Alpha Explorer I Caseback Gasket Questions

[nhsmitty]

I've had this watch for a couple of years and it's consistently gained 20 seconds a day. Not bad, but today during a close inspection (yes, it took two years) I noticed the caseback wasn't seated flush against the case on one side, flush on one side, a small gap on on the other side. This watch has been under the faucet for cleaning and handwashing numerous times with no problems afterward so I'm not so sure there's a lot to worry about..

Well, until now....

Sooooo..... I've been wanting to try my hand at regulating a watch for some time. After seeing the gap I decided to give it a try on this watch and maybe see what's up with the caseback gap.

Questions.
1. When I removed the caseback the gasket came off with the caseback and it's seated firmly at the base of the caseback threads. Usually when I see open watch case pics the gasket is resting in a channel in the back of the case. The gasket seems to be in good condition and uniformly shaped. Is finding it on the caseback threads normal?

2. If I remove the gasket and the caseback screws down flush then it must be the gasket causing the gap? If there is still a gap then it's the threads, correct? Since I doubt I can remove the gasket without damaging it... When I source a gasket, how do I express what size or whatever that I need? On second thought, I really don't want to remove the current gasket until I have a replacement in hand, whether I need it or not.

By the way, no manner of trying to determine if the threads were crossed worked for me. I could never find (feel) a defined starting point for the threads but the caseback threaded back on without a problem and really smoothly two times.

The best part is, I've taken the first step to move beyond only adjusting bracelets. It's taken quite a while to get up the nerve to open a watch.

[Lester Burnham]

Yeah, happened to me too. My Alpha Planet Ocean also had a gap on one side of the caseback. I opened it up and found out that the gasket wasn't perfectly centered so that it was stuck between the case and the caseback on one side, causing a minor gap.

I didn't replace the gasket, I did oil it properly though, and replaced it in the way it should have been placed. Now, the caseback can be screwed on evenly.

[rich5665]

Congrats on opening the watch. The next step is getting up the nerve to disassemble a watch. I had to no function quartz watches sitting in a box for years. Never had a problem taking the backs off. But I finally got the nerve to take them completely apart. One was a blatant copy of a Rolex the other a Homage. Now I just need to get the nerve up to disassemble a mechanical movement.