Hermle Quartz Clock Movements

Hermle quartz discontinued - what now?

The Hermle Quartz clock movements are discontinued and no longer available. This section will discuss what to do for a new unit.

What we can offer

clockworks.com offers alternate movements that have the equivalent sound quality and lasts longer than the Hermle units. They have more features and does not break during daylight savings adjustments like the Hermle Quartz units did after years of service. To get the new movement some things are required to do. First is to be sure the new one will fit into the clock case because some are larger. Then convert the hand shaft from the old one to the new because it is measured in a different way. Lastly get new hands as the old ones will not fit.

Measuring the hand shaft

Once the movement out of the clock and measure the hand shaft it can determined what new movement post length to get. Hermle quartz is not the same as the typical because there is no threaded post. Instead it only has a hand shaft that sticks straight out of the clock movement. Instead of a threaded post on the movement they had a long lock collar to secure the movement instead. Hermle quartz hand shaft is measured from the black plastic base and all the way out. This would be measured out to the end of the minute hand nut area. After measuring this length, subtract a 1/4 inch and this is the post length needed on the new unit.

Replacing Hermle quartz movements

Replacing Hermle Quartz movements is sort of tricky. The units are no longer made and the new ones that are available mount in a different way. The Hermle Quartz clock movements were mounted in a way that is not typical to the rest of the quartz clock movements. This has to be taken into consideration during the quartz clock movement conversion to one of these fine alternate units.

Two ways of mounting

The Hermle Quartz are secured with a nut that went through the dial side and into the movement. The new unit instead has a post sticking out of the movement that goes through the back of the dial to the front. The new unit will have a hex nut on the front dial side to keep the movement secured.

What to do

Getting new movement requires to remove the movement from the clock case and do some measuring. So the first step is to get the movement out of the clock. The second is to measure the post that the hands go on. This is measured from the black plastic base and all the way out to the end of the minute hand nut threads. With this measurement, deduct 1/4 inch from this, and this is the length that is needed for the new one.

Get new hands

Hermle Quartz units have unique hands. The minute hand on the new unit will have a larger mounting hole. It maybe possible to enlarge this mounting hole with a needle file so it will fit the new unit. However it is best just to get the new hands with the new unit.

Removing Hermle Quartz Movement

Removing A Hermle Quartz movement is done by removing a unique mounting nut. It is not the typical 6 sided hex nut like most units have. Instead, it is a nut that has slots on both sides of the hand shaft. It's just a different way of securing the Hermle Quartz movement to the back of the dial. The slots on the nut have a deep collar with threads that go through the front of the clock dial to screw into the movement. This is in opposition to the common style quartz unit that has a post with threads and utilizes a hex nut. That is the hex nut on the front of the clock face to secure the movement.

Double sided sticky tape method

If the movement mounts to the dial by double sided sticky tape, carefully pry the movement off the back of the dial leaving the dial in tact.

Steps to remove a Hermle quartz

1. Remove the second hand. Pull it straight and it will come off.
2. Remove the minute hand nut by turning the nut to the left while holding the hand still.
3. Take off the hour hand, it is a friction fit only. Pull toward you.
4. Take off the nut. It is an unusual nut that holds the movement. This nut has a slot on each side. It may be on tight, so it is not always easy to take this off. A special tool to take this nut off is no longer available, will have to improvise. Using two big flat screw drivers, put one on each side of the nut and twist. Be careful not to scratch the dial, because it is easy to slip and make a long scratch on the face.
5. The movement will now fall out of the back.

Removal is complete

With the Hermle quartz movement out of the clock case, now we can determine the best substitute movement. There are several to choose from.

Hermle quartz handshaft measurement

How to measure the Hermle Quartz handshaft. Measure the entire post that sticks out of the movement. From the plastic base all the way out to the tip of the post. This measurement is different from how all other quartz units are measured.

Hermle used three hand shaft lengths on their base units. These lengths are 16mm, 21mm, and 26mm. There was a time some of the 26mm had an internal modification to create an extremely long hand shaft. It was something like 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 inches. If working with one like this there is no replacement for this unfortunately.

Hermle to regular conversion

The following is the conversion from the Hermle Quartz hand shaft length, to the length of the threaded post to order from us.

• 1. Measure the hand shaft on your current Hermle quartz clock movement
• 2. Convert to the post length needed with the below information
• 3. Order whatever movement you would like from us with that post length.

• 16mm (About 5/8") = Get a 5/16 post
• 21mm (About 3/4") = Get a 7/16 post
• 26mm (About 1") = Get a 11/16 post

Next step to replace the Hermle quartz

Now that the old unit is out of the way and the conversion is known from the old hand shaft length to the new post length, we are ready to shop for a replacement. The next step is to take note of the overall size of the new movement and be sure that it will fit dimensional behind the dial.

The new unit may be taller or wider so be sure it will fit in the clock case. If verified its ok, we can pick a new unit with the post length that was converted. Be sure to get new hands as well. They are on the same page as the product. The old ones will not fit without modifications.

The best Hermle-quartz clock-movement-alternatives options

The best Hermle-quartz clock-movement-alternatives, or replacement are found in the list below. The list is in priority of the best replacement choice to the least. What this means is the closest to the old size, with the best sound quality has the best rating and is on top of the list. It also has the price in this order also, highest to lowest.

1. MSO Quartz
2. QU40 Quad Unit
3. QU30 Seiko Quartz
4. QU22 Takane Quartz

Hermle includes the following numbers

Hermle quartz clock movements are no longer available, so these are the alternative replacements. They usually decide to give up the ghost at daylight savings, or when there needs to be an adjustment in the time.

• 2215 (Westminster and Ave Maria pendulum units)
• 2115 (Westminster and Ave Maria non pendulum units)
• 2214 (Westminster and Bim Bam pendulum units)
• 2214 (Westminster and Bim Bam non pendulum units)
• 2216 (Westminster and Silent Night pendulum units)
• 2116 (Westminster and Silent Night non pendulum units)
• 2117 (Ships Bell strike, non pendulum)

Hermle quartz ships bell note

Note on the 2117 - Unfortunately, there are no quartz units on the market that will play the ship's bell strike. It is a tricky situation with these as there is no quartz replacement for this one. You can go with the mechanical movement if you do not mind spending about $500 and some time and patience. It will be a conversion process and has quite a bit of involvement. Please contact Clockworks if you would like to pursue this option.