I'm not talking about the candybar either...

I don't know if this has happened to anyone else but I just dropped a darn fine watch onto the concrete floor at my bench. Talk about feeling sick. Broken crystal, broken wind indicator hand. Staff and dial are OK thank the good Lord. You should have seen my face as I saw it all unfolding.

I'm feeling super stupid/clumsy and thought I'd share. Grrrr

In my shop, we put down thin light indoor-outdoor carpet covered it with white cotton sheeting and laid plastic large semi-hard desk coasters over that. We can still even find bits we drop. But stuff still breaks on the bench.

Joseph...

All part of being human ~ my friend...

I have put my fat fingers on the balance wheel of a model 1892 movement when taking it out of the case, and bent bottom pivot of the balance staff.

But, you are right - it makes ya go - Grrrrr

I am sure we are not the only two...

My wife had just given me a very nice Waltham Ball for my birthday. We were in the car and she set it on her lap.. We soon drove into the garage and she stepped outta the car... Yep, the Ball went flying onto the garage floor.. Talk about someone being upset.. It took me a few days to ge her calmed back down.. Only a new balance staff (bottom pivot) was required. I thought there would be a lot more damage.. But there wasn't..

yer in a club of tousands and tousands , alla who is badly wishin dey wasn't dere!!!

I bet you wish it was a candy bar that dropped. I haven't dropped one in awhile. Last one was a Illinois 19j 12s that I had just finished a coa with a balance staff replacement, only to have the staff break when it dropped.
There are two types of watch owners. Those that have dropped one, and those that will drop one.

Glad to know its not just me:-)

They really are tougher than some folks might think. It's funny that we take such good care of them now but some years back some poor fella had it in his pocket bumping into things, dropping it etc.

As I got older I tend to not carry my good watches that much but I had one of those Swiss 17j Waltham that was in the base metal case with the locomotive on the back .

One day the oldest lab needed to go out and do his thing so I walked out and decided to check to see what time it was. The watch snagged and it slipped out and hit the concrete driveway and the bezel popped of and the watch just by sheer bad luck rolled under where my lab was relieving himself so not only did it break the staff but it got a heavy golden shower.

Well that made it more to fix it than it was worth so in the trash it went.

Of course I've dropped a few watches, such as the rattrapante that fell from my hand six inches down to my desk top (it cost $345 to repair), or another 18k watch I dropped in my watchmaker's shop picking it up from a COA (he was kind enough to repair it with no extra charge). But the drop I remember most sadly was a $5 or $10 bottle of Volnay Caillerets (a premier cru burgundy) I bought as a gift for my father when I was 21 (this was some years ago when $5 or $10 was real money for wine). The fallen bottle left a large red stain on my father's garage floor. At least watches only damage themselves when they fall. I've had many memorable and forgettable bottles of wine before and after I dropped the Volnay, but I still remember it vividly.

Wow Claude - you're making me not feel so bad. Thats some serious bad luck...

It wasn't a great watch but it was one of those pocket watches that you could carry and it kept good time. It was odd because when it dropped the bezel just popped off and it started rolling on the driveway and it was like it was like a guided ICBM and it could not have been more accurate to get the shower. I was watching it roll, being a bit too fast for me to divert it, it didn't seem to bother my lab at all,LOL.

I have yet to drop a watch, but I am very surprised at finding out how sturdy these watches actually are when bieng dropped on concrete, bricks etc, I would have expected cracked dials, dented cases, scratched cases, broken jewels and broken balance staffs. But all that really seems to break is the balance staff.So it gives me hope when my time comes.

Altho David didn't mention it here I know he does this too. Get a painters apron or kitchen apron and wear it. Mine snaps to the underside of the bench and catches a lot of things before they hit the floor as long as I remember to hook it up. When I forget to hook up I get the privilege of crawling on the floor digging in the carpet.

Pat is Right, I have dropped a WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF, broke 3 staffs around the old timing stand, but have found a lot of the small things at my bench right in my lap without all the crawlin around on hands and knees! The aprons are $2.99 @ Walmart. Plus Velcro is mebbe $4.00 . . .

Dave, That is one fantastic idea! I hate getting down on the floor to look for whatever has fallen off of my bench. My bench is just a converted computer desk that I paid $20 at a local yard sale. I wish I could afford to get one that is designed for watch work.

Francesco, a lot more can break when they are dropped. When a balance staff breaks it usually takes out a jewel or vise versa the jewel breaks and takes out the staff.
Also all those badly damaged dials you see on old watches? I could bet that most were damaged in a fall.

I've only dropped one watch. I just got it back from my friend who made me a custom fit 7 sided crytal. When I pulled it out of my pocket to show another friend, the repair tag got stuck in my pocket which caused me to drop the watch on the hardwood floor. Ironically, the only thing that was broke was a chip of glass off of the new custom crystal.

John III

I'm definitely going to use the apron attached to the bench. Lost a jewel end stone screw yesterday...

:-\

Just don't forget to detach the apron from the bench if you have to get up for another cup of coffee. I think dumping the entire bench would upset you more than losing one jewel.

Regards! Mark

Seems to me two or three or four short velcro strips evenly spaced would be a good idea instead of one long strip or snaps. They might pull away easier in case you forgot to detach them.

Mark - In my case I would probably need to jump up to get rid of a cup of coffee!

Another thought - I dropped an Elgin 616 once onto the carpet. According to my watchmaker no damage found when she later COA'd it. Very lucky - once.

I never handle a watch now unless it is attached to a chain or fob.

quote:

In my case I would probably need to jump up to get rid of a cup of coffee!

You and me both, Brother....you and me both!

Regards! Mark

Hi all, I stopped using chains and a fob long ago because the chain accidently got snagged a few times on passing bye objects only to nearly yank the watch outa my pocket and bent the bow. So with that said, one day I was wearing a dress Longines silver hunter case dress watch when I decided to see what time it was.....while standing at the top of a stair case.....very bad move. Well I fumbled the watch when I took it outa my pocket and stared in shear horror as I watched it bounce down no less than 14 carpeted stairs before landing on a carpeted floor and bouncing up to hit the wall at the bottom of the stair case. The entire time seeing it bounce from one step then down another was like a never ending nightmare in slow motion. Of course it had to pick up speed as she went occasionally missing a few steps before bouncing off the next one. The case suffered a minor nick when it hit the wall, but the staff and lower hole jewel were shot... The dial and hands were OK also...

A catch 22, Joe.

A couple of times I have looked down and saw my watch dangling from it's chain which was attached to my belt. The chain had hooked something and dragged the watch out of my dress pants watch pocket which is a patch pocket inside my regular dress pants slit pocket. I was grateful the watch was on a chain and didn't hit the floor or concrete.

Despite the risks, I'll keep my watch on a chain attached to my belt or a belt loop.

While this post is a month old, its not that old to comment on.

Since attaching an apron to my bench I have caught 2 watches and perhaps a dozen screws and such that have fallen off the bench. This idea alone has saved me way more than the $12 membership fee this year.
The apron was old and stained but usable. The wife was going to make it into rags because she dosnt like wearing stained things. The Velcro was $1 at Dollar General. I still have butterfingers but it isnt the same problem it once was.

David, just curious, where did you get that tool box to your right.

Looks like a machinist tool box, and I have the same one that I purchased at Harbor Freight Tools.

Regards,
Larry

Larry, I have one just like it that I purchased at Lowe's home improvement years ago. However they no longer carry it. I guess wood isn't 'popular' enough anymore

A quick google search turned this one up at Amazon for a decent price.

http://www.amazon.com/Eight-Dr...-Chest/dp/B0069KALB8

Thanks Ryan, I got one and just noticed David's.

Regards,
Larry

If anyone has access to a Lee Valley Tools they have similar tool chest.

Looks like it would be nice to store watches in.

Hey David,
I like that load tester on the wall. They sure come in handy for checking those little watch batteries. LOL
Jon

Here is a photo of my machinist's chest. It is an oldie that I restored many years ago. Speaking of storage, you will see in my photo a way I figured out of storing a lot of my small parts without taking up a lot of real estate. It is an old revolving spice rack that used to be in my pantry. I keep crowns, stems, sleeves, screws, etc. in it. Works great

Bruce I like that Illinois Train pic.