Refurbishment advice - please help ! (Pic intensive)

[Steve Nicholls]

So this here is my Grandfather's 1967 Omega Seamaster Chronostop. After a serious hard life, including two car wrecks and a train crash (honest), my constant hassling paid off and I was given the watch as a gift in Jan 08. Unfortunately the watch was then further damaged in a house fire and is now in dire need of some loving.

I was intending on saving up and sending her off to Bienne for the full Omega spa treatment but found out on Friday that I am being made redundant so that simply isn't going to happen now. So instead of moth-balling her I want to do as much work myself so that I can at least go back to wearing her until my financial position changes. Now I know that the hesalite, crown, and pusher are going to need replacement (but I think that will have to wait too) but just want some advice on how to get her at least semi-respectable for now.

http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/40323/2292388770069378368S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2292388770069378368fYsTCx)
The smoke damage is pretty clear here and you can see where the hesalite took a hit from an angle grinder back in the 80's. When I got the watch the hesalite was almost completely obscured with scratches so I polished it with Displex. Not a great job but at least I could read the time.

http://inlinethumb44.webshots.com/40811/2571523880069378368S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2571523880069378368UQqPYt)
The Omega emblem on the crown had been flaking off and I figure has been stuck down with something like supaglue:-s Crown and pushbutton work but are stiff in their old age.


http://inlinethumb10.webshots.com/43657/2228898980069378368S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2228898980069378368oLukxU)
Case was originally well polished but this baby has been through the wars a bit and is fairly well nicked and dented


http://inlinethumb16.webshots.com/33039/2538597350069378368S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2538597350069378368dVvcTb)
Face is in reasonable condition, lume dot from the 6 o'clock position is missing and the paint on the second hand a bit flaky. You can see the damaged hesalite as well at the 12 o'clock

http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/38998/2359900710069378368S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2359900710069378368QNINVH)

As far as I'm aware the back has never been off this watch until now - movement looks OK i guess but to be honest this is the first time I've ever seen in to the back of any watch and haven't a clue what I'm looking at :-s Looks nice in there though :-!


http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/32426/2372445840069378368S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2372445840069378368IZJtfr)

Anyway, hope this haven't bored the behind off you guys too much, any advice you could offer me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

[eptaz]

It's always great to see them stay in the family, Steve. There's a lot of history to that watch, which might make it difficult to decide just how to approach it.

The first thing that I would do is have the movement serviced. I think that is necessary. The Chronostops are powered by exceptionally rugged, reliable movements, which are based on the c.861 found in the Speedy Pro, but if it hasn't been touched, I would want to service it, before I wear it much.

As for the rest, well, there is a lot of history there, as you note. That watch tells a story with every scratch and ding. The dial and hands are aged appropriately with time and, in my view, look nice. If it were mine, I'd definitely replace the crystal (you'll be amazed by how much of a difference that will make), crown and pusher. Beyond that, I might have the case touched up, but maybe not.

Whatever you decide, enjoy it and cherish it. It's a fantastic watch that's had an interesting life...so far.

eric

[rousp]

Service it, and polish the crystal.
Leave the rest..
That's my advice..
There is so much history in that watch, it would be a shame to ruin it by restoring to new condition..

[Steve Nicholls]

Thanks for your thoughts guys - I appreciate your input.

I was going to try to get the case in a bit better condition - at least try try and remove the soot the best I can. I don;t know whether this is just a case of a cloth and polish or some Dremmel action with a polishing wheel? What do you think?
Thanks again,
Steve

[Neil(UK)]

I'd certainly agree with the previous respondents.

It is an heirloom.

It was your Grandfather (and his several accidents ;-)) that made the watch look that way, you won't get the same sort pleasure from something that has been completely sterilised by being over restored.

Of course a service if you intend wearing it and a new crystal if the old one can't be polished successfully and then wear or keep it.

In years to come you will be glad you took this advice.

[my first PO]

Thanks for your thoughts guys - I appreciate your input.

I was going to try to get the case in a bit better condition - at least try try and remove the soot the best I can. I don;t know whether this is just a case of a cloth and polish or some Dremmel action with a polishing wheel? What do you think?
Thanks again,
Steve

Stay way from it with the dremel.:oops: You will likely do more harm than good. If you follow eptaz's advice, which is good as always. Have them clean/degrease the case while they have the movement and crystal out. You will be surprised how good it may look just from that.

B.

[Steve Nicholls]

Sound advice - as per usual from WUS - I'll take it!

Thanks all - really appreciate your comments :-!

[my first PO]

Our pleasure and good luck with the job hunt! Too many good people in trouble these days, but this to shall pass.

All the best,
B.

[mondodec]

Yes, I'm in agreement about 'functional' restoration. Movement looks pretty tidy.

The dial should not be touched and I'd save the hands as well.

Re the case, it had a particular grained finished and if you were to consider touch it up, you may need to use pics of a mint case so as to give the clearest instructions as to how these cases were finished. Simply to polish it would amount to it sustaining disaster number four .

Cheers

Desmond

[lindirk]

Yes, I'm in agreement about 'functional' restoration. Movement looks pretty tidy.

The dial should not be touched and I'd save the hands as well.

Re the case, it had a particular grained finished and if you were to consider touch it up, you may need to use pics of a mint case so as to give the clearest instructions as to how these cases were finished. Simply to polish it would amount to it sustaining disaster number four .

Cheers

Desmond

+1. You have a remarkable watch there, don't mess too much with it. Service, then wear & enjoy!

[Joe K.]

I recently serviced my late great uncle's Chronostop. First order of business is to have the movement serviced. This is key. Since the movement is out of the case I would change the crown and pusher, crystal and gaskets. As far as the case - a good cleaning in the ultrasonic is all I would do, without polishing it. This is not a cheap job, but should work wonders.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t178/theonlyeasydaywasyesterday/DSCN3998.jpg

[joe band]

like a timex, it took a beating and kept on ticking.... you should wear all of those bumps and scrapes with pride.

it's all about provenance, and this watch has it, definitely don't refinish it.

[Justice]

I'm with Eric.
It's a 40 year old watch. If it has 40 year old oil (or lack of oil by now) in the movement, I wouldn't wear it until it was serviced.

As far as servicing goes, I wouldn't let anyone touch it except the experts at Omega. They are the only ones I would trust to refinish the case to original specs and beauty.

Save your money and have it done right. Don't mess around with your Grandfathers watch.

- Jake

[txturbo]

I actually have a Chronostop and did not think it was all that valuable. Maybe I am mistaken...

[Justice]

I actually have a Chronostop and did not think it was all that valuable. Maybe I am mistaken...

There are different models, some worth more than others.
Steve has the Seamaster Chronostop which has a bigger case than other models, and is more desirable at the moment.

Additionally, this was his Grandfathers watch which I imagine adds a great deal of personal value.

- Jake

[Steve Nicholls]

There are different models, some worth more than others.
Steve has the Seamaster Chronostop which has a bigger case than other models, and is more desirable at the moment.

Additionally, this was his Grandfathers watch which I imagine adds a great deal of personal value.

- Jake

Yes indeed Jake - as far as I'm concerned in priceless! I've been lusting after it for 30 years and would sell my kids before parting with it :-d Now that gives me a good idea - anyone in the market for a couple of kids???? Anyone know Angelina Jolie's number???

Seriously, a 145.007 was sold at last years Omegamania auction for £2000 after a full refurb at Bienne but I wouldn't consider it to be a valuable watch by any means - just one that I love dearly.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts - have decided to put her away and keep saving up the pennies until I can get the movement serviced by Omega and so I'm stuck with the Seiko for the time being :roll:

[Steve Nicholls]

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t178/theonlyeasydaywasyesterday/DSCN3998.jpg
That's a beauty Joe :-!

[Steve Nicholls]

Since the movement is out of the case I would change the crown and pusher, crystal and gaskets.

I've been looking at Ofrei and although a pusher and crystal are fairly easy to source it appears the crown is no longer available - which is a downer :-(.

Also - do you happen to know whether the Tach scale is actually part of the crystal as the dial looks like this...which is very noticeably missing a Tach scale :-s
http://www.ofrei.com/images/www.ofrei.com-omedial865-ma.jpg

[Joe K.]

Thanks Steve.
The Tach scale is part of the crystal. and should resemble the crystal in the picture below:

http://www.ofrei.com/images/crycase188002.jpg




I've been looking at Ofrei and although a pusher and crystal are fairly easy to source it appears the crown is no longer available - which is a downer :-(.

Also - do you happen to know whether the Tach scale is actually part of the crystal as the dial looks like this...which is very noticeably missing a Tach scale :-s
http://www.ofrei.com/images/www.ofrei.com-omedial865-ma.jpg

[Steve Nicholls]

Thanks Steve.
The Tach scale is part of the crystal. and should resemble the crystal in the picture below:

http://www.ofrei.com/images/crycase188002.jpg

Thanks Joe - that's what I figured. That's one big prob with Ofrei - not many pics of the actual items so it makes it tough to know if you're picking the right part :-s

[Joe K.]

Order by part # and when you talk to them ask them if it has the Tachy scale.

Thanks Joe - that's what I figured. That's one big prob with Ofrei - not many pics of the actual items so it makes it tough to know if you're picking the right part :-s