Chinese movements

[king of diamonds]

Whatever the flaws with Chinese mechanical watches value certainly isn't one of them. I recently purchased a new one off http://www.dealextreme.com/p/leather-band-self-winding-mechanical-wrist-watch-16037 and I'm looking to rip out my old movement to do something creative with it. Still works, just doesn't keep good time (bit of an oxymoron for a timepiece but the mechanism SEEMS to run nice and smooth).

Unfortunately for me the crafty devils have locked it up tighter then a kraken in spawning season. I want to make it into something... not watch related. I'm thinking of removing the hands and face to make it into a moving clockwork flower for my buttonhole. To do this it looks like I will have to break the face at the very least... Any tips to prevent me wrecking the movement (I know destroying a timepiece is sacrilege but needs must and its not like its valuable). All watches by this manufacturer (IK coloring) are the same so if someone has one any tips are likely to be universal.

Sorry to make you follow a link but I really can't be bothered digging out my phone and messing round with image hosting right now, you know how it is...  especially when I could bring employment to a little man (or woman) in China who was being paid a pittance to take that photo. May even be an education to someone with REALLY good ad blocking software  



Many thanks

[Captain Shipton Bellinger]

The back screws off.

Somewhere close to where the setting stem enters the movement you'll find either a very tiny screw head or what looks like the end of a pin. If it's a screw, undo it a couple of turns. If it's a pin, press it in. This should allow you to gently remove the stem from the movement.

Once the stem's out, the whole movement can be removed from the back of the case.

Have fun.

[ClockworkBadger]

If it helps at all, a pair of needle-nosed pliers hooked into the notches on the back work pretty well for unscrewing it, though you almost certainly will put a scratch or two onto it.

[DreamHazard]

http://www.play.com/Gadgets/Gadgets/4-/20708038/752049810/DIGIFLEX-Professional-Watch-Repair-Case-Opener-Tool-Wrench-Kit/ListingDetails.html?_$ja=tsid%3a11518%7ccat%3a20708038%7cprd%3a20708038

They're available from Maplin too, I think you can probably just get the particular one you need for a few quid.

EDIT: Didn't realise you were in NZ. Either way you're looking for a "Watch opening tool" or "Watch back remover" or some such. It's essentially just a fancy looking wrench.

EDIT EDIT: DX carries a few of them, http://www.dealextreme.com/p/three-jaw-watch-case-opener-repair-tools-with-12-pins-46363?item=18 and http://www.dealextreme.com/p/3-in-1-watch-repair-tools-kit-93096?item=20 are examples