The watch that really...made Rolex before the sports watches.
I just finished servicing this for our friend Adam78.
I've literally worked on probably a hundred of these 630NA calibres.
It's a seen one seen 'em all kind of thing at this point usually....
The movement is unusual compared to the other watches that were out there at the time, but once you know it, it can be seem a little routine.
I felt like showing main portion of this one in its renewed state. This movement is in extremely nice condition. Some watches just have a feel. This particular NA just fell together. It was a sincere pleasure to work on. The only variant from stock on the main portion is the micro regulator has been shucked. This was obviously done because to make this one run in time after either changing the mainspring or staffing and re-poising the wheel or a complete balance replacement at some point, the restricted adjustments of the micro wouldn't let it run slow enough.
One thing you learn......after a many experiences with these is...if it ain't broke...don't fix it. :-) I could have added some timing washers and centered the regulator and put a micro regulator back on...but it might not have performed as well. The watch keeps beautiful time through the positions.
The plates show a few "tracks" in 70 years but they are some of the nicest unmolested I've ever seen. Even the bright polish on the sides is not cloudy.
The screw heads are very nice. They show use but no big slips.
The autowind has been jeweled with 6 jewels to compensate for wear in the plates. It is the freest spinning I have ever worked on....it's not the cleanest job of jeweling I've ever seen but boy is it effective!
The watch was suffering from a broken lower pivot on the rotor axle.
Luckily...I have a few and now she's ready to go!
I dug the old lead gasket out of the crown and replaced with a 530 gasket, replaced the back gasket and water tested the case empty. Doesn't leak either :-)
I say for most people with these don't tempt fate and I make no guarantees but if you fell in the pool with this one 99% you'd be okay.
The watch itself is just wonderful.
