How to Waterproof a Vintage Watch - Realtime Cutdown

In this video I show how I waterproofed two under $50 vintage watches from the 1960s: a Fleurier automatic date with ETA 2472 and a Micosa automatic with a Helvetia H 845 movement.

chapter index:
00:00 overview of tools and supplies
03:43 removing the stainless steel bracelets from both watches
04:18 opening the Micosa 27 jewel Helvetia watch case
05:39 revealing the Helvetia H 845 movement inside the Micosa
05:59 discussion of the 0.7mm case back O-ring that I purchase on Aliexpress and used in the Micosa
08:45 removing the crown and stem from the Micosa
09:14 removing the Micosa movement from the case for water testing
09:49 inspecting and greasing the crown and case tube
11:45 closing the empty Micosa case and water testing it
13:01 confirming that the Micosa case remained dry inside after water testing
14:33 recasing the Micosa movement
17:57 putting the stainless steel bracelet back on the Micosa
19:26 discussing the history of and opening the ETA 2742 Fleurier 25 jewel, 25 Chf watch from the 1960s
22:47 opening the case of the ETA 2472
23:19 reveal that this watch from 1960s has a 1TB SSD stored safely inside it!
24:27 inspection of the ETA 2472 movement
24:55 inspection of the flat case back gasket I ordered from Cousins UK for this case
26:10 discussion of the waterproofing of this watch being basically the same as the Micosa
26:33 regreasing the case back gasket
27:09 discussion of how the microSD card is affixed in the case back
27:45 final tightening of case back using case holder and case back tool
28:34 final inspection of the recased ETA 2472 and brief discussion of the hand stacking tricks necessary to make it work without a dial (to be covered in a separate video)
30:12 threat of making another video about waterproofing more complicated cases
31:25 good luck waterproofing your own vintage watches for summer!


links to supplies (provided for your convenience, these are not affiliate links or endorsements of the products) -

O Ring Rubber Gaskets (Cousins UK)
https://www.cousinsuk.com/category/o-...

Flat Rubber Gaskets (Cousins UK)
https://www.cousinsuk.com/category/fl...

200pcs 0.7mm 16mm-34mm Watch O-Ring Waterproof Rubber Seal (Aliexpress)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/40004...

750/950Pcs O Ring Rubber Waterproof Watch Gaskets 0.5/ 0.6/0.7mm (Aliexpress)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10050...

Mini Rubber Washer O-Ring Watch Crown Waterproof Watches Seals (Aliexpress)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/40011...

Bergeon No. 7055 LUBRI-GASKETS WITH SILICONE GREASE (Bergeon)
https://www.bergeon.swiss/catalogsear...

Waterproof Sealer for Watch Gasket (Aliexpress)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32966...

ELBA SILICONE/PTFE FOOD GRADE GREASE (DigiKey)
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/d...


#restoration #watchmaker #comedy #watchrepair #watchrestoration