My new Sturmanskie was running about 2 minutes per day slow, so I needed to open it up and regulate it. This is my first watch with a snap-on case back, and I wasn't sure how to open it. After consulting with polmax3133, he suggested using a case knife and hammer. I didn't really like that idea (and don't have a case knife), so I decided to make some simple tools instead.
First, I made a wedge from a piece of 1/8" steel rod. I ground and filed it to a blunt rounded screwdriver shape, and chucked it into my drill press. I also made a block of soft wood to support the watch, with two holes for the lugs to sink into.
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At polmax3133's suggestion, I set the depth stop on the drill press to avoid going into the movement if the watch suddenly popped open. I also unplugged the drill press because turning it on just before using it is a habit.
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Here you can see what the plan of attack is. I will support the watch with my hands when pressing the wedge into the small slot between the case and case back.
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Success!
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Just a quick shot of the watch in my home-made case holder. It won't actually fit properly since I made this holder for a smaller watch, so I rotated it 90 degrees and it fit well enough for regulating.
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To put the watch back together, I made a supporting plate with a 1-1/4" diameter hole about 1/4" deep. The hole is wide enough to clear the crystal, so all the pressure will be on the front surface of the case.
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Four short 1/4" dowels keep the watch lined up with the hole.
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Then I made a block of wood with a 3/8" dowel set into the top. The dowel only goes half way through the wood, so there is plenty more wood to distribute the pressure (so there's no pressure point in the centre). The whole thing was then chucked in the drill press again, and used to press the case back in place.
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Here's the watch back together, and back on a strap. I had been wearing it on a modified NATO, but decided to give this home-made black leather one a try for a while (it's the strap I've been using with my Sekonda alarm watch).
![Image]()
First, I made a wedge from a piece of 1/8" steel rod. I ground and filed it to a blunt rounded screwdriver shape, and chucked it into my drill press. I also made a block of soft wood to support the watch, with two holes for the lugs to sink into.
At polmax3133's suggestion, I set the depth stop on the drill press to avoid going into the movement if the watch suddenly popped open. I also unplugged the drill press because turning it on just before using it is a habit.
Here you can see what the plan of attack is. I will support the watch with my hands when pressing the wedge into the small slot between the case and case back.
Success!
Just a quick shot of the watch in my home-made case holder. It won't actually fit properly since I made this holder for a smaller watch, so I rotated it 90 degrees and it fit well enough for regulating.
To put the watch back together, I made a supporting plate with a 1-1/4" diameter hole about 1/4" deep. The hole is wide enough to clear the crystal, so all the pressure will be on the front surface of the case.
Four short 1/4" dowels keep the watch lined up with the hole.
Then I made a block of wood with a 3/8" dowel set into the top. The dowel only goes half way through the wood, so there is plenty more wood to distribute the pressure (so there's no pressure point in the centre). The whole thing was then chucked in the drill press again, and used to press the case back in place.
Here's the watch back together, and back on a strap. I had been wearing it on a modified NATO, but decided to give this home-made black leather one a try for a while (it's the strap I've been using with my Sekonda alarm watch).
