In this video I restore a Rare Swedish Military Watch from Lemania, a now-defunct Swiss watch manufacturer. This model was exclusively sold to the Swedish military during the 1950s, named "Tg 195" (which isn't truely known what it stands for) and it has a very special stop/reset and start function. While rare worldwide, it is slightly more common in Sweden due to its original distribution.
Instagram: / watcheyesone
Detailed restoration:
I purchased this watch at an auction at a great discount since several parts were missing, preventing it from functioning properly. Additionally, I didn’t verify with the auction house whether the watch was working—I got caught up in the bidding frenzy! 😆
Tasks in This Project
*Disassembly & Inspection
The first step was to take the watch apart and inspect all the components. I needed to be careful as there was high radioactive radiation emitting from the watch dial and its hands. Something not shown in the video was an issue with the case back—it couldn’t be screwed down properly. Upon closer examination, I noticed some thread damage on the case, though it wasn’t too severe. Further measurements revealed that the case back was slightly elliptical, likely bent many years ago. I carefully bent it back to improve the fit.
*Cleaning the Watch Parts
I cleaned all the components using my DIY watch cleaning machine, except for the balance wheel and pallet fork, which I manually cleaned in naphtha before running the machine.
*Sourcing the Missing Parts
Since many parts were missing, I had to go on a hunt. Surprisingly, I quickly found a seller with some remaining stock, allowing me to order almost everything I needed—very lucky! However, one screw was unavailable, meaning I had to manufacture it myself.
*Manufacturing a Custom Screw
To make the missing screw, I used my 100-year-old manually operated Lorch lathe, which I bought at an auction. Interestingly, both the lathe and the hand-driven wheel are from the same brand—Lorch—making them a perfect match!
One major challenge was that the screw had an unusual diameter of 1.15 mm. Standard thread dies only come in 1.10 mm or 1.20 mm, so I had to experiment to achieve the correct threading. Through multiple tests, I managed to cut the thread successfully by aiming for around 1.16 mm in diameter, as anything below 1.15 mm wouldn’t grip properly.
*Restoring the Watch Crystal & Hands
I polished the acrylic crystal using 240- and 400-grit sandpaper, followed by Polywatch and green Dialux polish paste (not shown in the video). I wanted to keep the old crystal which has its character. Next, I removed the old, cracked lume from the hour, minute, and seconds hands. I then repainted them in a color that closely matches the original lume.
*Reassembly & Final Adjustments
Once the watch was fully assembled, I checked its performance. The results were great—around 270° amplitude, with stable performance in both horizontal and vertical positions. This suggests the watch will keep time well when worn.
One small issue remained: the second hand wasn’t perfectly aligned at 12 o’clock when resetting via the button on the case. The reset mechanism doesn’t provide a firm grip, making precise positioning random. Rather than risk breaking the delicate second hand by reopening the watch, I decided to leave it as is.
If you enjoyed this video, don’t forget to hit the Like button and maybe leave a comment! More restorations are coming soon. Thanks for watching! 😊
Some of the watch parts were pre-cleaned and then cleaned in my DIYwatchcleaner: / @diywatchcleaner
My gear and other products, affiliate links*:
Sony A7IV*: https://amzn.to/4dgokXv
Tamron 28-75 f2.8 sony e (Not G2): https://amzn.to/3xEVvRj
Sigma 70mm f/2.8 dg macro sony e: https://amzn.to/3O5xgCM
Timegrapher*: https://amzn.to/3xE2oT4
This is not a tutorial video, I’m just a hobbyist and might do things incorrectly.
Intro movie:
From: / @kallakrigetenhistoria
• Filmen - Krigsmakten 1967
Music:
"Scott Buckley - Legionnaire" is under a Creative Commons (BY 4.0) license:
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
/ musicbyscottb
Music powered by BreakingCopyright: • 💣 Copyright Free Military Music - "Le...
My channel :
/ watcheyes
*LINKS USED IN THE DESCRIPTION MAY OR MAY NOT BE AFFILIATE LINKS
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.By using the affiliate links I earn a small fee of your purchase with no extra cost. This will support my channel so I can increase the quality of my videos. Thank you for the support!