So, I’ve been messing around with watches lately, and I stumbled upon this “Omega Chronometer Co-Axial” thing. I wanted to see what the fuss was all about, so I decided to get my hands on one and, you know, really get into it.
First, I got a hold of an Omega watch that had this “Co-Axial” movement. It wasn’t super easy finding one that I could afford to potentially mess up, but after some digging around, I managed to snag a used one in decent condition. Nothing fancy, but good enough to tinker with.
Taking it Apart (Carefully!)
Next up, the scary part – taking it apart. I’m not a watchmaker, just a curious dude, so I watched a bunch of videos online first. Got myself some basic watch tools, like tiny screwdrivers and those little plastic things to pry stuff open. I was super careful, I swear. Laid everything out on a clean cloth, so I wouldn’t lose any of those ridiculously small screws.
- Unscrewed the back: This was pretty straightforward. Just had to find the right size screwdriver and go slow.
- Removed the rotor: That’s the spinning weight thing that winds the watch automatically. It came off pretty easily.
- Took out the movement: This was the trickiest part. Had to be super gentle to avoid damaging anything. I used those plastic tools to carefully lift it out of the case.
The Co-Axial Escapement: Up Close and Personal
Once I had the movement out, I could finally see the Co-Axial escapement, the heart of the whole thing. It looks really different from a regular watch escapement, with these extra wheels and levers. I spent a good hour just looking at it under a magnifying glass, trying to figure out how it all worked. Honestly, it’s pretty mind-blowing how all those tiny parts move together.
Putting it Back Together (Fingers Crossed!)
After I’d satisfied my curiosity, it was time to put it all back together. This was even scarier than taking it apart. I basically reversed the steps I took earlier, making sure every screw was tight and every part was in the right place. Took me a while, and I definitely had a few moments where I thought I’d messed it up completely.
But, surprisingly, it worked! I wound it up, and it started ticking. I let it run for a while, and it seemed to be keeping time okay. I’m not saying it’s perfect, but for a first attempt at messing with a Co-Axial movement, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.
I definitely learned from this whole thing.
