1968 Dateline S-577

Wow!  It's been 10 years since I posted on today's model.  I bet I have had this watch in my to-do stash for at least half that time.

It's a 1968 Dateline S-577.  It's one of six different Dateline models that are manual winding with a date complication.  The Dateline S-577 was made for only two years.  

The Dateline S-577 came in a stainless steel case with an all-marker dial.  To me the most noteworthy attribute of the design is the hour hand is significantly fatter than the minute hand.  So much so that it always reminds me of a Fiddler Crab.

My project watch has stayed in the to-do bin because it's in rough shape and not running.  The crystal is a bit beat and the dial has what appears to be a layer of dust on it.

The case back has an abundance of scratches from someone trying to pry open the case.  I'm sure they got pretty frustrated, because this is a one-piece case design that opens through the crystal.

Once the crystal is off, the reflector ring can lifted off to reveal the dial and movement secured in the case.

The two-pice stem is separated by using a special tool to pull the crown away from the case.  Now the movement can be lifted up and away.

Well, I can see why the movement isn't running... it's missing the jewels in the balance cock.  It's also missing one of the dial foot screws.  A donor ETA movement will provide the needed parts - hopefully the balance is still in good order.

One of the challenges with Dateline models is the date index spring.  It likes to disappear and I lost it twice while working on the watch.  The first time it vanished, I found it hiding on my work mat.  It's about 11x17 and super-soft silicone-like.  If a part bounces it doesn't often go far, but it always takes time to search for it.

Everything is cleaned and dried.  All parts are present and accounted for.

Pretty much all sweep second ETA movements made today have the same layout as these 1960's calibers.  If you can work on these, you can work on any of them.  At this point I've got everything back together and all that's needed is the balance and the replacement jewels.

And just like that... it's back to running with a nice motion.  Only the timer will say for sure how well it's running.

Not too bad.  The amplitude is low because I haven't fully wound it yet.  The beat error is high but I can easily tweak that in line.

A lower beat error has the benefit of bringing the amplitude up a little.  It doesn't take much of an adjustment.

A new crystal is definitely an improvement.  The "dust" on the dial is actually inclusions on the finish and cannot be removed.  It doesn't look like a new watch but it is almost 60, after all.  With a nice strap, this will be a nice looking dress watch.