need help with brassing problem on vintage watch

[fireal]

I have a vintage watch that was brassing at several spots of the case.
I have since polished out the chrome plating to achieve a more even tone.

However , now that the brass is exposed , it tarnishes easily ! Is there any solution to this ?

I do not have access to a shop that does chrome replating. I have done some research that suggests using brass lacquer. Does anyone have experiences with that ? Does it leave a sticky residue?

Please advice , thanks!!

[JohnF]

Hi -

Don't know what level you are comfortable doing your own work.

First, obviously a replating would be ideal, but if that is not an option, then I'd recommend removing the movement and the crystal and then giving the watch, after a thorough cleaning and buffing, to either give it a nice coat of transparent brass lacquer or even black. You can cure this in a low oven, making sure that the watch case doesn't get too hot (distortion of the case would ruin it!) and that the watch has plenty of time to cool off before you handle it.

Now, I've only done this with some very small items, there wasn't a sticky residue. But that was a very, very long time ago, and I can't imagine what I used to lacquer the brass with. May have been ordinary enamel for all I can remember.

Check with the brass lacquer firm about residue etc., as well as using an oven to speed up the drying process...

JohnF