Hi everyone,
Recently got this 1949 Bulova Excellency and was hoping to have a look at the movement but it's one of those where the dial face is attached to the movement.
My question is, how can I get a look at the movement? I'm not handy and I don't have proper watch tools so I suspect I should just leave it. :-( That said, I will always wonder what movement is in here! A 7AA? A 7AK?
She sets, winds and runs well. My first '40s era tank. :-)
Hi Crispyhair. I was hoping someone else would answer your question so you won't hold me responsible for damaging your watch. So follow my instructions at your own risk. I'm going to tell you how I would remove the movement, but I've done this hundreds of times. First look at the arrow I drew your photo of the dial face.
Ok, here we go. First get something to use as a mat to place under the movement with about 10 or 12 inches all around the movement to catch anything that might fly off the movement while doing this. It looks like your movement has a retaining ring around it as shown where I drew the arrow. This ring should be a seperate piece of thin metal that goes all the way around the outside of the movement between it and the case back. Take a pocket knife with a sharp edge and use the tip of the blade. Gently wedge it between the retaining ring and the case back. Lift up on the retaining ring just enough to tell that you have moved it a little. Then proceed with doing the same thing at the other 3 corners of the dial. Be especially carefull on the bottom of the dial, because if the dial is the least bit loose on the movement and your knife slips and hits the bottom of the dial, the second hand is going to go flying to the moon. It's easy to see while on the dial but it has magic powers that make it nearly invisible if it comes off and goes flying. That's the reason for the mat. Hopefully it will land on it.
Once you go around all 4 corners lifting the retaining ring just enough to tell that you've moved it, repeat the procedure again, lifting just a little more. Keep doing this procedure until the movement is loose from the case back.
Re-installation is the reverse of this procedure except you won't need the knife. Just set the movement squarely on the case back and push down on the dial gently a little at a time in each corner until the movement retaining ring is fully seated.
Hi '55 Mercury!
Thanks so much! I really appreciate the detailed instructions on how to do this. I'll let you know how it goes, if I screw up the courage to try. ;-)
But I might end up waiting until the watch needs a service or such, at which point a qualified watch repair person can tell me what movement is in here.
In reply to 21 Jewel 7AK is the norm. I… by FifthAvenueRes…