Service: Buren Grand Prix with a Buren 410 Movement

I’ve had this Buren Grand Prix for a while. I think I bought it at an auction once to service and wear it.

It has a Buren 410 movement.

I like the weathered dial and the blued hands are a nice touch as well. Although I don’t often wear it, I decided to service it anyway.

Buren is one of those brands that are still under the radar and undervalued.

I’m sure that will end when people realize that they made quality watches with in-house movements. They mostly created dress watches with the occasional diver and chronograph. They were also one of the 12 manufacturers of the “Dirty Dozen“.

Of course, Buren will always be most famous for the Micro-rotor movement they created.

Disassembly

Remove any power from the mainspring. Let the crown slip between your thumb and index finger while you move the click away from the ratchet wheel.

Remove the balance and the pallets.

Remove the cannon pinion at the other side of the movement. That will make it easier when you’re lifting the wheel train.

Lift the wheel-train bridge and remove the escape wheel, the 4th wheel and the 3rd wheel.

In this particular movement, the center wheel is covered with the barrel bridge.

Remove the ratchet wheel and the crown wheel.

Lift the barrel bridge.

Lift the center wheel and the main barrel.

Turn the movement around and start with the bottom plate.

Remove the motion works and the keyless works. Don’t forget the balance capstone.

Pre-clean all the bearing jewels and the pallets with a peg wood (or a toothpick)

Clean all the parts in the watch cleaning machine.

Assembly

Start with the main barrel and the wheel train.

Refit the wheel-train bridge.

Fit the barrel bridge and re-install the crown wheel and the ratchet wheel.

Turn the movement around and begin with the keyless works.

After that, refit the motion works (without the hour wheel and the washer) as well.

Turn the movement around and fit the pallets and the pallet cock.

Replace the balance and watch the movement come back alive.

What do you think of this Buren Grand Prix? Do you have a similar one? Let me know in the comments below.