Roamer with MST 414 movement

Service: Roamer Dress Watch with MST 414 Movement

I bought this Roamer on eBay to restore. I don’t do that as much as I used to but I still like to have a project watch to work on every now and then.

Like most Roamer watches, it has an in-house movement. This particular watch is powered by the MST 414 movement which has a micro regulator so it can be regulated very accurately.

The movement, the ‘R-logo’, and the fact that the case back has the Swiss cross and 4 patent numbers indicate that the watch is from 1966.

If you look closely, you’ll also see “Pm” just right of the number 6 on the chapter ring. That stands for Promethium, a lume that they used in the 1960s after they stopped using Radium and before they started using Tritium.

The winding of the crown was difficult and the crystal was damaged. The watch did run, but it needed to be serviced and regulated.

Disassembly

Make sure to remove all the power from the mainspring before you start working on a movement. This is to prevent damaging the escapement while working on the wheel train.

Move the click away from the ratchet wheel while slowly letting the crown slip between your thumb and index finger. Don’t let it snap because that might damage the mainspring.

Lift the balance and the pallets and store them somewhere safe.

Roamer with MST 414 movement
Balance and pallets removed. The movement looks clean but if you look closer you’ll see dirt and little hairs on the ratchet wheel. The jewel holes are also filled with old hardened lubrication.

Turn the movement around and remove the cannon pinion. You can’t lift the center wheel later if you don’t remove the cannon pinion at this stage.

Remove the ratchet wheel and the crown wheel (reverse-fretted screw) and lift the barrel bridge.

Roamer with MST 414 movement
Ratchet wheel, crown wheel, and barrel bridge removed.

Lift the wheel-train bridge and remove the escape wheel, the third wheel, the center seconds wheel, and the mainspring barrel.

Roamer with MST 414 movement
The wheel-train bridge, center seconds wheel, third wheel, and escape wheel removed.

Remove the center wheel cock and lift the center wheel.

Flip the movement around and start with the bottom plate.

Roamer with MST 414 movement
Bottom plate with visible old hardened lubrication in the keyless works.

As you can see, there’s a lot of old grease in the keyless works, especially on the set lever spring and the return bar. I cleaned as much as possible with peg wood.

Remove the motion works and the keyless works.

Don’t forget the KIF Duofix of the escape wheel. It’s technically not a shock protection system, just a cap jewel with a spring to hold it in place. Gently hold down the spring with a peg wood when you remove it because it will fly across the room if you don’t.

Pre-clean the pivot holes and bearing jewels with peg wood.

Clean all the parts in the watch cleaning machine.

Assembly

First of all, lubricate the cap jewel of the KIF Duofix and reinstall it with the spring.

Fit the center wheel, the center-wheel cock, and the mainspring barrel.

Roamer with MST 414 movement
Center wheel, center-wheel cock, and mainspring barrel reinstalled.

Place the third wheel, the center seconds wheel, and the escape wheel in position. Install the wheel train bridge.

Roamer with MST 414 movement
The wheel train and the wheel-train bridge are placed in position.

Install the barrel bridge, the crown wheel, and the ratchet wheel. Don’t forget the bushing for the crown wheel.

Roamer with MST 414 movement
The barrel bridge, ratchet wheel, and crown wheel are reinstalled.

Turn the movement around and fit the motion works and the keyless works.

Roamer with MST 414 movement
The bottom plate is completely reinstalled except for the hour wheel and the washer.

Flip the movement to the top plate and reinstall the pallets (give the watch a few winds so you can check the working of the pallets). When you place the balance, the movement should come alive.

Roamer with MST 414 movement

Now it’s time to remove the Incabloc chatons and capstones. Use peg wood to clean the capstone before you clean it with One Dip or something similar. Lubricate the capstones and reassemble the shock protection system on both sides of the movement.

Place the hour wheel and washer in position, fit the dial and continue with casing the movement. I fitted a new top glass because the old crystal was too damaged.

There was a lot of dirt and grease around the tube and inside the crown. I used peg wood and an old toothbrush to remove most of it and then I cleaned them in the ultrasonic cleaner.

I slightly lubricated the tube with KT-22 grease and the crown works very smoothly again.

Roamer with MST 414 movement

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

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13 thoughts on “Service: Roamer Dress Watch with MST 414 Movement”

  1. hi hav a roamer ladies/small gents not sure it is 17 jewells it has rw above the name on face having a haed job dating it

  2. Buenas, me gustaría mandar una foto de un roamer ( de mi abuelo) el cual por más que busco por Internet no encuentro pistas de él. Agradecería a alguien que se ponga en contacto con migo : rafaelvaldesestudillo@live.com y le mando fotos, por si puede ayudarme. Gracias

  3. what a nice article! Recently I am the happy owner of a brand new New Old Stock Roamer MST 414 ref18048 (1960 ??) and I like it 🙂

  4. I have a roamer watch 17 jewel MST 414 when was anfibio made it is waterproof does not say Brevete’ though what price range for them?

  5. It’s fascinating to see this process of disassembly. Thanks a lot, Melvin. I have a 414 that’s quite similar to your example, except for the logo, which is a golden metal applied piece with RW printed above in black. I suspect the hours and seconds hands in my example are aftermarket.

    I’ll follow your site for more information. Love the attention to detail!

  6. I don’t have a similar one, but I wouldn’t hesitate to add one to the collection. Alas, I am afraid I am not as talented as you and could not purchase and restore. 🙂

    Great job by the way…. what is the width of this watch? Always love the wrist shot too…

  7. Interesting. i am going to look for a similat one here in Switzerland. What price range are these watches?

    1. Hi, I bought it for $35 but it needed some work. The case, dial, and hands are in excellent condition and the movement is running very well after the service. The plating on the side of the top left lug is a bit worn though.

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