We are know many kinds of watch, but maybe you don’t know how to repair a 1st Moscow Watch Factory Sturmanskie calibre 2608. Expecially when you meet more professional watch question. So you can learn from here.

The 1st Moscow Watch is not running and has received a lot of action in both the hands of the owner and previous watchmakers so I knew this would be a challenge I was accepting.

The movement does not look too bad at first glance.

The dial removed and you can see the winding mechanism. The centre second pivot is broken.

I take apart the non-shock protected balance cock.

Balance and pallet fork removed.

Train bridge removed you can see the gear train and the hacking lever mechanism.

The mainspring is in good condition and I will use it again, as I can’t find a replacement.

All the parts are cleaned and ready to be put back together.

The mainspring has been cleaned and is back in the barrel.

I start putting the 1st Moscow Watch back together.

First problem I notice is that the jewel over the centre wheel is out of position. This jewel holds the centre sweep second pinion. I realign this jewel by unscrewing its support.

I start putting the setting mechanism back in place.

Now here I have a running movement, but to get there I had to reshape the bridge as it was bent downwards blocking the gear train. The sweep seconds wheel came from a second donor watch as the first donor watch had the same broken part. The pallet bridge needed reshaping as it was bent downwards just enough to brake the pallet but not stop the movement. The hacking lever needed to be reshaped so it did not constantly block the balance.

When the movement was finally running it was showing -300 seconds a day, the second balance was wonky and finally with the last remaining balance and some collet adjusting of the beat error I have a preforming watch!

As the old luminous compound has been replaced with some bright yellow C1 at one point Andrei decided it was a good idea to change the compound to something a little more toned down to match the aged dial.

The setting mechanism is in place and the movement is ready for the dial.

The dial and hands back on the 1st Moscow Watch, the minute hand was very loose so I had to tighten it in the staking set.

At last the movement is back in the case and looking good. I like the cote de Geneve; it’s unusual to find decorated bridges on a soviet the 1st Moscow Watch.

It took 3 donor watches to get this beast running again.

Nice looking watch with a cool history.