Hello everyone! This is Nono from Matsuno Watch Shop. How are you doing now that autumn has arrived?
As a single man in his 40s, I spend my free time watching YouTube. There are an almost infinite number of videos on YouTube, but my tastes are biased. I'm biased, and when I dug further into the recommended videos, I found only "Downtown," "Chidori," "martial arts," "fishing," and "Sandwich Man."
There is a limit to the number of videos I can make if I'm too biased, so the other day on my day off I ended up watching a live gameplay of Dragon Quest 3 from start to finish. Six hours... Hahaha. It's finally happening to me too.
But I remembered watching other people play Dragon Quest in real time. I remember it fondly. When Dragon Quest 4 was released, I had just broken a bone, and even though I had a cast on, I still played it, so my fingers were swollen and congested. I remember it fondly.
The resurrection spell was painful, and I remember being impressed when the save function was developed. Well, saves disappear easily. Nowadays, games are played on mobile phones. It seems that most people who view my crappy blog are on smartphones. I'm a creepy guy who's over 40 and watches gameplay, but please enjoy it, hehe.
Well, as always, it's been a while since I last updated, but today I'm going to talk about El Prix. For some reason, this is a model that I get a lot of requests for.
The classic Cal.400
I've introduced the El Pri several times, but I've reported the same problem, though not every time. Can you see the wire-like part in the photo that has snapped off? This is the spring that jumps the date just right, but the old wire-like model almost always breaks.
This happened 100% of the time in our company, or rather in the models I worked on. Zenith seems to have recognized this as a definite defect, and has released an improved spring.
This one
The spring on the right is broken, and the new one on the left. I think I've put this photo on before. The rod-shaped springs were not strong enough, so they have been improved to be plate-shaped. If you have an El Prix and the calendar does not click properly, this is the problem. It's not a very expensive part, so I always keep it in stock. But other parts are expensive for the El Prix.
Crown and push buttons
Both the crown and the push button cost about 20,000 yen. That's expensive.
We do business with several material stores and also import parts individually, but there are strengths and weaknesses depending on the parts. Some stores are good at certain brands, and other stores have old parts left.
Zenith is lucky enough to be able to get genuine parts, but you can get them cheaper at a parts store than by personal import. I think it's a good store, but domestic products are no good, so it's really a case of pros and cons. It's difficult to get parts these days, but I'm trying various things.
I took it apart and washed it
Other than the spring I mentioned earlier, I don't think there are any other problems. It's in good condition, too. I'll start assembling it right away.
Timekeeping
The 10 beats give good accuracy. I think that 8 beats is the first to be called high beat, but I wonder if there are any current 10 beats. I don't know for sure, but Rolex doesn't make them, or rather, even if you use El Prix, it drops to 8, so I wonder what it's like.
It's a question of whether high vibration and precision are important, or whether precision and durability are important. It's just a feeling, but I definitely get the impression that Rolex is sturdy and Zenith is delicate. But both require regular maintenance.
We will also be building a chronograph.
I started assembling it, thinking that there were no particular problems. In the photo, it is still in the middle of being assembled, and after this, I will assemble the automatic winding mechanism. Then I discovered a problem!!! Hmm... does it look like Baki? Is that so?
I didn't take a picture of it (I took one later), but the clutch gear core is missing! Oh no... I can't say I have to pay extra now.
Clutch gears are expensive. Oh well, it can't be helped... We have received other special requests for this model, so we hope to introduce them at a later date. We received a request from afar. Thank you very much! Please wait a little longer.
Next is El Prix
There are so many of them these days. This one is also a 400, but the rotor design is different. There is a star cut out, but the rotor is what catches your eye first on the back scale.
It's a clever decoration that uses that. The chronograph movement is originally an industrial beauty that is suitable for the back scale, but this makes it even easier to understand. It certainly emphasizes delicacy rather than ruggedness.
Disassembled
...Did you see it earlier? Hahaha, because it's the same caliber. This one will be fine, there won't be any damage to the parts, I thought nervously as I worked on it. It's in very good condition.
Assemble in order
It's gradually getting closer to completion
Well, for some reason I don't have any photos of the finished product. That's strange, I should have taken some. This Elpri was also a request from outside the prefecture, so I have to send them photos when it's finished. I'll have to look for them.
The project was completed without any major issues. We will now begin the running test. Please allow us a little more time. Thank you!
It's expensive to replace parts on the Elpri, but if you can overhaul it, it's about 30,000 to 35,000 yen. Hmm, would it be okay to raise the price a little more? Oh, would it be okay?
In the past, the ratio of repair requests was about 3:7 between outside and within the prefecture, but recently it seems to be half and half, or even the other way around. Elprix is almost always from outside the prefecture, and vintage items are also mostly from far away.
Maybe it's because I've been diligently writing my blog (about once a month). I don't know. Anyway, thank you. I'm busy with repairs, so the period varies, but I'll do my best!
Next up: GP
It's a Girard-Perregaux. Look at the dial, what do you think of this elegant antique style? The hands are very nice.
What's good about the blue steel Breguet hands is that the rims are firmly hammered, which makes it look like a very careful job. What? You don't see the rims? No, no, the circle in the center of the hands is very nice.
By the way, if the needle becomes loose and you make a new one, it will look like this. It's not a perfect finish, though. Regular needles are painted, so it might not look like this unless they're blued steel. Hmm, that's a bit niche.
Caliber: Lemania
I've introduced many of these calibers. The most common is Omega's Speedmaster Pro. Yes, it's the Lemania 1873. I think I worked on it today too. I didn't know there was a model used in the GP. This is the first time I've seen it.
Disassembled
There doesn't seem to be any problem. The Lemania cross mark is cool. There's nothing to write about that there's no problem. I'm happy about that.
Going smoothly
Let's put it together
Finished!
It is completed with an overhaul, replacement of the mainspring and packing, and cleaning of the case. The Lemania 1873 is about 30,000 yen. Omega, GP, Breitling, Franck, ... were there any others? Sinn? I don't know if there is a Heuer, but the price does not change depending on the brand.
This was also a request from outside the prefecture. This is the second time. Thank you! I think I will be able to inform you of the completion date soon.
Thank you for reading this long and thin blog. We are running a tight schedule for repairs, but we try to fulfill as many requests as possible. Now! I've written a blog, so I'll watch a live broadcast of Dragon Quest 4.
Ryan and Huimin. ...I'm not going senile, right? I'm just staring blankly, but I'm not going senile, right? I have a job that requires me to use my hands, so I'm okay. Now, let's have a drink...I'm not going senile, right? I receive it every day. Well, I'm using my hands. I'll use my hands again tomorrow.
See you next time. This is Nono. Adios! 