Hello everybody, I am new! (Aerospace GMT content)

[ticothijs82]

Hello,

I am Tico and I live in The Netherlands, yesterday I picked up a Aerospace GMT. It's my first GMT watch, I allready owned several Swiss , Japanese and Russian watches.

I really like the humbleness of the Aerospace:



The Aerospace had two Dutch owners previously, and the first Dutch owner bought it from a German watch enthousiast (sale topic from the past):http://uhrforum.de/vintage-zodiac-aearospace-gmt-t123716

Any information about this watch is welcome!



Thank you for reading.

[ticothijs82]

Dear readers,

today I noticed,  that the bezel comes of the case a bit too easy. It seems that the bezel snaps to the case, because of small centrepunch dings? Like on this photo:



Is this the right way? Or am I missing out, on one of those thin spring wires?

Thanks in advance.

[Butch]

Hi Tico,

I am sorry I did not welcome you before. I tried to take some pictures and post them but am having some issues with my PC it seems.

Early on the metal bezels came first and they just popped on. Then they made the acrylic filed bezels like yours next. And they just popped on too. But, as anyone who owns one like that will tell you, they pop off pretty easily too! So then Zodiac started making them with the retaining spring.

I have never really looked at the cases like you have so I do not know what to say about all those little protrusions you have circled. I do know that the detent ball you see there is in different positions around the case for all the variations of the bezels they have made over the years though.

One of the toughest things about a Sea Wolf or a GMT is not only finding another bezel if you lose one, but finding the RIGHT bezel. It seems that they often tweaked the design of them and not all metal bezels fit all metal bezel cases. Just as all acrylic filled bezels will not fit every acrylic filled case for them as well.

[ticothijs82]

Thanks for your reply. I could experiment, with a piece of 0.5mm spring tempered inox wire. Or maybe my watchmaker knows a solution. Or is there a known way of solving this "problem"? Any help appreciated, losing the bezel would be a shame.

[Butch]

Silicone sealant, which can be removed later if needed. But then it will not turn...

[jon p]

butch, great idea, better to not turn instead of it falling off and gone! i have had great luck with BWG tightening mine, i dont know what he does but he worked wonders on my one owner black dial SW. it had become SO loose i was afraid to wear it.

[ticothijs82]

butch, great idea, better to not turn instead of it falling off and gone! i have had great luck with BWG tightening mine, i dont know what he does but he worked wonders on my one owner black dial SW. it had become SO loose i was afraid to wear it.

Hi Jon,

who is BWG? I am very curious about his methode.

Thank you.

[Butch]

BWG is the watchmaker that I recommend to service watches here. He does not sell parts nor give lessons though.

[ticothijs82]

Hmm, okay Butch I understand. I am not thinking about sending my Aerospace to the States, so I am hoping my own watchmaker can help me out.

Greetings

[JDS (Ohio)]

It's still a beauty of a watch though, even if it has parts availability problems.  Congrats!

[incountry]

Hi Tico,
That's a real nice looking GMT you have there.  Consider using the sealant as was suggested earlier by Butch; that way you will not have to part with your watch for any length of time.