Reassembling vintage minute repeater chronograph watch using watch tool as a watchmaker

WATCHMAKING

It all started almost a decade ago with my desire to redo the lume myself on my first mechanical watch, a 1940’s Wittnauer. At that point, I’d had that watch for almost 15 years but it was that desire to figure out how to do it on my own that set the course of my watchmaking education and adventure.
After a near immediate realization that I had a lot to learn before I could relume a watch, I had planned to sign up for evening watchmaking classes here in Seattle but my wife and our two kids under 3 years old snuffed that idea out very quickly. Instead I had borrow, buy, and download watchmaking books, join forums, watch endless video tutorials, and network with local watchmakers - teaching myself how to work on watches. It’s a journey that has taken me from fumbling with Chinese clone-ETA movements to restoring vintage minute repeaters, repairing rattrapante chronographs, and regulating chronometers.

Repairing a vintage Blancpain minute repeater perpetual calendar complication watch repair watchmaking

SERVICES

I continue to work on watch repair projects and take on new clients. Services offered include:

  • Routine maintenance

    • Full disassembly, cleaning, and inspection

    • Lubrication per manufacturers requirements

    • Adjustment, timing, and testing

  • Vintage restoration and repairs

    • Maintenance of vintage movements

    • Reconstruction of vintage timepieces with period correct parts

    • Restoration of vintage dials and hands including aesthetic repairs, color matching relume, glow/non-glow and UV reactivity matching relume

    • Bracelet retightening and spring restoration

  • Complicated watch overhaul, repairs, and adjustments

    • Chronographs, perpetual calendars, minute repeaters, rattrapante chronographs, multi-complication timepieces

  • Custom work - need something else done? I can probably help.

A Lange Sohne vintage watch movement fully disassembled for watch repair watchmaking

BRANDS

I am able to provide watch repair services for most major, minor, and vintage brands. This does include Rolex, Patek Philippe, Omega, TAG Heuer, Blancpain, Audemar Piguet, Zenith, Longines, Panerai, Tissot, Hamilton, Movado, Hamilton,

INQUIRIES

Got a project or question? Drop me a line with the form below. Want to see my latest project? Follow me on Instagram @matthewzinski

Happy New Year!
1970’s Omega Time Computer 1 with caliber 1600 and LED display. Gold filled, and untouched since it was originally sold at retail - that’s why you’re seeing so much depth and richness to the gold patina.
Unbelievable condition and still functioning with 50 years of untouched, unworn patina - not solid gold but that gold plating ages nonetheless.
Gold watches are a bad habit to have
This is a hot reference these days, 6605, but it’s been one of my favorites for years. I love the size, wearability, and beautifully diverse set of dials - this glossy gilt is no exception.
1950’s Rolex DateJust reference 6605 in 18K yellow gold with black gilt dial and gold arrow indexes.
Love the profile of these drilled lugs, almost like scrollwork to my eye.
What I love about Patek movements like the caliber 215 is I can see their evolution from earlier calibers and pocket watch movements before that. They’re classic and robustly designed. A pleasure to work on.