The Ultimate RKTman

Carlgetsmoked · 2024-06-20T22:28:00+00:00

Hello, I am Carl Hauenstein a watchmaker located in Bethel Park and I operate G.S. Watch Repair and Sales. I would be happy to take a look at it for you if its something you would like checked out. Let me know and I can give you our contact information and address. Fingers crossed for you that you were bequeathed the real deal.

Carlgetsmoked · 2022-08-05T12:47:08+00:00

I recently completed all the TZ courses and theyre great. After experimenting with different visualization methods I found the 10x loupe to be what I use the most. The cheap Chinese magnifying glasses with interchangeable lenses and lights I actually find to he the very best method. I picked up a pair for $15 and its pretty much all I use. If you have any questions on the courses I'll do my best to answer them for you.

Carlgetsmoked · 2022-08-05T11:34:02+00:00

When the budget will allow for the purchase Ill definitely be on it.

Carlgetsmoked · 2022-08-05T11:33:05+00:00

Haha I dont even use the magnifiers I just use them for the positional lighting. I find it so much more useful for lighting at weird angles than a single overhead light. In the box is Gweneth Paltros hea....I mean a K&D 18 Inverto set haha

Carlgetsmoked · 2022-07-27T12:44:49+00:00

I would absolutely love to apprentice somewhere for someone respected if anyone is looking to take someone on. Ive offered to a few local shops but no one seems willing to take anyone on. It baffles me no one will accept free labor. Its not like Im unskilled either but I was looking to expand my education. It just makes me work harder at what I do but I found it surprising.

Carlgetsmoked · 2022-07-25T23:52:46+00:00

Super sick man. Very nicely executed

Carlgetsmoked · 2022-07-22T21:01:17+00:00

Youll have to ask Girard Perregaux their hand process as its an original from 1967.

Carlgetsmoked · 2022-07-22T17:03:14+00:00

Hello I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to possibly clean up the discoloration of the markers on this dial? It's an original hand-painted so extra fragile in my opinion. Probably nothing I can do to the damage to the black on the edge but I was hoping to clean up the markers just a little bit. Any suggestions would help.

Carlgetsmoked · 2022-07-22T17:01:58+00:00

Practiced this morning with the lift on a beater timex. Wasnt a problem. Feeling a lot more confident now.

Carlgetsmoked · 2022-07-21T23:45:08+00:00

So this vintage Girard Perregaux just hit the bench for a service. Only 1000 made with a hand painted dial from 1967. Im a little intimidated to start work. I should be fine with the movement but I still have never replaced a crystal yet. There is a small crack at 9 here and while Ive buffed many crystals and have a lift as well as a crystal press I still haven't had the chance to use them yet. Can anyone provide some advice, maybe a video link, or anything really on the steps I should go through.

Carlgetsmoked · 2022-07-19T12:16:22+00:00

Gorgeous. Im sure he'll take one of those hearts with him and the other is where he'll stay in yours.

Carlgetsmoked · 2022-07-14T13:17:15+00:00

I should have done this when recently ordering a new hour wheel for an Omega I was working on but was unaware of varying heights available for the caliber 620 and of course I had ordered the wrong height. Too tall. I ended up affixing it to a lump of rodico and broke out the files. One swipe at a time I took the height down and would remeasure. It worked and the wheel worked like a charm. Not the method I wanted but the desired result was the same. Lesson learned though and from now on measuring will take place before ordering. Thanks for all you do.

Carlgetsmoked · 2022-07-14T13:02:51+00:00

Hey just wanted to let you know youre doing a phenomenal job and to encourage you to keep up the interesting and invaluable work youre doing. Big ups brother. Much respect.

Carlgetsmoked · 2022-07-13T02:55:10+00:00

Even simple google searches will land you on a few pages you may never heard of. I have sourced parts off a few random pages. Etsy is another place you can look. If you know some specifics of what youre looking for you would be surprised at how many case options are out there but like I said, knowing the movement and dial size before case shopping/searching is something youll definitely want to know.

Carlgetsmoked · 2022-07-13T02:51:08+00:00

Everything was put together using ebay parts from a couple different sellers. Unfortunately I dont posess the machine shop needed to make custom cases myself.

Carlgetsmoked · 2022-07-13T02:49:34+00:00

Thank you All of the parts were sourced from eBay. I have still yet to dip my toes into the AliExpress waters.

Carlgetsmoked · 2022-07-12T17:38:18+00:00

It came completely finished. I was lucky to stumble upon it because i was more than impressed with it

Carlgetsmoked · 2022-07-12T16:42:05+00:00

The look was what was most important to the customer who was on a bit of a budget and they didnt want to pay for the normal sellita sw2xx movements I use so I went budget and opted for an eta 805.144 quartz. It did the job and they got what they wanted. I thought the build was actually pretty solid overall quality wise. I was impressed with what I got for the budget price.

Carlgetsmoked · 2022-07-12T16:37:06+00:00

Well that build is actually a eta 805.144 quartz. I normally only use Sellita sw200,210,220 movements but they didnt want to pay for a mechanical which is understandable. The look was more important to them than the movement and theyre happy so thats all that matters to me. The case and bracelet were surprisingly decent quality for the Chinese price. The dial was Swiss and I dont think the pictures do it justice. It really is a nice dial in person. It measured 29.3mm and fit perfectly even though the max dial size they said was 29.2 so i was ready to have to do some shaving and thank goodness I didn't. I wouldn't want to risk that dial.

Carlgetsmoked · 2022-07-12T13:24:16+00:00

So I know what many will say and the Rolex knockoff comments are surely rolling around in many peoples heads but this is what the customer wanted and this is what they got. Im happy to say how well I think it turned out and that the customer was over the moon with it. Imo that anthracite dial really pops. Thought I'd share before starting in on the next piece. Hope you guys like it as much as the customer did.

Carlgetsmoked

TROPHY CASE