Why Asian Movements Are The Best

[straps68]

Asian movements are good to learn on in that you can break whatever you’d like and not feel guilty. But when you go from working on Asian movements to Swiss movements suddenly everything seems so easy. This is coming from someone who snapped a date jumper spring on a cal 3135 in half so maybe take my advice with a grain of salt lol

Swiss parts fit toggether so much easier, don't they?

IMHO, nothing more ungrateful to work on than an old Molnija. But you learn a lot. 60+ year old Corts are still perfectly built tanks in comparison.

[djolemag]

It is real pleasure to work with Swiss movement, compared to Asian.
I remember that I read somewhere an interview with one of head people in Sea Gull factory, he said something like :"Swiss are much better but we are learning and we hope we will reach their level in next 20 to 30 years..."
Yesterday I finished oiling of one Asian movement. It is pam clone a customer brought to me saying it works "true but lazy"...
Mainspring was bad, out of line, movement was dry dry dry...
Finished it after 3 days, because everything is so fragile and simply that parts can't convince me they are solid...
Here are pics of quick test and mainspring..
I think I could finish 3 or 4 Swiss eta/ut 649x in the same time...
So my 1st choice remain Swiss, so far...

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[djolemag]

Asian movements are good to learn on in that you can break whatever you’d like and not feel guilty. But when you go from working on Asian movements to Swiss movements suddenly everything seems so easy. This is coming from someone who snapped a date jumper spring on a cal 3135 in half so maybe take my advice with a grain of salt lol

Swiss parts fit toggether so much easier, don't they?

IMHO, nothing more ungrateful to work on than an old Molnija. But you learn a lot. 60+ year old Corts are still perfectly built tanks in comparison.

Old Molnia - 15 jewels, also known as 3601, some refer to 3602A, with CdG bridges?
It is very nice movement to work with, cortebert clone, nice fitting...
3602 is different story...
Old Corteberts are masterpieces

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[straps68]

Asian movements are good to learn on in that you can break whatever you’d like and not feel guilty. But when you go from working on Asian movements to Swiss movements suddenly everything seems so easy. This is coming from someone who snapped a date jumper spring on a cal 3135 in half so maybe take my advice with a grain of salt lol

Swiss parts fit toggether so much easier, don't they?

IMHO, nothing more ungrateful to work on than an old Molnija. But you learn a lot. 60+ year old Corts are still perfectly built tanks in comparison.

Old Molnia - 15 jewels, also known as 3601, some refer to 3602A, with CdG bridges?
It is very nice movement to work with, cortebert clone, nice fitting...
3602 is different story...
Old Corteberts are masterpieces

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Maybe it's me but they're nice until they're not. Bridges from one don't necessarily easily fit on another "identical" movement from time to time and stuff gets brittle and breaks. A lot of the time the problems are the result of shitty work done by the previous "watch makers" that serviced them over the decades.

So yeah, compared to a brand new Chinese 649x where all you gotta do is remove the dead skin and hairs, clean then reassemble... OK, back up, I just saw that mainspring you posted above; holy shit! At least 60 year old Molly mainsprings are still flat.

[djolemag]

Swiss parts fit toggether so much easier, don't they?

IMHO, nothing more ungrateful to work on than an old Molnija. But you learn a lot. 60+ year old Corts are still perfectly built tanks in comparison.

Old Molnia - 15 jewels, also known as 3601, some refer to 3602A, with CdG bridges?
It is very nice movement to work with, cortebert clone, nice fitting...
3602 is different story...
Old Corteberts are masterpieces

Sent from my ELE-L29 using Tapatalk

Maybe it's me but they're nice until they're not. Bridges from one don't necessarily easily fit on another "identical" movement from time to time and stuff gets brittle and breaks. A lot of the time the problems are the result of shitty work done by the previous "watch makers" that serviced them over the decades.

So yeah, compared to a brand new Chinese 649x where all you gotta do is remove the dead skin and hairs, clean then reassemble...

Well, Molnia isn't Swiss however, 3601 is superb over 3602, at least according to my experience...
Hence, we should look from their perspective :
Russian mindset is more pragmatic over appearance... Their watches should work in wide temperature range, ubder various conditions... Accuracy and fancy look are in background, not mandatory.
You can notice the same on Russian vehicles, right?
On the contrary, Swiss product must pass many rigorous "exams" in order to proudly carry stamp "Swiss made"...
Finally, Chinese movts have one prime goal: to be sold, e.g. by being cheap at first... Lack of quality control is major problem at chinese movements.
However, we all must admit: they are constantly getting better...


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[Tanukjaju]

I lost my virginity on the 3601s. Older Asian clone 649xs were terrible. I suspect lots of dry and bad units left the factory and made it to reps and homages. The Asian clones Now I suspect are getting a better QC before making their way into the market and watches. I suspect that companies like Parnis and other eBay watches have resulted in an extra level in QC so I personally haven’t seen any problematic Asian movements lately.

[chrislovessushi]

I lost my virginity on the 3601s. Older Asian clone 649xs were terrible. I suspect lots of dry and bad units left the factory and made it to reps and homages. The Asian clones Now I suspect are getting a better QC before making their way into the market and watches. I suspect that companies like Parnis and other eBay watches have resulted in an extra level in QC so I personally haven’t seen any problematic Asian movements lately.

I still see a lot of dry movements but it’s been a while since I’ve seen a dirty one.

[straps68]

Old Molnia - 15 jewels, also known as 3601, some refer to 3602A, with CdG bridges?
It is very nice movement to work with, cortebert clone, nice fitting...
3602 is different story...
Old Corteberts are masterpieces

Sent from my ELE-L29 using Tapatalk

Maybe it's me but they're nice until they're not. Bridges from one don't necessarily easily fit on another "identical" movement from time to time and stuff gets brittle and breaks. A lot of the time the problems are the result of shitty work done by the previous "watch makers" that serviced them over the decades.

So yeah, compared to a brand new Chinese 649x where all you gotta do is remove the dead skin and hairs, clean then reassemble...

Well, Molnia isn't Swiss however, 3601 is superb over 3602, at least according to my experience...
Hence, we should look from their perspective :
Russian mindset is more pragmatic over appearance... Their watches should work in wide temperature range, ubder various conditions... Accuracy and fancy look are in background, not mandatory.
You can notice the same on Russian vehicles, right?
On the contrary, Swiss product must pass many rigorous "exams" in order to proudly carry stamp "Swiss made"...
Finally, Chinese movts have one prime goal: to be sold, e.g. by being cheap at first... Lack of quality control is major problem at chinese movements.
However, we all must admit: they are constantly getting better...


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The older ones are definitely more beautiful

I have a Seagull 2551 that runs as well as any ETA and it's over six years old and was never serviced. I suppose there could be a lot of garbage in the movement but you can't tell by how it runs - so it must be small

[Tanukjaju]

I have a Seagull 2551 that runs as well as any ETA and it's over six years old and was never serviced. I suppose there could be a lot of garbage in the movement but you can't tell by how it runs - so it must be small

6 year old unit?! You had better get her serviced and exfoliated

[straps68]

I have a Seagull 2551 that runs as well as any ETA and it's over six years old and was never serviced. I suppose there could be a lot of garbage in the movement but you can't tell by how it runs - so it must be small

6 year old unit?! You had better get her serviced and exfoliated

Time for a mud pack