Is There Any Real Watchmakers / Repairers Left

[fishhooks]

I have a great Swiss Cyma watch given my father when in his 60's and I'm now in my 60's.

Coming from a dry climate Australia recently into Thailands humidity, the watch has really copped a lot of moisture under the glass and maybe inside as well.

So I imagine just needs a good clean & check from someone who still remembers real watches. It's still working fine.

Any advice of a business easily reached anywhere in Bangkok, Sukhumvit area would be great!

[h90]

I don't know about watches, but by any means I would try to get the moisture out as fast as possible.

Maybe inside something can corrode.

Open the back and dry it with dry warm air.

And I am not sure if I would let a shop with unknown experience touching this nice watch.

[fishhooks]

Thanks for that.

I'm hoping someone may have knowledge of a repairer here in BKK that still works on similar.

It definitely has not got wet, it's purely condensation and I don't have the tools or knowledge to open it up!

Tried Google, but like many topics there you get led around in circles.

[Shot]

I think they are hard to find.

You have a beautiful watch with history. Put it in some cat litter, or a small container of rice. This will remove the moisture for now.

I am a watch buff, but I am not familiar with this brand. What is the model number, and when do you think it was made?

　

　

　

[h90]

I think they are hard to find.

You have a beautiful watch with history. Put it in some cat litter, or a small container of rice. This will remove the moisture for now.

I am a watch buff, but I am not familiar with this brand. What is the model number, and when do you think it was made?

　

　

　

If closed I doubt it will remove the moisture. At least not in a reasonable time.

[fishhooks]

I think they are hard to find.

You have a beautiful watch with history. Put it in some cat litter, or a small container of rice. This will remove the moisture for now.

I am a watch buff, but I am not familiar with this brand. What is the model number, and when do you think it was made?

　

　

　

I'm not really up with brands either, but I have known for many years that "Cyma" is quite famous as a precision Swiss type.

I suspect, judging by the time it was presented to my father that it is a mid 1960's vintage.

Certainly no bells & whistles, not even date, but quite solid and I can't see a model number.

It certainly must need a good service as the amount of moisture is excessive, given that it is a waterproof model and has definitely not gotten wet!

[endure]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyma_Watches

[tutsiwarrior]

you must remove the moisture as soon as possible as even a slight amount of corrosion can turn a good watch into a piece of junk in a short time...

FWIW, there is a well equipped Seiko (don't laugh) service center in BKK near the junction of Wireless Road and New Petchburi Rd and they may be able to clean the watch (remove the moisture) but not do any repairs...call them at 02 255 1245-50 ext-501 and see what they say...

also at [email protected]

https://mail-attachm..._n8hgg&sadssc=1

Edited March 9, 2012 by tutsiwarrior

[endure]

you must remove the moisture as soon as possible as even a slight amount of corrosion can turn a good watch into a piece of junk in a short time...

FWIW, there is a well equipped Seiko (don't laugh) service center in BKK near the junction of Wireless Road and New Petchburi Rd and they may be able to clean the watch (remove the moisture) but not do any repairs...call them at 02 255 1245-50 ext-501 and see what they say...

also at [email protected]

https://mail-attachm..._n8hgg&sadssc=1

Why would we laugh at Seiko? They made watches that accurate that they shamed the Swiss into closing down an annual competition at Neuchatel because they couldn't compete. The Swiss started it again recently but confined it to European manufactures.

Edited March 9, 2012 by endure

[sbk]

Actually, put it in dry uncooked rice, completely covered and it will remove the moisture rather quickly. I have used it on watches before and it works very well and faster than you would think

[tutsiwarrior]

yeah...I just bought a new Seiko perpetual calendar to replace the one that I lost to moisture/corrosion after 11 years perfect service...goddam indestructible and it was the bracelet that started to go first...I trusted some clown to replace the battery down the souk in Jeddah and he didn't tighten the back properly...the new one I got I'll take to the grave...

[tutsiwarrior]

an' then...in Jeddah I found a Seiko service center and said with the old watch: 'hey, clean it up...new bracelet and etc?' and they said that the watch was ancient (11 years old?) and no way...

in BKK, I thought about cleaning up the old watch and giving it to the BiL but the Seiko repair folks said: 'we can do it but mighty expensive; bad corrosion and etc...' and then I reckoned that the BiL could buy his own bloomin' wristwatch from a stall down the market...he still wears the old Seiko watch around but it doesn't work...it's a pretty classy item...

Edited March 9, 2012 by tutsiwarrior

[endure]

I bought a Seiko quartz in Mina-al-Ahmadi in 1975. It spent 10 years bashing around ships at sea. I still have it and it still works.

Edited March 9, 2012 by endure

[qwertz]

0p, if you're ever in Pattaya, top watchmaker corner of Soi Buakao and Central Rd. He can fix it.

[tutsiwarrior]

I bought a Seiko quartz in Mina-al-Ahmadi in 1975. It spent 10 years bashing around ships at sea. I still have it and it still works.

and then the magnificent Charles Laughton as Capt Bligh sneers superciliously: 'and what time do you have, Mr Christian?...'

[fredob43]

Siam Parigon BKK Watch world, they sell service all make's of watch's they wont be cheap but they will do the job right. And as other's have said get it done sharpish as even a little bit of water will bugger the movement not to mention the face in a matter of day's. I believe you said it was waterproof, that normally (not always with old watch's) mean's it has a sealed glass bezel so the only way the water could get in is via the winder after this length of time the seal on that will be non existent, even a company like Breitling only guarantee them for 6 year's and recommend they are changed very 3 year's.

Tip have a good look at the glass bezel there might be a small indent round a part of the edge where it joins the watch case, if it has with a very small knife inserted in same you can very carefully prize it off, you can then clean the inside of the glass but be very careful with the face/hand's never wipe it with a cloth a good idea here is to put it in front of a fan till it dries then a light clean with a cotton bud. Then clean the rim of same with a tooth pick so that it will seal better and just clip it back on with a bit of luck all should be ok but what ever happen's you will need to get it serviced cleaned and oiled. I bet it has never been done ever. A movement type watch should be serviced every 5 year's. The time's Iv'e heard I don't know why it's stopped it's been working for the last 20 year's and not had a problem is to many to think about. Best of luck.

Just had a look at your photo enlarged and it look's like it might also be the seal round the glass and the bezel the good news is I think the bezel does come off.

Edited March 10, 2012 by fredob43

[wordchild]

there is a watch repair guy on bts chidlom (exit toward central department store). I and a couple of my colleagues have used him a few times, no complaints.

[wana]

get a hair dryer on it for an hour or so on both sides

you need to dry it asap and then get the back off and spray in WD40 ,it lubricates ,protects and drives out moisture

then you need to seal the bezel + the winder bung with fresh rubber sealant washers to prevent water getting back in again

[dsprtliving]

There is also a very, very good guy that does watch repair tucked away just around the corner from the guys that sell second hand Tag Heuer watches at MBK on the 2nd floor just down from the exit into the shopping center from Tokyu. We've taken our watches to him on several occasions for general repairs/batter replacements/cleanings...etc, and he's always very professional and good at what he does.

[orchis]

the watch counter at Isetan/Central world does repairs.

[Sing_Sling]

Most high-end watch retailers should have the expertise to do the job. I have several Tag Heuers and always had them serviced at a TH shop (and they either do the job there or send it away to be taken care of). Provided your watch doesn't have a special back plate that needs a specific tool to open it, like the THs, they should be able to do it . . . whether they will or not is another issue

How about googling for Cyma websites

[fishhooks]

there is a watch repair guy on bts chidlom (exit toward central department store). I and a couple of my colleagues have used him a few times, no complaints.

Thanks for that, he had it for a few hours did a complete service and it looks great. Probably a tad expensive for Thailand @ 2,500B but worth it to me.

[fishhooks]

Thanks

[wordchild]

there is a watch repair guy on bts chidlom (exit toward central department store). I and a couple of my colleagues have used him a few times, no complaints.

Thanks for that, he had it for a few hours did a complete service and it looks great. Probably a tad expensive for Thailand @ 2,500B but worth it to me.

good glad it worked out. he is not cheap but everyone i know who has used him has been pretty happy,he also gives a warranty (6 months i think) on any work he does which he will honour. if you have any issues bring it back to him and he will do the service again free of charge .

Edited March 10, 2012 by wordchild

[fredob43]

there is a watch repair guy on bts chidlom (exit toward central department store). I and a couple of my colleagues have used him a few times, no complaints.

Thanks for that, he had it for a few hours did a complete service and it looks great. Probably a tad expensive for Thailand @ 2,500B but worth it to me.

Only hope the few hour were more that 2 or 3 as to do a complete service take's at least 4 hour's.

Never as some one said put WD 40 in a movement.

[tutsiwarrior]

gotta admit that that's a nice lookin' wrist watch...

[fishhooks]

Yes, it's looking really nice.

The vintage would be mid 1960's I would think, going on the time it was presented to my dad as a retirement present from Australia Post.

[Bob12345]

Good that you were able to get it fixed.

Some of the comments made before are hilarious, like opening up the watch yourself, putting hairdryers on it, putting lubrication on the movement yourself.

I am pretty much a watch-freak myself and also work on ETA movements as a hobby. Almost every moving part of the watch has to be lubricated with a different kind of lubrication and if you apply too much, or not enough, it will wear down your watch. Determining the exact amount is not that easy, and the same goes for the exact place where to put it (imagine applying an almost invisible amount on a specific point with specialist tools while wearing a magnifier with 10x magnification). This is not stuff someone should do himself; especially not with a watch you value.

And 2,500 baht is not that bad, if I bring in one of my watches for service it will cost me 20,000 baht at least (in case nothing has to be replaced). It will take longer than a few hours then though...

[Bob12345]

Just to add to my previous post:

some of the advice given here was also spot on.

Moisture should be removed from the watch as quickly as possible (think weeks, not hours), and that can best be done by unscrewing the crown and letting it dry out. In case it goes too slow you can always put it somewhere together with dry rice or something, make sure though that no dirt can come into the case.

[fishhooks]

I'm still at a bit of a loss to know how much moisture got in there.

As said before, it definitely has not received actual water from rain and I've never ever taken a shower as some do with a watch just to prove that the indication of waterproof actually means something.

I can only imagine, coming from Melbourne which has a fairly dry climate in the summer, that a quick entry into the tropics last week did the damage.

I remember working with portable TV camera's years back we always had to let them settle into a tropical climate for a few days, otherwise the lense's were always fogging up!