Watch Repair Workbook: Servicing, Component Replacement, and Case Restoration

The majority of watches that stop or run inaccurately need a basic service: disassembly, cleaning, fresh lubricants applied to the correct points in microgram quantities, and careful reassembly. Yet this deceptively simple task is where most beginners make irreversible mistakes — using the wrong lubricant viscosity, over-lubricating the escapement, or damaging a delicate jewel setting while pressing a pivot into a plate. Systematic procedure, practiced and repeated, is the antidote. By the end of this course you will be able to disassemble and reassemble a straightforward Swiss lever movement following a documented service sequence, apply lubricants correctly using the appropriate method for each component group, replace a worn mainspring and damaged stem, and evaluate the case for polishing or restoration using non-destructive techniques. What you will learn: - Workspace setup: essential tools, lighting, movement holders, and contamination control - Disassembly sequence: the correct order for removing keyless works, dial, hands, and movement - Ultrasonic and manual cleaning methods: chemicals, baskets, and drying procedures - Lubrication map: which components receive which lubricant and in what quantity - Reassembly procedure: fitting the gear train, setting end-shake, and installing the escapement - Mainspring replacement: sizing, fitting, and greasing a replacement spring in its barrel - Regulation: adjusting the regulator and measuring rate with a timing machine or timing app - Case work: removing scratches from stainless steel, cleaning a crystal, and resealing a case back Each module presents the procedure in written step-by-step form, followed by a worked example tracing a service of a common three-hand automatic movement. Checklists accompany each phase so you can track progress during supervised bench work. A troubleshooting reference covers the most frequent reassembly problems — cannon pinion slipping, balance not oscillating after reassembly, seconds hand drag — with root-cause analysis and corrective guidance. This course is designed for horological students, watch enthusiasts engaged in supervised practice, and repair technicians who want a structured reference to complement bench training. Suitable for anyone new to movement servicing. This course is educational; watch repair requires fine motor skill development through supervised hands-on practice, and professional watchmaking requires formal training. Certain antique and high-value movements should be entrusted to credentialed watchmakers.