotfarm wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2023 5:49 am When using a saw, stay away from the cut line. There are reasons for the existence of corse files, and one is the fast removal of material left over after using the saw. I would have liked to keep the minute tick marks of the original dial, but I tried to save time by cutting on the line.

I could have certainly spent more time on the shaping and beveling of the movement, but alas...)

Now this is clearly something you really enjoy doing and put a great deal of time into, why then do you feel as though you have to save time and hurry? If you are this good when you rush, think what you could achieve with a little more patience.

Please take this as a positive, as while skeletonised watches aren’t my thing, you could be even better at this.

Great work Dan!!

I look forward to getting a close up look at our next meeting (expected to be 4/22). Watch for the notice.

I knew these watches would be a challenge for you having sat idle for so long. I am sure it was a joy getting the movement apart. Hopefully you have advanced your learning curve working on this. I look forward to seeing this watch and what comes next.

Wow! That’s pretty amazing.

Well @iain, like I did say in my previous build posts, criticism is not just ok, but very welcome.

There is a fine line that I am weary of crossing, one between good work and better work. It is easy to cross that line, to try and make everything as perfect as I can, but if I do, I will end up spending way too much time doing it. Taking this watch to the level I know I could, would have doubled my time investment.
When I start an exercise like this, I try to estimate a timeline, and try to do as much as I can within it (though I almost always run over). Like a timed test in school, it is a little more challenging, and I learn my limits and what I have to do to exceed them.
Also, with this particular watch, and all watches in general, it is important to consider it's quality or worth. This little Borel is not a Cartier, it is a dime a dozen (or was) in rarity, mechanical execution and finish. Putting more effort into the skeletonization would have put it out of it's worth and price range. I tried to keep to the standards of the original execution. If I would have crossed that line, I would have to ask for a lot more than anyone would reasonably be willing to spend on it....

You are totally correct though. If I were to really take my time, I could do some wicked awesome work. I look forward to a possible future where time and money will not play such an important part in building my time gages.

ajax87 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2023 7:37 pm

I think I see where you’ve sketched out where to make the cuts on the barrel, yes? Keep us updated on the progression of this watch

Yup, that was the plan with the pencil marks on the barrel, but I ran out of time...

I've got some other irons in the fire at the moment, but I will expand onto this post when this patient comes in for it's follow-up surgery.

@Greatpotfarm Thanks for your explanation and I can see where you are coming from with this.

I recall a comment, I can’t remember where or who said it, that when you pay for the work of a craftsman, you aren’t just paying for the time spent doing work for you, but also all the time they took learning their craft.

Thanks for sharing this and all your earlier watches so we can appreciate your development.