Restoring the Most Neglected Watch I’ve Ever Seen! 90+ Years Old Silver Zenith Pocket Watch

Рет қаралды 22,370

4 ай бұрын

It’s not every day that we get to open a door to the past and hold a relic from the 1930s, let alone repair it! Sadly, as wristwatch production began to overshadow that of pocket watches, these once-cherished timepieces ended up relegated to the backs of drawers and forgotten for decades… (until curious watch repairers rediscovered them!)
Today I pick up a beautiful Zenith pocket watch, gifted by the Meyer-Bolliger family in July of 1932, that has certainly seen better days and needs a full restoration, including case and dial. With no time to waste, let’s dive right into it!
🔗 LINKS FROM THE VIDEO:
- The Mainspring Explained: www.vintagewatchstraps.com/ma...
- Temperature Effects in Watches: www.vintagewatchstraps.com/te...
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🛠️ WATCHMAKING TOOLS:
- Watch Repair Kit, Bergeon: amzn.to/48uOCDy
- Screwdrivers set, Bergeon: amzn.to/4aY0Iqm
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📚 MY FAVOURITE WATCHMAKING BOOKS:
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- The Watch Repairer’s Manual, by Henry B. Fried: amzn.to/48LBg5A
- Watchmaking by George Daniels: amzn.to/3vrG3uB
👉 FOLLOW RESCUING WATCHES:
- Instagram: / rescuingwatches
- TikTok: / rescuingwatches
🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNEL:
/ @rescuingwatches
Quick note! The links in this description are Amazon Affiliate Links to some of the equipment I use for making these videos, as well as things I like. Purchasing any of the items through the links helps growing the channel.

Пікірлер: 82

@petercampbell3828 4 ай бұрын

Nice old watch. The thin ring that got left behind when you removed the movement from the case is called a dust cover. I agree with your decision to polish the case. There is a difference between patina and neglect, and this was definitely a case of neglect. Denture cleaning tablets do a good job on porcelain dials.

@gordonbarr6263 4 ай бұрын

I agree on the denture tablets

@rescuingwatches 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for the advice and the support Peter! I’m glad you enjoyed the video 😊🙏🏻

@giorgiogrlj 4 ай бұрын

@@gordonbarr6263 I tried it few days ago with and old and neglected Omicron wristwatch and worked perfectly.

@ygrbooks 4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for sharing this most beautiful and instructive video with the watch-loving community on KZfaq. It was a great pleasure to watch it, and I look forward to seeing more of this on your wonderful channel: 👍👌👏! As for Zenith, the future does not bode well. Their owners - LVMH - have led many companies to lots of profit for little return and no quality. The watch you restored in this video, would never be of such class and worth had it been produced today. LVMH junk like Tag "Heuer" anybody? 🤮!

@rescuingwatches 4 ай бұрын

Thank you very much for the kind words, it’s really appreciated! 🙏🏻😊 I gravitate towards vintage on most (if not all) of the watch brands out there, but as you say, with Zenith and Heuer the difference between their vintage pieces and modern watches is night and day!

@francispalmer9737 4 ай бұрын

Excellent job bringing this beauty back to it's former glory. Cheers Rescuing watches.

@rescuingwatches 4 ай бұрын

Thank you very much! I‘m glad you enjoyed it 😁🙏🏻

@ramoverde4133 4 ай бұрын

Beautiful!!! 👍 Schlieren Zürich. Famiglie Albert Meyer-Bolliger, must have been a wealthy family to give away such valuable timepieces at that time and made the recipient very proud...

@rescuingwatches 4 ай бұрын

Agree! You don’t see that often anymore! Thank you very much for the support 😁🙏🏻

@randyattwood 4 ай бұрын

Congrats! That was fabulous to watch. Reviving the dial had me at the edge of my seat.

@rescuingwatches 4 ай бұрын

It had me at the edge of my seat as well! Thank you very much for the support! 😁🙏🏻

@leftpastsaturn67 4 ай бұрын

Superbly filmed and narrated, first-class restoration of a beautiful timepiece. Subbed.

@rescuingwatches 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words! I‘m glad you enjoyed it ❤️🙏🏻

@WCtrainer1 4 ай бұрын

Turned out absolutely beautiful. My father had two dozens of these pocket watches from the 1800s and I've ever since been infatuated with them. 👍👍

@sandrawest2105 4 ай бұрын

Perfection! I enjoyed watching your video. Thank you for an interesting and thorough explanation of the process. And saving the dial was special. Peace💫

@rescuingwatches 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for the support Sandra! 🙏🏻 I‘m glad you enjoyed the video 😁

@Roddy1965 4 ай бұрын

Absolutely fantastic workmanship and wonderful production. What a gorgeous timepiece.

@rescuingwatches 4 ай бұрын

Thank you very much! I’m glad you enjoyed it 😊🙏🏻

@michaelkeats1313 4 ай бұрын

Great work, the watch looks fantastic. The work on the dial was amazing. Thanks for sharing.

@rescuingwatches 4 ай бұрын

Thank you very much Michael! I’m glad you enjoyed it 😁🙏🏻

@lulul 4 ай бұрын

gorgeus! good job!

@bearbon2 4 ай бұрын

Beautiful job! I'm in support of full restoration and polishing of vintage timepieces as when they were when new. I know there are people who value wear and patina but I don't share their preference.

@planetrocker5652 4 ай бұрын

Beautiful and I loved it so much. Thanks for sharing. Was eagerly waiting for a video from you since. Take care. Cheers

@rescuingwatches 4 ай бұрын

Thank you very much for the kind words! Happy you liked it! 😁🙏🏻

@gordonbarr6263 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for cleaning and buffing the case

@tveksam8347 4 ай бұрын

Well done! 😅

@WatchRestorationCottage 3 ай бұрын

What a lovely restoration. Bravo!

@rescuingwatches 3 ай бұрын

Thank you very much! 🙏🏻

@lindathimm8293 4 ай бұрын

Finally! I was waiting for a new one to come! Amazing work and keep it coming 🙌🏼

@rescuingwatches 4 ай бұрын

Thank you very much for the support! ❤️🙏🏻

@MauriOsterholm Ай бұрын

Thank you for the very interesting video. I will certainly view it again one day. I have same watch dating back to year 1920. It came from my wife's father as he passed away. I am not experienced with pocket watches, so it was so nice to see you cleaning each part of this vintage piece. Understanding a bit more about the function is good, however I dare never do the same cleaning for the watch. Best to leave professionals do the right thing. Thumbs!

@rescuingwatches 17 күн бұрын

Thanks for the support Mauri! I’m glad the video helped 😊🙏🏻

@user-gu6rg8eo5f 3 ай бұрын

Mine gussl The new watch is great! I've praised its realism many times. I really recommend checking out their selection.

@giorgiogrlj 4 ай бұрын

Man!!! I enjoyed every second of this video. Thanks.

@rescuingwatches 4 ай бұрын

Thank you very much! It‘s really appreciated 🙏🏻

@mattburley3189 7 күн бұрын

Denture cleaning tablets that fizz up seem to give great results on enamel dials. Great video as always.

@lsimpson50 4 ай бұрын

Well done!

@deanbrown4083 3 ай бұрын

Enjoyed the video. I collect old pocket watches and enjoy watching them being resurrected. Close up work was excellent and easy to see the process. Thank you for this video.

@rescuingwatches 2 ай бұрын

Thank you very much for the feedback and the support! I will certainly keep working on pocket watches 🙏🏻😊

@philipbrailey 4 ай бұрын

Very interesting.

@stephenoconnell6255 4 ай бұрын

Great job I think you will do very well as the explanation was spot on

@rescuingwatches 4 ай бұрын

Thank you Stephen! Glad you enjoyed it 😊🙏🏻

@kevinl.7487 4 ай бұрын

Use denture cleaner for porcelain dials it removes hard to get stains especially in cracks. It works wonders without harming the finish!

@diegoportentoso5507 4 ай бұрын

A funcionar otros 100 años ...😁👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

@Sestorema 4 ай бұрын

Great job 👍🙂

@socalav 4 ай бұрын

BRAVO!

@c.b.r.2894 4 ай бұрын

Great job!

@chaosdojo463 2 ай бұрын

Great job! Really enjoyed this video.

@rescuingwatches 2 ай бұрын

Thank you very much!🙏🏻

@jpwillm5252 2 ай бұрын

Bravo !

@kevinbrianburke 2 күн бұрын

Beautiful Job!!!!

@rescuingwatches 47 секунд бұрын

Thank you Kevin! 😊🙏🏻

@hockeyrd99 4 күн бұрын

Nice job. You won't damage a PW dial like that when cleaning it. The enamel won't come off by rubbing it. I've been using the ultrasound to clean dials like that for 25 years and never ruined one. Just put it in for a minute or less, and they come up like new.. bounces all the dirt out of the cracks. If you're nervous about it, do a test on a parts watch dial.

@MLampner Ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing this. I emjoyed watching you progress through the work. I have a collection of pocket watches, including my Grandfathers. While mine are older they have much in common with this watch, though I have two outliers, a lever set watch and one as you descirbed with key wind and a fusee. For enamel faces I would recommend soaking them in denture cleaner. Dentures are made out of an enamel very similar to that used on watch faces. Because it has to be safe to put in a mouth it is gentle but very effective and less likely to do damage than even a mild abrasive like tooth paste. I look forward to seeing more of your work.

@rescuingwatches 17 күн бұрын

Thank you for the tip and the support! 🙏🏻😊

@Vintage_Pocket_Watch 3 ай бұрын

Great job. 👍

@rescuingwatches 3 ай бұрын

Thank you! 🙏🏻😊

@frodriguezpc 4 ай бұрын

Buen trabajo Ignasi! Para la esfera, prueba la proxima vez a sumergirlo en agua con una de esas pastillas para limpiar dentaduras postizas. Te ahorrará el estrés de la pasta de dientes

@rescuingwatches 4 ай бұрын

Fantástico Fran! Muchas gracias por el consejo y por el apoyo! 😁🙏🏻

@oleksii2393 20 күн бұрын

Hey Ignasi. I'm a hobby watchmaker too and I really enjoyed your work. One thing I've noticed is very high amplitude which may be caused by incorrect lift angle setting. I've got a similar Zenith pocket watch with very similar caliber (177t) and in my case the lift angle is 40 degrees.

@rescuingwatches 18 күн бұрын

Thank you for the tip Oleksii! I didn’t even think about that, but I’ll definetly keep it in mind for the next one 😁🙏🏻

@armandllaurado7482 3 ай бұрын

Hi Ignasi, I was amazed at the way you handled the restoration of this lovely pocket watch. Do you happen to rescue watches on demand as well? If so, could you please let me know how to contact you privately so that I can explain my case? If not, I’ll continue to be awaiting new thrilling restorations of these wonderful machines! 😮

@rescuingwatches 2 ай бұрын

Hi Armand! Thank you for the feedback, I’m glad you enjoyed the video 🙏🏻😊 At the moment I only restore my own watches and they’ll keep me busy for at least 1 more year. Being that said, feel free to reach out at rescuingwatches@gmail.com, maybe I can recommend you someone 🙂

@armandllaurado7482 2 ай бұрын

Thanks! I did so :-)@@rescuingwatches

@thegrassyknoll7792 Ай бұрын

The thin savonette glas is not for open face pocketwatches only for closed hunter models therefore its so thin, and flat it has to fit under a lid 😊

@loch1957 3 ай бұрын

Polidemt denture cleaning tablets work great on ceramic dials.

@stevenboesky6692 14 күн бұрын

did you lubricate the main spring and barrel? I did not see that in the video

@Henky-180 4 ай бұрын

deze ceramische wijzerplaat kan ook in de ultrasoon gereinigd worden. anders met spiritus of glassex schoonmaken. mijn vader gebruikte in de jaren 60 - 70 zijn speeksel om dit schoon te krijgen, daarna met gewoon water spoelen. bleek toe ook goed te werken. kast is ook mooi geworden.

@velviaman3206 4 ай бұрын

The usual Zenith top quality with gold plated movement. Movement was made in 1906.

@rescuingwatches 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for the insight! 🙏🏻😁

@velviaman3206 4 ай бұрын

@@rescuingwatches You are welcome

@tomgannon7515 4 ай бұрын

instead of using toothpaste to clean the dial face you can used denture cleaner

@hemigod2 2 ай бұрын

I did not see you oil that new spring before you put the lid on the main spring barrel

@user-wv1pj6wh4h 2 ай бұрын

A guy tried to sold me a bag full of old pocket watches all of them had some damages,, but the bag was cheapp :))

@jerrybaird2059 4 ай бұрын

I wonder how many hours it took to do this repair.

@lordpurchase9189 28 күн бұрын

I would not attempt to take a good pocket watch apart, I have practiced on some scrap watch movements but its not easy especially when things go wrong like the hour hand being stuck or something else that you can't remove that is supposed to come apart. There are also so many small fragile fiddly parts, I would never remember where everything goes. I just keep my watches as time pieces, pieces of history rather than attempt to repair one, I think I'd just ruin it further so I leave well alone now. I like the big chunky pocket watches from the 1800s.

@rescuingwatches 17 күн бұрын

Don’t give up! I’m still learning with every watch I restore and before those, there were many, many failed attempts. Thanks for the support! 🙏🏻

@RockyAllenLane 4 ай бұрын

Is the watch for sale? Thanks.

@rescuingwatches 17 күн бұрын

Hi! At the moment I keep all the watches as I can’t help but grow attached after the restoration. I’ll let you know it that changes though. Thanks for the support! 🙏🏻😊