Practicing Watchmaking on Inexpensive Mechanical Watches

In this video I discuss the ETA 2472 movements in two of my vintage watches and the story behind these inexpensive practice watches.

There's a playlist associated with these watches which has over 20 hours of videos about the work I've done with them (these were two of my main practice watches in 2022): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv4--9sRsFuL_sM2vNfTa61IOoUkHbdFY

The Watch Repair channel is: @WatchRepairChannel

The Watch Repair Talk Forum site is: https://www.watchrepairtalk.com

ETA Calibre 2472 Service Walkthroughs:

https://www.watchrepairtalk.com/topic/12634-eta-calibre-2472-service-walkthrough/

https://www.watchrepairtalk.com/topic/4422-eta-2472-service-walkthrough/

VWatchie Profile on Watch Repair Talk Forum: https://www.watchrepairtalk.com/profile/3961-vwatchie/

Specifications:
Dial Markings: BE-BA Precision (with date), no dial on 2nd watch (both originally Fleurier)
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Year of Manufacture: 1960s (dated by movement type ETA 2472)
Caliber: 2472
Jewels: 21
Case Diameter without crown: 34mm
Lug-to-Lug: 40mm
Lug Width: 17.5mm
Thickness: 11mm
Weight with Strap and Buckle as Shown: 75g
Weight Watch Head Only: 29g
Bracelets: 17mm unbranded Chinese stainless steel bracelets (Jubilee and Oyster style)
When I Purchased them: December 2021, February 2022
Where I Purchased them: ricardo.ch
How Much I Paid For them: 25 Chf, 35 Chf
What I Did To them: complete revision on BE-BA Precsion, lots of work on dialless getting it to work without a dial, destruction of first dial, light cleaning of subsequent dials, relumed indices and hands on both watches with Super-LumiNova Grade X1 GL C1, polished crystal, cleaned cases, greased case back and crown gaskets

The tools I use are discussed in greater detail in these videos:

$400 Worth Of Bergeon Tools And Supplies
https://youtu.be/lr0cmsUerps

Everything I Know About Watchmaking in Five Minutes
https://youtu.be/65mmQt5o0Cg

The stand on my desk that I use to elevate my work area is an IKEA SIGFINN monitor stand.

Before opening any vintage watch or clock for the first time I recommend checking it for radium paint. I didn't do that in this video because it wasn't the first time that I opened this watch. For more information on radium and how to check for it using a geiger counter see either of these two videos:

Everything I Know About Watchmaking in Five Minutes
https://youtu.be/65mmQt5o0Cg?t=112

How to Re-lume a Vintage Watch
https://youtu.be/0fFX1LkpjMU?t=829

The NetIO GC10 that I use is no longer made. It uses an SBM-20 geiger muller tube, which is also used in the GQ GMC-300E and other geiger counters. If you find one of those it should perform similarly.

My videos are for entertainment and educational purposes only. Critical / corrective comments and links to resources including other watchmaking channels are welcome.

#restoration #watchmaker #comedy #watchrepair #watchrestoration #ETA2472