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Watch Case Ball

If you have a screw-back watch that won't open, get one of these plastic balls. They actually work, and they will not scratch the watch case.

I own the Pittsburgh watch case opener, and it will usually open watches. However, I have one favorite watch that defied the Pittsburgh tool. I read about the Watch Case Ball, and bought one online. Within five minutes of picking up the mail, the watch was open. (I had to inflate the ball; it's shipped flat.)

The ball is made of plastic. It's not actually sticky, but when you press it onto a watch back, it conforms to the surface and won't readily slip on it. Now I go to this tool first, because there's no chance of marring the watch case with it, and it works on all screw-back watches with no set-up at all.

-- Dan Hoyt 


Watch Case Opener Ball
$5

Available from Esslinger







Comments

 
#1 | Mon, 08-24-09 12:43
c-dub

That's kind of fascinating, isn't it? Do you suppose it was an accidental discovery? I don't know if I would instinctively reach for a rubber ball while trying to open a watch case.

 
#2 | Wed, 09-09-09 09:25
Cigarsam

How big are these? I wonder if they, or a bigger one would work to unscrew stuck photographic filters?

 
#3 | Wed, 09-09-09 10:09
elon

Cigarsam: For a sense of scale, take a look at this:
http://watchpart.co.uk/images/CASE%20BACK%20BALL%20WATCH%2004.jpg

I'd say it's big enough to fit on a filter with a 58mm thread, but whether or not it will do the trick, you'll have to let us know.-es

 

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