Sherpa Guide GMT bezel holding

[zacharyj]

Hi fellow Enicar fans!

I've just picked up my third Enicar and a piece I've been after for a while: a Sherpa Guide MkIII

I got it for a good price but it does need a small degree of restoration. Note that the red bezel ring was supplied separately. I have practiced a bit of watch servicing on some other pieces of mine but a watch of this value I will probably send away to get serviced. I will however sort out a few of the issues myself, first and foremost being that the GMT inner bezel is loose. If you tip the watch upside down the inner bezel actually drops down into the crystal!

I have a suspicion that the crystal is not correct. From the research I've done it should have a tension ring on the inside of the crystal and that's what holds the GMT bezel in place. I have learned that a GS stepped XHD 35 1/4 is a perfect replacement but one has to reuse the original tension ring.

Can anybody confirm whether this is correct? It seems GS don't sell tension rings with their crystals and I can't find anything similar from any other crystal manufacturers. Any suggestions where I might get a replacement tension ring or may I have to attempt fabricating one myself?

Thanks!

 

[HorologyBiology]

You are right concerning the crystal tension ring. These are virtually impossible to find. I was after one a few years back for a Super Divette and in the end I just had one made. This would probably be your best option. I don't have the connection anymore for this sorry.

Concerning the red pointer, you also need to make sure you have the right one for the bezel that's on the watch. Some have a bevelled edge, and some have a stepped edge. The world time bezel will marry to to the correct one and only the correct one. There is also know way to know which one you have until you take the world time bezel off and inspect it.

 

[zacharyj]

Concerning the red pointer, you also need to make sure you have the right one for the bezel that's on the watch. Some have a bevelled edge, and some have a stepped edge. The world time bezel will marry to to the correct one and only the correct one. There is also know way to know which one you have until you take the world time bezel off and inspect it.

Hi "Mr Enicar" - I love your videos and your teardown video of the 1146 has been super helpful!

Thanks for confirming my suspicions. I own a lathe so I have an idea of how I might do about machining a replacement tension ring. I have the outer bezel off so I'll investigate the red pointer ring as well.

I got the movement out last night and began investigation. Unfortunately it seems I've not done too well with this purchase as although it runs the watch has a few issues

The seller included a NOS GMT hand to replace the poor condition original but as another Enicar enthusiast has since explained to me there are actually two versions of this and of course the Sherpa Guide hand is impossible to find! So it seems I might have to try to refurbish the original hand.


Of bigger concern however it seems that the 1146 specific GMT minute wheel has been replaced with a creative arrangement of two wheels sandwiched together. It would have worked initially but over time the wheels slipped and this facilitates slop in the minute wheel, causing issues particularly when trying to adjust the time. I've had a look around and thus far have had no luck in finding a replacement (plenty of minute wheel part 260 are available; just none of the 1146 specific version). Does anybody have any tips on where to find one?


Other than these issues the movement condition doesn't seem horrendous. The brass parts are all clean enough although there are a couple of rust spots on some of the steel parts. A good clean should bring them up nicely.

 

[Watchyouwant]

Did you ask him? eBay listing locally..... 125184317204 item. Good luck. Achim

 

[zacharyj]

Thanks Achim, I have sent him a message. I did find a Swiss seller who has some in stock but the price was eye-watering.

I am suspicious of the setting wheel as well, since upon further investigation it seems to be a sloppy fit on its stud.

 

[HorologyBiology]

Hi "Mr Enicar" - I love your videos and your teardown video of the 1146 has been super helpful!

Thanks for confirming my suspicions. I own a lathe so I have an idea of how I might do about machining a replacement tension ring. I have the outer bezel off so I'll investigate the red pointer ring as well.

I got the movement out last night and began investigation. Unfortunately it seems I've not done too well with this purchase as although it runs the watch has a few issues

The seller included a NOS GMT hand to replace the poor condition original but as another Enicar enthusiast has since explained to me there are actually two versions of this and of course the Sherpa Guide hand is impossible to find! So it seems I might have to try to refurbish the original hand.
View attachment 5674

Of bigger concern however it seems that the 1146 specific GMT minute wheel has been replaced with a creative arrangement of two wheels sandwiched together. It would have worked initially but over time the wheels slipped and this facilitates slop in the minute wheel, causing issues particularly when trying to adjust the time. I've had a look around and thus far have had no luck in finding a replacement (plenty of minute wheel part 260 are available; just none of the 1146 specific version). Does anybody have any tips on where to find one?
View attachment 5673 View attachment 5675

Other than these issues the movement condition doesn't seem horrendous. The brass parts are all clean enough although there are a couple of rust spots on some of the steel parts. A good clean should bring them up nicely.

Hi Zacharyj,

Thanks for the kind words and glad to hear it helped.
I think I have some nos Sherpa Guide sets still available. Hour, Minute and GMT. (no sweeper)

Regarding your other issue... Why do I get the feeling this came from Indonesia?
You are right, the minute wheel on the 1146 is only for the that cal, it has an extra gear on top to connect to the GMT wheel. They really are impossible to find and very expensive if they do. I literally have 2 Guides sitting with me owned by a collector with the same issue (Indonesian Guides butchered) so there is nothing to be done until a correct minute wheel is located.

I'm surprised the makeshift wheel didn't rip the ruby stud out as well with all the extra tension while trying to set the time.

I wish you the best of luck with this one but I would be lying if I said it will be an easy cheap find. Sorry mate

 

[zacharyj]

Regarding your other issue... Why do I get the feeling this came from Indonesia?

Yes, I had begun to suspect the same thing. I'm in Australia and purchased from an Australian seller, but it's very likely its previous home was elsewhere. I overpaid for it, but at least I have the skills to be able to repair it myself so the ultimate bill won't be so bad.

@Watchyouwant was very helpful and his tipoff has scored me a replacement minute wheel. I'm just waiting for it to arrive. There was a seller in Switzerland with some but I felt his price to be extortionate.
I've also discovered a very useful site www.emmywatch.com which has cross references for all the Enicar parts! 1146 shares many parts with 1166. Using that I've been able to order from Cousins new replacements for a couple of parts in the setting works that were a bit sloppy, so I'm feeling very confident that I'm going to get this movement back to top condition!

I'm surprised the makeshift wheel didn't rip the ruby stud out as well with all the extra tension while trying to set the time.

I've been very careful with the ruby stud while investigating!

You'll be glad to hear that after I heard your rant in one of your videos I have ordered a pair of brass tweezers too. It makes a lot of sense