I suspect this one just unscrews!

The dial is a modern redial.

The watch was probably produced in the Ukranian Watch Munging Collective for sale to unknowing eBay buyers.

 

I suspect this one just unscrews!

The dial is a modern redial.

The watch was probably produced in the Ukranian Watch Munging Collective for sale to unknowing eBay buyers.

I can spin off the crystal but I can't spin off the back ro see the movement with my bare hands...is there a trick other than turning? (it's hard to get a grip)

I assumed the dial was a redial, but it's a redial I like.
I probably overpaid but oh well. It was under $200 and the watch runs and keeps time perfectly.

Do you think the movement is original?

 

Usually if it is a screw back case it should unscrew anti-clockwise quite easily, if not there are some nifty gadgets to help (a rubber ball).

This watch could have a two piece case now, where ONLY the front unscrews and the movement comes out from the front. Can you definitely see a 'gap' between back cover and case.
Why not email the seller and ask if back was screw on or snap on? I can not see any gap in your pictures making me suspect two piece case

Did you not get pictures of movement from seller??

 

I can not see any gap in your pictures making me suspect two piece case

Have a look at the photo that looks down on the crown.

 

I would be very surprised if the case is not a screw back.

Try holding flat on your index fingers and "massaging" the back with your thumbs. The key with a tight screw back case is to only apply DOWNWARD pressure to get a good grip on it-grabbing at the sides will tend to squeeze the back slightly out of round at least for as long as you're holding it, making the back nearly impossible to remove.

 

I would be very surprised if the case is not a screw back.

Try holding flat on your index fingers and "massaging" the back with your thumbs. The key with a tight screw back case is to only apply DOWNWARD pressure to get a good grip on it-grabbing at the sides will tend to squeeze the back slightly out of round at least for as long as you're holding it, making the back nearly impossible to remove.

Good tip! I will try that

 

Use hot melt glue to glue on great big nut then use a wrench to remove the case back. All traces of hot glue can be removed with heat, the when cold, alcohol. I've had great success with this and it removes the risk of damage due to slipping with tools.

 

I would be super nervous to do that I think...

The suspense is killing me! I cannot get into this case..

Is it possible that I have to remove the crystal side first and then do something?
I just don't know

Would one of those suction watch tools work or is that for something else?

 

When I get to this level of desperation, I just take the watch to my watchmaker. In about 5 minutes it is open. When I was visiting him last I saw him open up a Bulova which was green with corrosion and which probably had not been opened in 60 years. I was amazed. Normal business for him.

 

Ya, I might do that.
Would he open it for free do you think?
I don't really want to put any more money into this watch yet

 

I suspect that due to your frustration you are going to end up badly damaging the watch.

Firstly do NOT lay the watch in the palm of your hand and try opening the back by pushing down and turning. Hold the watch by the lugs and very very gently grip the side if back cover to turn. Pressing down just forces the back tighter. It should be a gentle grip on the sides so as not to tighten the back (squeezing) it into the case.

I doubt any jeweler would charge to open it, but for 10 or 15 £ its better than your frustration
Regards

 

Others have said not to grip the sides as it warps it and makes it impossible to remove...
Either way, that was the most obvious method for me and I tried it first to no avail :/

 

I guess what I'm confused about is what differently will a watchmaker do to get it off? Is there a tool I can get?
I'd like to know how to do this for the future, that's all

 

I told you the ttools ball

 

It's hard to see, but where the crown is attached to the watch, it looks like the joint/solder goes over the break in the back where the case should screw off...could this be the problem? why would this be?

 

If the crown turns it can not be attached.
The stem of the crown might.
If that is the case, then the movement comes out from the front.
Please give me a link to sellers site

 

The stem of the crown is what I meant.
The seller is an ebay seller who doesn't usually sell watches so they really aren't any help.

 

Ah, maybe the Ukrainian Watch Munging Company superglued it together to get a problem case out the door. These are actually awful conglomerations. (The Elgin logo on the dial is amusing.)

To have built this they had to have the back off. So it is not fused by time. And all these are recent builds.

 

Well, like I said, I bought it knowing it was a redial.
The avigo is my favorite watch, so I just liked the made up wing logo. (it's actually not that farfetched, there was an actual wristwatch dial in the 30s that had a similar logo. I've seen several originals)

Anyway, the whole "Ukrainian rebuild" thing is odd to me.
I have never ever seen another one like this or even similar. So if they are doing super limited reproduction dials, it still has to take a good deal of time to create these and they are somewhat unique in their own right.
(In my opinion at least).

The seller agreed to give me a partial refund based on a few things I've said here (and a few others)

So the watch will cost under $100. To have a mechanical watch no one else has (even though it's fake) that keeps perfect time is worth that to me.

But I still wish I could get in that case!
The fact that it just isn't that special of a watch makes me not want to have to spend money or even take it anywhere...that's why I'm being stubborn

 

It doesn't look like the crown or stem tube is the problem. But Eeeb is right. It wouldn't be the first time that a case back has been superglued on to prevent the buyer from discovering the truth about what they have bought. However having had this problem myself with screwbacks it may be just technique which is the problem and a sympathetic watchmaker may be your answer.

 

If you like the watch, that is good enough for me and I suspect others.
What it is not, is an ELGIN watch in any way, size or form.
I think you could have had that similar logo by buying an original Elgin Pershing

Regards
adam

 

Well, that's not true. I can't open it so I don't know if it's an elgin or not

 

Here is my 1914 ELGIN PERSHING

 

LOL
This thread (now 5 pages) is reminding me of the saying - 'How many men does it take to change a light bulb?'

LOL
Here is my 1918 Elgin with rare offset crown at 1.30. This is not a pocket watch with lugs mounted offset. This is a custom made case with crown at 1.30. Yet how many are ever appearing?

 

I understand "It's your watch and if you like it, fine" but these threads often become references for people browsing for information. And there are 100 times more people doing that than regularly posting.

We doing the browsing guests no favors by not pointing out what these watches actually are - mung jobs.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it :-d

 

It was pointed out at least 10 times so I think that was covered.
And people searching for answers are going to be searching about "how to remove the back off of a watch" and get a thread full of people repeating the fact that the watch I posted pics of is a redial. Which has absolutely nothing to do with what I initially asked....and thanks my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

If i was a mod, I would now close this thread.
Its all been covered
Lets move on
A

 

Good advice! Closed.