It has arrived, the ultimate nerd watch!!!!!

[767Geoff]

It has arrived, the ultimate nerd watch

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For HP's first foray into the world of watches the quality just oozes from this watch. I will let other already published descriptions describe the watch in detail.

Suffice to say, Wow to the quality, fit and finish and the added details such as gold plated connections and circuitry. The keys are flawless as is the strap and case. The strap even has a quick release to allow for battery changes! Came with a soft pointed stylus attached to the strap buckle.

I CAN'T GET THIS off my wrist!!

[Seer Taak]

I've seen loads of photos of these, but i'm still as impressed as ever. I'd say, for looks, its the best calculator watch ever made.

[fronzelneekburm]

Good old HP-01. WOuld probably be my favorite watch if it weren't so heavy. Very good condition on that one, really amazing. Congratulations! :D

[bruce wegmann]

I have one of these in GF; same condition. If it wasn't for the fragility of the gold surface, I would certainly wear it, at least occasionally. A minor mark on stainless could be touched up, but the 20-micron plate on these just won't allow that luxury. Fantastically cool watch, nevertheless...

[Seer Taak]

Only 20 microns, that's disappointing :? Especially considering the premium price of the watch, both now and when new. I think GF can look superb in good condition, especially with a brushed finish, but that is just too thin to take a risk wearing.

[767Geoff]

I always try for stainless when I can, for the very reason of wearing gold plate. You can always touch up stainless steel.

I have another coming with working electronics, but a very worn case and crystal (325 USD). Thought I would use the guts as a spare incase, forbid, this one dies. And I get to experiment on reviving the case. Might have to have an after market red crystal cut without the HP name as this one is very scratched. I have a friend who is a lapidary and say's he can polish and edge the crystal on the beater but that I would of course lose the Hewlett Packard. Well, if that's what it takes, so be it.

Cheers, geoff

[richard_uk]

I CAN'T GET THIS off my wrist!!

Have you tried levering the clasp with a large screwdriver?

[rewolf]

.....I CAN'T GET THIS off my wrist!!

I couldn't either if I had one, escpecially in this condition! Congratulations!
The HP-01 is the watch that triggered my interest in LED watches. If I had to decide for ONE LED watch, it would be the HP-01! Or the GP? ....

[767Geoff]

Unfortunately I welded it in place so the large screw driver won't work!!!

[Led-Time]

That’s a very nice watch/calc you‘ve got there well done, I see you have a HP LED calculator sitting next to your treasure I've noticed some of these old calculators can be a bit slow, if you divide 8 by 9 this shows up quite well the calculating power of its chip.

How does the HP-01 look compared to the calculator.

[767Geoff]

The calculator came out of a box as NOS, never used, still have the box, papers, manual and accessories all shrink wrapped and in perfect condition. I replaced the pinch roller in the calculator as these deteriorate due to age not use!

The watch is comparable with no hairline scratches and perfect crystal and keyboard. The electronics were stored after purchase without batteries and as such exhibit no corrosion or use or even swapped battery scratches on the contacts!

I have one HP 25c (my first), 3 HP67's, HP41C/CV/CX with printer, disc drive, wands and etc used in the Lab during my MSc thesis at University. Really like the HP products and I am not surprised the watches do last with a semblance of care.

Cheers, Geoff

PS. I love the way the HP67 thinks on some of the longer programs!

[azimuth_pl]

congrats, it's the best condition HP01 ever!
and you can polish a scratched crystal to 90% condition and still keep the logo if you cover it and polish milimeter by milimeter. an hour of work but it can be done. some experience is needed though so that the difference will not be that significant nor that visible between the polished and unpolished part.

[767Geoff]

Took a lot of guts, but removed the case back. Ensured I used a grounding strap and removed batteries. Then I unscrewed the outer of the two retaining rings and the keyboard/crystal/bezel/circuit board and two retaining rings separated from the case and strap.

My intention was to separate the circuit board from the crystal, keyboard so that I could polish the glossy bezel and remove the hairline scratches without affecting the quartz crystal with the dremel vibration. One would think this would be easy. I removed the inner retaining ring and the battery housing was removed and cleaned in isopropyl alcohol. This left the outer retaining ring. That is when I noticed that the outer ring is machined split.

This obviously has something to do with accessing the circuit board. I did not proceed any further. Cleaned the circuit board (already clean) with qtip damped with alcohol. Cleaned all the gunk from the case and added silicon grease to the bezel case gasket. Reassembled in reverse, new batteries and silicon grease to case back gasket. Reset and fully functional

Think I will ignore the minor scratches, but at least the two gaskets, case and circuit board have been inspected and cleaned. The square case gasket is in excellent non compressed condition, ie, fully functional and I replaced the case back gasket.

Before I proceed further some questions:

Any ideas as how to proceed or is the circuit board bonded to the keypad/crystal assembly?

Does the dremel polishing affect the crystal?

The scratches are minor (hairline and shallow) and I will attempt to polish by hand without contaminating the keypad cover etc.

Cheers

Geoff

[retroleds]

Geoff: A Dremel is the worst possible way to polish a crystal, IMO. The contact area is small, the chance of heat build-up which causes stress cracks is great. I am going to do "Polishing Plastic crystals" in www.thedigitalwatch.com, the April 6th edition. I think I have some great technique and tips.

Starting point for really badly scratched crystals: 600 grit sandpaper, moving to 1500(auto stores that do better/custom paint), then 2000 paper(ditto). On harder crystals like on the HP-01, use a little 2000 paper , then go to a tight weeve polyester cloth, using Armour All for plastic or a similar products. Scared - get a junk crystal and experiment.

This one had a line you could have driven a truck thru - .1-.2 mm deep. It was his wedding present 32 yrs. ago- he was very pleased.

[767Geoff]

Good advice and thanks, Yes I have used your procedure with good results. The dremel was for the large polished stainless steel surround on the bezel top which frames the crystal and keyboard.

I will not use the dremel on the stainless with the circuit board in place, so I need someones expertise on the removal of the circuit board from the surrounding stainless bezel.

I will attempt to polish the bezel by hand and see how well it does. Let you know.

I am getting another HP01 with good electronics and a rather beat up case and crystal.. Again I will use your procedure for the crystal.

Cheers, Geoff