James Harris

23 June 2020

Wristwatch Repair

Certina Biostar Electronic Service: Calibre ESA 9150

James Harris

23 June 2020

Wristwatch Repair

Certina Biostar Electronic Service: Calibre ESA 9150

The Certina Biostar is a fascinating watch that embodies the 70s. As we service its futuristic and electronic ESA 9150, see its unique complication.

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Featured

19 Jan 2025

Portescap Movement Service (Secticon Clock Repair)

19 Jan 2025

They go by many names, but it always means the same high-quality thing. Take a look with us as we service and repair one of these exciting Swiss clock movements, heralded as an “important step in the evolution of watchmaking technique”.

19 Jan 2025

3 Feb 2024

Rotary Aquaplunge Service: Calibre AS 1700

3 Feb 2024

Vintage Rotary watches are of a higher quality than their modern counterparts and can be quite collectable. See the Aquaplunge service process here.

3 Feb 2024

22 Dec 2023

Longines Flagship Service: Calibre 343

22 Dec 2023

The Longines Calibre 343 in this Flagship is just the quality expected from Longines in the 1950s/60s. Look at the movement in detail during a service.

22 Dec 2023

5 Dec 2023

Rolex Prince Service and Repair: Calibre 7040

5 Dec 2023

The Rolex Prince is an unusual watch which features a very large sub-seconds dial. Take a look as we service this Calibre 7040.

5 Dec 2023

13 Oct 2023

Omega Chronostop Service: Calibre 865

13 Oct 2023

In 1966 the world of chronographs changed forever with the Omega Chronostop. Find out more and see inside the watch as we service this Calibre 865.

13 Oct 2023

17 Jun 2022

Genalex Synchronous Clock Service

17 Jun 2022

Take a look inside this electric synchronous clock as we service and repair the movement. They usually run reliablybut they stop a lot of care is needed.

17 Jun 2022

12 Jun 2022

Zenith Electric Master Clock Service

12 Jun 2022

If you’re here you probably know that in the 20th century Zenith made some brilliant watches, but did you know they also made clocks? Recently I serviced this electromechanical clock which is part of the collection here at The Clockworks, where I am based. It is a weight-driven mechanical deadbeat regulator with a feraris motor to keep it wound.

12 Jun 2022

31 May 2022

Pocket Watch Badly Worn Centre Wheel Repair

31 May 2022

Today we’re highlighting a single repair done as part of a service. I think it’s an interesting job that involves a sleeve with 0.15mm walls.

31 May 2022

23 May 2022

ATO Electric Transmitter Clock Service

23 May 2022

I’ve finally bought myself my first clock - an ATO electric clock from the mid 20th century, with this beautiful hammered effect backboard and domed acrylic front. Very evocative of the domed plexiglass seen on watches of the period.

23 May 2022

14 May 2022

Zenith Chronograph Service: Calibre 146D

14 May 2022

I recently worked on this Zenith 146D from the early 60s. Take a look at the end for the watch cased up.

14 May 2022

4 May 2022

Gallet Chronograph - Venus 150 Service

4 May 2022

This watch recently came to us for a service and to replace a cracked crystal. The Venus 150 was produced from the late 1930s through to the 60s, and I suspect this Gallet example in a clamshell case was made in the 1940s.

4 May 2022

20 Mar 2021

James McCabe Bracket Clock Service

20 Mar 2021

I’ve recently been working on this lovely bracket clock by James McCabe. It was brought to me because of a problem with the striking mechanism - when wound the clock would strike continuously until it ran out of power. There are a number of things that could cause this but it was agreed that the clock would also be serviced while it was in the workshop, as it was evident that there was a lot of very dark oil and wear which could be seen simply by looking at the backplate.

20 Mar 2021

13 Feb 2021

What does a battery change involve?

13 Feb 2021

When is a battery change not just a change of battery? When it’s done by a horologist who cares about your watch. I’m often asked why a battery change can’t be done in five minutes ‘like the guy at the shoe repair shop’ and the short answer is that if a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing properly.

13 Feb 2021

30 Jan 2021

Smiths Mystery Clock Repair: Hour Wheel Manufacture

30 Jan 2021

Generally in clocks if you need a new part, it needs to be made. It’s much rarer in a clock, however, that those parts are barely larger than those in a watch. I was given a Smiths mystery clock which had a damaged hour wheel and had sat on the shelf in another workshop without any work being done for some time. Time to bring this interesting object back to life!

30 Jan 2021

16 Jan 2021

Whittnaur Electric Watch Battery Spacer (Landeron 4750)

16 Jan 2021

Recently a good friend, Neil, was visiting the workshop and wearing a very cool watch. A vintage electric Whittnaur with a very early movement. So early this uses mechanical contacts to control an electromagnet rather than the more common transistor. A great piece of history but also an amazing looking watch, check out the dial and hands at the bottom of this post.

16 Jan 2021

Certina Biostar Electronic Service: Calibre ESA 9150

Member of the British Clock and Watchmakers Guild

Accredited Fellow of the British Horological Institute (fBHI)