HELP!!!!!!! My RXW Plasmir Milgraph is DEAD

[Revolvingjones]

Hello Gents,
As mentioned a few days ago my RXW Plasmir Milgraph has stopped winding and in the winding position would only move the hands. I took the watch to a watch maker and he phoned earlier today with the bad news. The Stem is shot and so is the spring and something else (was to shocked to remember the something else bit). Any way, he said that he is unable to locate replacement parts for the watch as it is Chinese movement and he has said the only option is to find a replacement movement. So, can any of you gentlemen offer me any advice on either where to get spare parts or where to get and what movement I need. To be honest I am not totally concerned about what movement it is as long as the watch works as I think the Plasmir is stunning and I bought it for the looks not the movement. For those of you that suggest i seek another watch maker this is the third I have tried and the only one that would actually open it up to have a look, he came highly recommended by a colleague at work who gets his numerous Rolex's and Breitlings serviced every couple of years and my colleague is one fussy sod.
So gents, any help would be appreciated. Another option would be for me to get hold of Ken at Ken trading but I have no contact details.
All the best
Steve

[Karl]

Thats a shame Steve :( sure someone will be able to give advise tho.


karl

[quoll]

Cousins carry quite a wide range of Chinese movements. This is their data sheet:

http://www.cousinsuk.com/PDF/categories ... tChart.pdf

If yours is an auto chronograph, I think what you will need is one of the Asian 7750 clones though. There is one on eBay for £75 -ish.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ASIAN-CHRONOGRAPH ... dZViewItem

[Daddelvirks]

The same happened to mine :evil: .
I had two, but never again, I sold the other.
The broken one I trampled and smashed it in blind fury.
But I'd try the replacement option if I were you :) .

Cheers,

Daddel.

[Revolvingjones]

Hello Gents,
Thanks for the replies. I did a little searching and found this.

The movement in the bi-compax version of the RXW Plasmir Milgraph is the ST1901 movement by Tianjin/Seagull, a Chinese manufacturer. The movement is sometimes referred to as the ST19, but there are variants which are denoted by the 01, 02, etc. The movement is generally considered a replication of the Swiss Venus 175.

So, has any one any suggestions???????

All the best
Steve

[Revolvingjones]

Gents,
I found this as well.

First the basic data of the ST19 movement:

Made by Tianjin Seagull Watch (Group) Ltd. Co. - in Chinese: ??????????????
(The worlds largest manufatcurer of mechanical watch movements)
Link to the movement division:
http://www.tjseagull.com/default.asp
(Chinese only, with a few English subtitles)

Movement production in:
Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, P.R. China
Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, P.R. China

Column wheel chronograph movement

Data for the ST1901 variant:
2 register, small seconds at 9, 30 min counter at 3
Handwound
Diameter 31.3 mm

21600bph

Factory acceptance values:
Daily rate +30 to -10 sec/day
Power reserve 38 +/-2 hours

Actual observed values in "real life watches":
Accuracy +15 to +5 sec/day (fits into the statistical expected range) with some samples keeping exceptionally good time at +2 to +5
Power reserve 36 to 50(!) hours. The reason for this is that the mainspring basically can deliver a power reseve of 50+ hours, but to reach this a perfectly assembled and lubricated movement is necessary. In Chinese serial production this can not be guaranteed.

Seagull does not bother with offering "higher grade" movements receiving special treatment during assembly. Would they do so, these might certainly run at C.O.S.C. chronometer standards with the power reserve in the above mentioned range.

Short history:
The ST1901 movement is nearly identical to the Venus 175 - parts are interchangeable. But the movement is not a copy or clone. It actually is the Venus 175, because Seagull has purchased the tooling from Venus in the early 1960ies. Seagull did copy the tooling to be able to produce at 2 locations. Differences or improvements to the Venus 175 are the increased beat (the Venus only had 18000 bph) and an added incabloc style shock absorber.

A drawing (reduced size for posting):

Original size can be found here: http://www.tjseagull.com/wkt/1901.jpg

The movement comes in 6 variants:

ST1901
2 register,
small seconds at 9,
30 min counter at 3
(Ex Venus 175 - parts compatible, Venus parts can be used for repair)

Any idea where I can get the movement.

All the best
Steve

[dforgrieve]

Steve.

I hadn't realized you were having such trouble with one of these.

Good luck in finding a replacement movement.

Dave

[John Vargas]

If you really like the watch, and your watchmaker is up to it, put a real Swiss Venus 175 Movement into it.

[ke6507]

Since the parts are intechangeable with the V175, a new stem and mainspring will cost less than $15.00 from Jules Borel. Your watchmaker should be able to order from there.

The other option is to cruise the bay and local boot sales for a watch with a Venus 175 movement. Have it rebuilt and replace the ST19 in your current watch. Should be a drop-in and IMO will make for a better quality watch. Then you can take the ST19, put it in a jar cap and pour in a clear casting resin. When dry, remove from the cap, buff out and it makes for a nice beer coaster.

DaveB

[WatchScout]

Nutty but valid suggestion, I think. Made me laugh. :D :thumbup:

[kato]

The Alpha "Paul Newman" uses the same movement if its the ST19, you can pick one up new on Ebay around £50 or order direct from Alpha Watch for £60 delivered,
Both of mine have been very reliable and accurate.

Keith.

[Dibetu]

While I have no experience whether the parts of a Venus 175 and Seagull ST19 are indentical, it is not the case with the other Seagull clones, while the movements are of the same design and size, the parts are not all interchangeable in the ST 24, ST 26, Seagull 3620, therfore I dought it is the case in the ST19.

[angeche]

The Alpha "Paul Newman" uses the same movement if its the ST19, you can pick one up new on Ebay around £50 or order direct from Alpha Watch for £60 delivered,
Both of mine have been very reliable and accurate.

Keith.

Yep, I have looked at this. Buy the alpha, strip the movement and sell the case. You may even make money out of the problem!

http://www.alpha-watch.com/details.php?myid=437

:wink:

[angeche]

The Alpha "Paul Newman" uses the same movement if its the ST19, you can pick one up new on Ebay around £50 or order direct from Alpha Watch for £60 delivered,
Both of mine have been very reliable and accurate.

Keith.

Yep, I have looked at this. Buy the alpha, strip the movement and sell the case. You may even make money out of the problem!

http://www.alpha-watch.com/details.php?myid=437

:wink:

If fact, I have just ordered one of those. I have also a Milgraph, and I want to be sure I have a replacement movement. And for 100 euros I have a nice Daytona looking watch plus a GMT with the same aspect as the fake R...X I buy on my trips to Asia. Good tip Keith :mrgreen: