Favre Leuba - Bivouac calibrating the barometer

nickw
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I picked up a Favre Leuba Bivouac - the barometer appears functional but is far out of calibration.

I haven't been able to find service instructions online and I was just curious if anyone here has adjusted one.
 
chadpowe11
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How are you testing the altimeter function? I know for aircraft altimeter its a screw you turn to adjust the bellows inside the instrument, this is only done if you have a pressure chamber to tell how accurate it is. Also how are you finding the current Baro pressure of the day?
 
rolexfantastic
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You need to manually set the altimeter hand to the point you want, which means you have to free the movement from the case.
I have the same gadget, however my capsule has issues.
I know FL is now in Titan's portfolio, but it seems impossible to contact them to inquire about the part.
I have tried with a lot of specialized companies out there but it seems nobody can manufacture such a tiny capsule.
If anyone has any knowledge about a company making them or even repair and could point a direction i would highly appreciate the effort.
 
JimInOz
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rolexfantastic rolexfantastic
You need to manually set the altimeter hand to the point you want, which means you have to free the movement from the case.
I have the same gadget, however my capsule has issues.
I know FL is now in Titan's portfolio, but it seems impossible to contact them to inquire about the part.
I have tried with a lot of specialized companies out there but it seems nobody can manufacture such a tiny capsule.
If anyone has any knowledge about a company making them or even repair and could point a direction i would highly appreciate the effort.

I was waiting for you F, thought you'd notice this thread 😀

I've been keeping an eye out but no joy.

It seems that the only place for one of these capsules is in a donor, or maybe the one from the Oris?
 
rolexfantastic
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Hey Jim.. I was going to contact Oris as well but i though of first searching for experienced Atmos restorers.. maybe someone has an idea on the amount of vacuum / gas inside and reseal the capsule.
A donor is hard to find and most likely not at handy considering the price.
Maybe a capsule alone is still available somewhere.
All the other leads have been a failure so far.

/F
Edited:
 
MMMD
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I'm a little disappointed that there has not yet been a demand for photos. What is this forum coming to?
 
MMMD
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OK, I'll start. Here's mine before the tragic loss of its external bezel during a hiking trip in the White Mountains two years ago. Still feeling the hurt.

93A92D49-FBD6-49F1-8261-A28C5926A247_zpsdu5sscdy.jpg
 
nickw
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Sorry my travel got extended and I missed your notes. I'll post some photos ASAP tomorrow. It seems like my baro meter is moving however, something else is wrong because the minute hand catches the baro hand and moves it. If I fiddle with the crown the baro hand will "unstick" from the minute hand and seems to settle on something very very close to the pressure according to a weather station near my house.
 
erpin9
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I just got mine today and I am not sure if the barometer is functioning at all. Does anyone here have a copy of the original user's manual of the watch? Many thanks.
FABRE.jpg
 
MMMD
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I never did find a replacement bezel, so I opted for a replacement watch... a ref. 53203 "English system" model with the altimeter bezel graded in 100-foot units.
F69679FA-19F6-4B7D-AA47-25293CCDF0D5_zpsoh5gs3dr.jpg

6BEDD38D-816B-4C89-852A-AF051FB7A2BB_zpsjqzmnhgh.jpg

Note the brass bezel insert... some brass peeks out around the black enamel.

59FA9820-6D93-446C-B39A-C06059A415D6_zpsdhohtpj3.jpg

@Tony C. tells me that the brass insert was a feature of first-generation Bivouacs. Anyone know anything more about the series?
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Tony C.
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MMMD MMMD
@Tony C. tells me that the brass insert was a feature of first-generation Bivouacs. Anyone know anything more about the series?

I'm open-minded on the topic, as so few with the brass bezels have been sighted...

FLBiv3.jpg
 
Adri
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Maybe to late but who knows

In French but maybe someone here can translate it.

image.jpeg
 
nickw
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Never too late!!! What an awesome find thanks for sharing will see if I can get some help on translation.
 
Darlinboy
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Cool watch.👍

One I'll never buy - an esoteric collector reference & drfinitely not for a faint of heart enthusiast like me.
 
MMMD
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Darlinboy Darlinboy
Cool watch.

I know. I should have made an even more reasonable offer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Adri
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There are three different variations of the blue dial

Blue spots
image.jpeg


Without blue spots
image.jpeg


Two lines Mg and inch HG
image.jpeg



Limited Edition
image.jpeg


Also good to know😉

The blue dial version is only available with running seconds.

Maybe at the end of this week i will share my Altimeter😗

Adri
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Mlafra
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my understanding is that the reference 53203 (the first one of the Bivouac, preceding the later 53213 with running second, which precedes the one with the blue dial) had a brass bezel in all cases covered by black lacquer with white and yellow numbers. The few examples where the bezel is completely brass I think are just "normal" 1st generation bezel where the lacquer has completely disappeared and/or has been completely removed. I own a Ref 53203 pretty much identitcal to the one of MMMD, and also in mine in the 2 or 3 places where the lacquer has chipped a little bit you can see the brass peeping out.
 
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