My first DSM

[egomon]

I have waited for my first DSM watch too long and a couple weeks ago I had a change to guy one on ebay : Item number: 390444240075

The seller stated that it did not work and only couple of segment did flash so I was hopping that it might be repairable. The watch came in today and I opened it up following the tutorials in the crazy watch home page here: http://www.crazywatches.pl/jules-jurgensen-optcom-optel-dsm-lcd-1972.

Watch had same minor contact errors between metal contacts and display. I had to do cleaning and straightening the metal contacts procedure couple of times to get it right and all the segments light up.
But I'm not completely satisfied with it. Here is why...

I do not know what batteries it needs to work properly (brightness of the segments). The more segments are lit the dimmer is the display and I think this is due to my batteries I use, so if anyone knows the correct batteries please let me know. Actually its not dimmer but the segments do not go to the full brightness all the way..when time is 18:58 or something like that but when I adjust the time to 1:11 then the numbers are Very bright...
But even if I do not get properly working watch( properly lit segments at all the time) I'm happy to get it working as it is now.

Here is the photo of the module after cleaning:

[Kasper]

still an incredible nice watch...white silver digits on black. And a few days back someone said to me that the new digital watches are not so bad...you must be kidding me

i still have to see a dsm watch in flesh but i hoped that the day was allready here..just beautiful. Congrats!

[simone]

Great watch! Congratulations...i'd like to have one someday.....
It's difficult to find any DSM
Anyway great catch...a milestone of digital era

[dutchsiberia]

awesome watch! (very jealous) No experience with dsm watches, but it looks like a power supply problem? If you are sure the battery provides enough power (alkaline? Silveroxide?) maybe some more cleaning is needed or a part is worn/defect.... (transistor? capacitor?)

[charger105]

DSM watches are cool egomon .
I've got a few, but I can't remeber if intensity changes with the amount of lit segments. I wouldn't be surprised if this was normal. They are of course extremely early and it's possible they hadn't perfected things yet.
What brand is it ? Is the case in nice condition ?

Rgds.

[egomon]

Hi. I tried new batteries in, it is a little bit better but still the problem remains: the more segments are lit the more dimmer the numbers will get. I think the problem is with the hours and minutes advance button. If I use that the display sometimes goes "black" means all the segments disappear. The picture is taken on the "good" angle so segments are from this angle brighter then on other angles.
I think it the button has a spring that will get the setting button back to netral but in this watch it does not work..but im not sure.

Does someone in this forum knows DSM watches and want to take a good look at my watch and perhaps make necessary repairs to it if necessary/ possible!?

The case is in fairly good shape, some little scratches and that's it. The band was new leather imitation and I took it off.

[bucko170]

I purchased one of these watches a year or so ago from Greg Zanoni the inventors son who at least until very recently was still dealing in the repair and sale of the watches, I no longer have his contact details but if you contact member Azimuth he might be able to put you in touch with him.

The contrast on the display is not as clear as the modern LCD watches, quite visible from some angles from other angles it looks like a mirror and the digits are not visible.

[egomon]

First when I put the batteries in and I saw the numbers I was thinking that there is something wrong with my watch. The numbers ware so dim on some angles but very bright on others. I did not have any other previous experiences with the DSM watches only preference photos of the watches on different forums.
On the photos the numbers are always white on black surface and I automatically assumed that my watch is not working properly :). But now I found out that my watch is working properly ( except when a lot of segments are active, then the numbers are getting dimmer). I must say that I'm a little bit disappointed, I was looking forward to my perfectly white segments on a black surface at every angle, but this is not a case :)

Never the less I really love the watch and especially that I could repair the watch my self!! And that it still works after so many years and tath it is a great milestone of the digital watch history.

[dutchsiberia]

Working perfectly or not, you've still got a very rare piece of history. I would be even happy if only one digit was working

[egomon]

I found a matching band for the watch on my desk drawer. I think the more time lapses the brighter the display is.
I think that perhaps it was without electrical current for so long and when I put in a new batterie it needed just a little bit time do get the full brightens. There is still a little bit dimmer display when time is 12:58 or something like that but not so bad as it was two days ago.
I'm very happy to get that watch.
I have wanted one for so long and finely I own one

Perhaps in the future I will re polish the glass and restore the metal case but not now .

Here are some pict:


The last one is from another angel and here you cans see that the numbers are not so visible on different angles.

[vpn]

It's beautiful! And it's not in bad conditions I see. That band matches the watch perfectly! I like a lot DSM watches too, and this one is definitely fascinating, it's just like the Pulsar P1 of LCD watches. Great find!

[Kasper]

yeah and in that quality..almost looking nos. Very nice!

[egomon]

Hi again.
I'm happy to say now that the watch is working perfectly. No more dimness when a lot of segments are lit. I think it needed a little time and electrical current to get it working properly again. It hase been without a batteries for a very long time. And it ceeps perfect time as well

[70's_gal]

Beautiful!! Totally jealous...i'd also love to find one for my collection (like I need any more watches). I''ve never seen one in the wild, so I'll just vicariously through yours.


~Sherry.