Arvada Watch Works

07/27/2026

Sometimes the most interesting part of restoring a watch isn’t fixing it…

…it’s discovering what was actually wrong.

This week I’ve been working on a vintage Seiko that I was told didn’t run. At first glance, that appeared to be true.

After a little investigation, I found something surprising.

The movement itself is alive.

With the correct battery held in place, it immediately began ticking. The real problem wasn’t a failed movement at all—it was a tiny missing battery-retaining spring that keeps the battery in contact.

That discovery sent me down a rabbit hole of vintage Seiko service manuals, movement diagrams, and parts research. It’s amazing how one missing piece, only a few millimeters long, can make an entire watch appear lifeless.

Now comes the interesting decision.

Do I spend more than the watch is realistically worth chasing obsolete parts…

Or do I let this watch help keep other vintage Seikos alive?

I’ve decided to document whichever path makes the most sense—not just the outcome, but the thought process behind it. Restoring a watch isn’t always about putting it back together. Sometimes it’s about understanding what the watch still has to teach.

Over the next several posts, I’ll be sharing the research, the diagnosis, and where this project ultimately leads.

Every watch has something to teach.
Every watch has a story worth preserving.

07/21/2026

AWW-2026-002
Citizen Eco-Drive

Sometimes the lesson isn’t how to repair a watch.

Sometimes the lesson is learning not to replace parts that don’t need replacing.

When I first brought this Citizen Eco-Drive home, it wasn’t running. It would have been easy to assume the rechargeable cell had failed.

Instead, I slowed down.

I gave it a full day of light, then placed it in complete darkness for more than 24 hours to see what it would do.

It kept running.

The date advanced normally.

The lume still glows.

The movement continues keeping time.

In the end, this watch didn’t need new parts. It needed patience, careful testing, and a thorough cleaning.

Citizen introduced Eco-Drive technology in the 1990s as an alternative to traditional battery-powered quartz watches. Instead of replacing disposable batteries every few years, Eco-Drive watches convert light into stored energy using a rechargeable cell. Many continue running reliably for decades with only occasional exposure to light.

This project was a good reminder that good repair work isn’t always about replacing something.

Sometimes it’s about understanding what’s already working.

AWW-2026-002 Complete.

Every watch has something to teach. Every watch has a story worth preserving.

07/21/2026

AWW-2026-002
Citizen Eco-Drive

Sometimes the lesson isn’t how to repair a watch.

Sometimes the lesson is learning not to replace parts that don’t need replacing.

When I first brought this Citizen Eco-Drive home, it wasn’t running. It would have been easy to assume the rechargeable cell had failed.

Instead, I slowed down.

I gave it a full day of light, then placed it in complete darkness for more than 24 hours to see what it would do.

It kept running.

The date advanced normally.

The lume still glows.

The movement continues keeping time.

In the end, this watch didn’t need new parts. It needed patience, careful testing, and a thorough cleaning.

Citizen introduced Eco-Drive technology in the 1990s as an alternative to traditional battery-powered quartz watches. Instead of replacing disposable batteries every few years, Eco-Drive watches convert light into stored energy using a rechargeable cell. Many continue running reliably for decades with only occasional exposure to light.

This project was a good reminder that good repair work isn’t always about replacing something.

Sometimes it’s about understanding what’s already working.

AWW-2026-002 Complete.

Every watch has something to teach. Every watch has a story worth preserving.

07/19/2026

AWW Restoration #003

Not every watch restoration is dramatic.

Sometimes a quality watch simply needs someone willing to take the time to look a little closer.

This Citizen arrived not running. After opening the case, I found a clean movement with no signs of corrosion or battery leakage. A fresh battery brought it back to life.

From there it was all about the details—carefully cleaning the case and bracelet, inspecting the movement, photographing the watch, and making sure it was ready for its next owner.

One detail I debated was the decorative HSBC bracelet link. I considered removing it, but after a closer inspection I realized it was permanently attached. Rather than risk damaging the bracelet, I decided to leave it as part of the watch’s history. Every watch has lived a life before it reaches my bench, and sometimes preserving those little pieces of its story is the better decision.

This restoration wasn’t about replacing parts.

It was about respecting what was already there.

The watch is now cleaned, tested, running well, and listed for sale here in Arvada.

Every watch teaches something new.

Every watch has a story worth preserving.

⸻

Bench Notes

* Citizen Quartz (1012 movement)
* Fresh battery installed
* Movement inspected
* Bracelet and case cleaned
* Running and tested
* Restoration #003

If you have an old watch sitting in a drawer—even if it isn’t running—I’d be happy to take a look. Follow Arvada Watch Works to see future restorations, repair projects, and watches looking for their next chapter.

07/18/2026

Sometimes slowing down really does pay off.

A few days ago I shared that this project was on hold while I waited for the correct crystal to arrive. It turned out my first measurement wasn’t quite right, and I’m really glad I stopped instead of trying to make the wrong part fit.

The new crystal came in, I measured twice (okay…probably five times again 😄), and this time everything lined up perfectly.

I’ll admit, I was nervous about using the crystal press for the first time.

But once I started, it was actually much easier than I expected. The process was methodical, forgiving, and it reminded me that watch repair isn’t about forcing things—it’s about understanding how everything is designed to work together.

Watching that crystal press smoothly into place was incredibly satisfying.

This is my own watch—a gift from my wife—and now it’s back to the way it looked when it was new. No scratches. A crystal that’s clear and crisp again.

That feeling surprised me.

I don’t just enjoy fixing watches. I enjoy refreshing something that’s important to someone and getting to celebrate with them when they see it again.

This repair taught me a lot more than how to replace a crystal. It gave me confidence.

I can honestly say I’m looking forward to doing this again.

One watch at a time.

If you have a favorite watch that’s been sitting in a drawer because of a scratched crystal, dead battery, or another simple issue, I’d be happy to take a look.

Thanks for following along on this one. On to the next project.

Every watch has something to teach.

Every watch has a story worth preserving.

— Arvada Watch Works

07/18/2026

Part 2 – Finished!

Sometimes slowing down really does pay off.

A few days ago I shared that this project was on hold while I waited for the correct crystal to arrive. It turned out my first measurement wasn’t quite right, and I’m really glad I stopped instead of trying to make the wrong part fit.

The new crystal came in, I measured twice (okay…probably five times again 😄), and this time everything lined up perfectly.

I’ll admit, I was nervous about using the crystal press for the first time.

But once I started, it was actually much easier than I expected. The process was methodical, forgiving, and it reminded me that watch repair isn’t about forcing things—it’s about understanding how everything is designed to work together.

Watching that crystal press smoothly into place was incredibly satisfying.

This is my own watch—a gift from my wife—and now it’s back to the way it looked when it was new. No scratches. A crystal that’s clear and crisp again.

That feeling surprised me.

I don’t just enjoy fixing watches. I enjoy refreshing something that’s important to someone and getting to celebrate with them when they see it again.

This repair taught me a lot more than how to replace a crystal. It gave me confidence.

I can honestly say I’m looking forward to doing this again.

One watch at a time.

If you have a favorite watch that’s been sitting in a drawer because of a scratched crystal, dead battery, or another simple issue, I’d be happy to take a look.

Thanks for following along on this one. On to the next project.

Every watch has something to teach.

Every watch has a story worth preserving.

— Arvada Watch Works

07/17/2026

Sometimes the smallest repairs make the biggest difference.

Today I picked up several watches from a wonderful lady named Jenn.

She noticed my daughter was with me and, without hesitation, handed her a little unicorn watch and said she could have it.

My daughter’s face absolutely lit up.

When we got home, we did the very first thing every watchmaker should try before giving up on a quartz watch—we replaced the battery.

A few minutes later…

✨ Tick…tick…tick.

Her unicorn was alive.

Her and her sisters were so excited that they ran to their room and came back holding another treasure—her old Frozen watch with Anna and Elsa on it.

“Daddy, can you fix this one too?”

So we opened it up, installed another battery, and watched that one come back to life as well.

The smile on her face showed me why this hobby is so great.

It’s easy to look at inexpensive watches and think they aren’t worth repairing.

But watches aren’t always about money.

Sometimes they’re about memories.

Sometimes they’re a favorite birthday gift.

Sometimes they’re the watch a child wears every single day.

And sometimes, all they’re waiting for is a tiny battery to bring them back to life.

Even a child’s beloved watch deserves another chance.

Thanks again, Jenn, for making one little girl’s day. She hasn’t taken that unicorn watch off all evening.

That’s what watchmaking is really about.

⌚❤️

07/17/2026

Sometimes the smallest repairs make the biggest difference.

Today I picked up several watches from a wonderful lady named Jenn.

She noticed my daughter was with me and, without hesitation, handed her a little unicorn watch and said she could have it.

My daughter’s face absolutely lit up.

When we got home, we did the very first thing every watchmaker should try before giving up on a quartz watch—we replaced the battery.

A few minutes later…

✨ Tick…tick…tick.

Her unicorn was alive.

Her and her sisters were so excited that they ran to their room and came back holding another treasure—her old Frozen watch with Anna and Elsa on it.

“Daddy, can you fix this one too?”

So we opened it up, installed another battery, and watched that one come back to life as well.

The smile on her face showed me why this hobby is so great.

It’s easy to look at inexpensive watches and think they aren’t worth repairing.

But watches aren’t always about money.

Sometimes they’re about memories.

Sometimes they’re a favorite birthday gift.

Sometimes they’re the watch a child wears every single day.

And sometimes, all they’re waiting for is a tiny battery to bring them back to life.

Even a child’s beloved watch deserves another chance.

Thanks again, Jenn, for making one little girl’s day. She hasn’t taken that unicorn watch off all evening.

That’s what watchmaking is really about.

⌚❤️

07/15/2026

07/15/2026

Sometimes the biggest lesson is knowing when not to force something.

This weekend’s project was replacing the crystal on a watch that had taken a pretty hard hit.

What looked like a simple crystal replacement turned into a great reminder that every watch has something to teach you.

At one point I thought I had everything set up correctly…but the crystal refused to move. Instead of applying more pressure, I stopped, took a few measurements, and tried to understand how the watch was actually put together.

The solution ended up being surprisingly simple. I rotated the case 180 degrees, applied light pressure with the crystal press one more time, and the crystal popped free.

Along the way I learned a few things:

• Measure twice (or five times!)

• Sometimes the solution isn’t more force—it’s a different approach.

• Keep every original part until the repair is completely finished.

• Tiny details matter.

• If something feels wrong, stop. There’s usually a reason.

The replacement crystal is on order now, so this project is officially paused for a few days. I’m looking forward to putting it back together and giving this watch a second life.

One of the things I’m enjoying most about this hobby is that every repair teaches me something new.

If you’ve got a watch sitting in a drawer because of a dead battery, cracked crystal, or another simple issue, feel free to send me a picture. Even if I can’t help, I’m always happy to take a look and point you in the right direction.

To be continued…

Question: What’s something you’ve learned recently simply because you slowed down instead of pushing through?

Sometimes the biggest lesson is knowing when not to force something.

Every watch has something to teach you.