Watch Repair: Preparing to Replace the Microscopically Small Balance Staff in a 1959 IWC Cal 44

chapter index:
00:00 introduction - my plan today is simply to examine the condition of the balance staff pivots
02:32 how to put on finger cots (seriously - this is the best and only way to do it)
04:54 the theory behind wearing finger cots
05:18 discussion of the history of the movement and the case I plan to case it in eventually
06:04 examining the movement and planning how to take the balance wheel off
08:03 description of the problem: the watch stopped at certain angles as a result of which I assumed that the balance staff pivots were bad from the start
09:25 I get the microscope involved
10:50 removing the balance wheel assembly
19:06 examining the balance wheel assembly
29:11 discussion of getting an estimate for the revision of the Cal 44 at a watch repair shop in Le Brassus in the Vallée de Joux (a town near Geneva with facilities of Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Blancpain, etc.)
30:32 putting the balance assembly back in the movement
39:30 conclusion and signoff

In this video I examine the balance staff in an IWC Cal 44 movement from the 1950s to see if the balance staff pivots are in tact or damaged. If they're damaged I'll need the help of a watchmaker (or access to an expensive staking tool if I decide to attempt to change out the balance staff myself).

Below is a link to an excellent video by Mark Lovick (Watch Repair Channel) showing exactly how to do this repair:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIQvAm4GC5U

And here's another by Kalle Slapp (Chronoglide):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRj8Eb97HJo

And another by Ashton of Precision Horology:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8EtGKDg8Qs

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My videos are for entertainment and educational purposes only. Critical / corrective comments and links to resources including other watchmaking channels are welcome.

#watchmaker #comedy #watchrepair #restoration #vintage #swiss #iwcwatches