Good source for watch innards?

[Grant Lamontagne]

I have an old Vic watch I have been meaning to get fixed for the last few years but I have never gotten around to it.



I like this watch a lot and I figured it might be a neat idea to just buy a new movement and install it myself.  I doubt there's much chance of putting an automatic movement in it, but I am open to ideas and sources if anyone has any suggestions.

Ideally I'd like to keep the face and case the way they are and just change the guts.  I might consider new hands but I don't want to change the look of it if I can avoid it.  BTW, the entire face glows in the dark, which is largely why I don't want to change it. 

Def

[gunga]

Wish I could help you def. I know Seiko automatics are big mod hosts,not sure about Vic's.

I can help you with the mod after you source a compatible movement if you like.

Here's my latest Seiko mod.

[Grant Lamontagne]

The modding itself shouldn't be too hard- I used to fix watches at the Bay, and I've taken apart and rebuilt many, although that was a long time ago.

I always thought I'd test out Vic's watch service with this one but I think I'd rather do something interesting with it.  There's no warranty on it, so if I have to spend money to make it work again, I'd rather spend money making it really cool.

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

BTW, that Seiko mod is sweet.  I get the urge every now and then to mod my Orange Monster except that it is just about perfect already, so why screw with it? 

Def

[Swiss Man]

Wish I could help you def. I know Seiko automatics are big mod hosts,not sure about Vic's.

I can help you with the mod after you source a compatible movement if you like.

Here's my latest Seiko mod.

What all did you do to it? ?
It is a pretty watch

[Grant Lamontagne]

Those aren't the normal hands for one.

Although not being terribly well versed in Seikos I could be mistaken.

Def

[Santos]

I think your first point is to find out what the movement is?
Then do you really want to gut a working watch or just lay down the funds for an inexpensive china clone movement?


Personally i pray i will never own a battery only watch again 

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'd prefer to get a decent movement if I can, but I really don't want to spend a buttload of money.  I don't want to cheap out, but I don't want to spend "new watch" kind of money on this one.

I have no issues getting another quartz movement, although if possible I would prefer an automatic.

I'll try to get a photo of the existing movement some time today.  It's functional but not impressive.

Def

[gunga]

Thanks Def. good luck with your search.

My mod is a mid size diver (skx013) with Seiko pilot dial (snk809), aftermarket pilot hands, and blue second hand.

I ended up moving the movement to a larger case with stainless bezel insert. Skx007.  I'll post pix later.

[jzmtl]

I came across this website, might be of interest:

http://www.jewelerssupplies.com/index.html

Oh also dealextreme has a lot of cheap automatics in the $20 range, maybe get one to cannibalize?

[Zed]

you could try raffles times on ebay,he does lots of parts and is a good ebayer 

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/rafflestime

[gustophersmob]

Unless you are prety good working on small stuff, going from one type of movement to the next might be difficult.

For one, the movement spacer (likely plastic in this watch) would be different unless you get the exact same movement. 

Also, the little feet that attach the dial to the movement will be in the wrong place, so you would have to break them off and attach it a different way.  Some sort of epoxy may work on a quartz movement with few moving parts, but the date wheel could be a problem.  All bets are off if going to auto. This is assuming it is a nice enough movement to have feet.  Some cheaper ones don't.

I doubt that there is enough room in this case to go from battery to auto, unless you get a really thin auto movement, which are typically rarer and more expensive (although you may have luck getting a manual wind only movement, not sure).

All that to say that replacing the movement with the exact same kind is likely going to be the only way.

Typically (but not always) Vic uses ETA movements, although it could have a Ronda or ISA movement.

Otto Frei is one of the best sources, IMO, for watch movements and parts.  You could also compare sizes on the ETA (or Ronda or ISA) site to see if there is an equivalently sized auto movement (although the problem of the movement spacer and dial would still remain).

One other site I know of that sells movements here.

The main thing you need to know is what movement is in your watch.  If you can get the caseback off, it should at least be marked with the manufacture, if it is ESA they usually have the # too.

I'm off to do some research to see if I can find out online. 

[gustophersmob]

Also, if you are looking for an auto with a luminous dial, seiko has a few 5 series watches that may fit the bill.

SNK811K
SNK573

[Grant Lamontagne]

I have another project on my bench at the moment with far too many small parts to pull the watch out and open it up, but yes, that was my feeling all along- I'm not likely to find an auto movement for it.

Hopefully later today I'll have this project completed (need a vital component- a Kinder egg) at which point I'll have a closer look at the watch and see if I can ID the existing movement.

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

Also, if you are looking for an auto with a luminous dial, seiko has a few 5 series watches that may fit the bill.

SNK811K
SNK573

I'm not really in the market for a new watch- I just like this one and would like to see it working again.  As it is I have two MTO watches, a G Shock, a Seiko Orange Monster and a couple of other Vic/Wenger watches, most of which rarely if ever see any wrist time.

Def

[gustophersmob]

Ok, it may be best to call Vic and confirm, but I believe I have found it.

Based on the age of your watch, it likely has a Semag movement in it.  These guys were bought out by ISA awhile back.

I beieve the direct, drop-in replacement mov't is the ISA 1198.  More specifically, I think it is the ISA 1198/32 with three hands and the date at 3. 

There is a chance it could be the 1198/32-D6 with the date at 6, depending on how Vic cased the mov't, but I kind of doubt it.

The mov't is available here, here and here.

Of course, no guarantee I have 100% accurately identified it.  I know they change movements around based on price and availability from time to time.

I believe the case back is snap on, so if you can open it and post a pic sometime it would make identification much more certain.

[Grant Lamontagne]

It is indeed a snap on. I'll check out the links once I've id'ed the movement.

Def

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

[jzmtl]

Thread hijack.

I've read that seiko monsters can't be hand wound, is that the case?

[Grant Lamontagne]

I never tried. I'm far too lazy anyway....

Def

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

[gustophersmob]

Thread hijack.

I've read that seiko monsters can't be hand wound, is that the case?

That is true.  The 7s26 movement in the monsters (and the variant mov'ts like the 7s36) are not hand-winding and they are non-hacking (although you can apply a little "back pressure" on the stem and get it it kind-of hack).

[gustophersmob]

Incidentally, this is a very good review of the monster/7s26 mov't.

[Zed]

Ive used these guys and a good source for movements 

http://www.esslinger.com/watchmovements.aspx