“How to open a HEUER stopwatch case” is a frequently asked question. How great and fun to look at the movement of your beautiful timer ! So, that’s a pleasure to give you few tips on the way to proceed.
IMPORTANT – BE CAREFUL !!!
Before reading the rest of this article and starting some manipulations, please keep in mind that if you do not feel right about what you are doing, have any doubts or difficulties, DO NOT DO try anything !!! Ask to a professional watchmaker, mostly if you want to open old timers with metallic shiny case which are harder to open.
Be also very cautious when using the case opener or the flat knife ! (*see disclaimer)
HEUER stopwatches concerned and not concerned by this article
concerned
This tutorial is right for all hand-held mecanical snap-in case HEUER stopwatches (which is the large part of HEUER stopwatches). They have a small space between their case and their case back. It mainly concerns century line stopwatches (with black anonysed case), fiberglass stopwatches (fiberglass is a hight-resistant black plastic), few economical models and all old shiny metallic case stopwatches which are the hardest to open .
concerned
fiber-glass stopwatch fiber-glass stopwatch century line stopwatch century line stopwatch old metalic stopwatch old metalic stopwatch
small space on a fiber-glass stopwatch small space on a century line stopwatch small space on an economical stopwatch small space on a shiny metallic stopwatch
not concerned
The opening process described below can not be applied for these models :
- economical plastic case stopwatches (trackmaster, can-am …)
- dashboard timers (montecarlo, superautovia, …)
- waterproof (or semi-waterproof) screwed case models
- wristtimers
- electronic stopwatches
- stopwatches with hinged case
plastic case stopwatch screwed case stopwatch electronical stopwatch dashboard timer (credit : john watches) hinged case wristtimer
Tools
Case opener
You can use a snap-in case opener, a watchmaker knife or a very flat knife.
case opener flat knife
Gloves or finger protections
It’s not necessary, but it protects your stopwatch from finger prints.
White jelewer gloves are used in these videos and pictures but medical gloves or watchmaker finger protections are a better option.
credit : nogueshorlogerie
How to proceed ?
All the process
This tutorial video explains all the stages to open a HEUER mecanical snap-in case stopwatch. The timer used is a century line model, quite easy to open (operation is harder with old style shiny metalic case models…be careful).
Focus on each step
Step 1 : find a space between the case and the case back
Step 2 : insert the case opener in this small space
Step 3 : push carrefuly the case opener in the space and turn gently it into the space
You can add your thumb over the case to get a better control of your movement.
Step 4 : remove carefully the back case to see the caliber
Warning : fiberglass gasket are sometimes damaged and sticky
Step 5 : close the case back
Put it back on the case and push firmly with you two hands. You should heard a “claps”. Inspect the case to be sure it’s correctly closed. It oftenly happens, a second pression is required to finish the operation.
Step 6 : remove caliber protection
Older stopwatches have a caliber protection. Repeat all step to remove and put it back again.
0 – caliber protection 1 – find a space 2- insert the case opener and pull down remove the protection put it back and push with your two hands
(*) disclaimer : ikonicstopwatch.com could NOT be held responsible in case of damage(s) on your stopwatch or injury, after you have executed the stopwatch open process described in this page.
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