07 May 2014, 20:33
...Just as the title says, I've always liked the Avia SGT Quartz, but there was something I haven't fully appreciated: it's the case. I'm not saying I don't like it, of course, it's just that I would love to try something different. So, the perfect occasion came when I've seen this broken FE Optel HS-1 for sale...
And so, I pulled the trigger. The broken FE Optel arrived in the morning, and has the case I like most, the so called "HS-1" variant, which was how Optel called this model, both in DSM and FE versions. So, I've swapped the casebacks, although it hasn't been an easy job, for various reasons:
-The crystal was loose, so I had to put it back in its place
-The gasket was so hardened that it was almost glued to the caseback, so I had to use a lot of force in order to open the watch, without forgetting that it crumbled into pieces as soon as I've opened the case...
-When I've put the DSM module into the new case, it began to have connectivity problems, so I had to disassemble the module various times, in order to bend the panel contacts in order to keep the power of the DSM panel constant
Besides these issues, I put some thin pieces of rubber in the corner of the case, in order to not keep the caseback loose and I've managed to successfully transplant the casebacks. Here we go, the Avia got its makeover, becoming an Optel HS-1 (with an SGT caseback)!
After I took those pictures, I've been taken by curiosity, to see if the other Optel works, or if it's just good for the parts drawer. So, I've cleaned the battery contact, put a new battery and...
Oh, despite the smudgy display, the watch works, and even keeps good time. The only little issues are the lack of a crown and the broken panel. I had to use a tiny screwdriver in order to set the watch... Better than nothing! And here are both of them in a group picture:
I must say that the HS-1 case, IMHO, has a better feeling on the wrist than the SGT one. They're both made by EPSA after all, but I prefer more the new case, due to its higher thickness, the larger crystal which allows more light on the display, making it more readable, and the way the crystal itself is inserted, as it must be pushed from the exterior, rather than the interior, preventing to put pressure on the DSM panel, risking to crack it. About the gasket, well, I'll carry on, after all both watches aren't water resistant nor I have exposed them to water, despite the Avia case still has the original gasket in good conditions.
By the way, is there someone who has a spare panel and a caseback with a second generation crown? If someone has those parts I'd be grateful to repair the other Optel, so I could have both the DSM and the FE version. What I've done on my Avia is something just for aesthetical reasons, let's say a little mod. Hope you like the result!
P.S. One of the things I appreciate most of Optels is that no matter what you do, no matter what happens, they always work. It seems that they could suddenly die, but with a bit of tinkering, even with non-professional tools, they always come back to life. They are immortal watches, that's why I love them.
And so, I pulled the trigger. The broken FE Optel arrived in the morning, and has the case I like most, the so called "HS-1" variant, which was how Optel called this model, both in DSM and FE versions. So, I've swapped the casebacks, although it hasn't been an easy job, for various reasons:
-The crystal was loose, so I had to put it back in its place
-The gasket was so hardened that it was almost glued to the caseback, so I had to use a lot of force in order to open the watch, without forgetting that it crumbled into pieces as soon as I've opened the case...
-When I've put the DSM module into the new case, it began to have connectivity problems, so I had to disassemble the module various times, in order to bend the panel contacts in order to keep the power of the DSM panel constant
Besides these issues, I put some thin pieces of rubber in the corner of the case, in order to not keep the caseback loose and I've managed to successfully transplant the casebacks. Here we go, the Avia got its makeover, becoming an Optel HS-1 (with an SGT caseback)!
After I took those pictures, I've been taken by curiosity, to see if the other Optel works, or if it's just good for the parts drawer. So, I've cleaned the battery contact, put a new battery and...
Oh, despite the smudgy display, the watch works, and even keeps good time. The only little issues are the lack of a crown and the broken panel. I had to use a tiny screwdriver in order to set the watch... Better than nothing! And here are both of them in a group picture:
I must say that the HS-1 case, IMHO, has a better feeling on the wrist than the SGT one. They're both made by EPSA after all, but I prefer more the new case, due to its higher thickness, the larger crystal which allows more light on the display, making it more readable, and the way the crystal itself is inserted, as it must be pushed from the exterior, rather than the interior, preventing to put pressure on the DSM panel, risking to crack it. About the gasket, well, I'll carry on, after all both watches aren't water resistant nor I have exposed them to water, despite the Avia case still has the original gasket in good conditions.
By the way, is there someone who has a spare panel and a caseback with a second generation crown? If someone has those parts I'd be grateful to repair the other Optel, so I could have both the DSM and the FE version. What I've done on my Avia is something just for aesthetical reasons, let's say a little mod. Hope you like the result!
P.S. One of the things I appreciate most of Optels is that no matter what you do, no matter what happens, they always work. It seems that they could suddenly die, but with a bit of tinkering, even with non-professional tools, they always come back to life. They are immortal watches, that's why I love them.
), so there's an high chance that they always work again after a cleanup and a realignment of the display contacts, which get misaligned very easily, even if you close the watch.
