Too bad its all scratched up.
I’m not into watches at all, but I just wanted to say that I LOVE seeing threads/posts like this where guys have a passion for something and dive right in to learn everything they can. The fact that you’re out here rebuilding them, and doing the restoration work yourself is awesome! No different than a guy doing collision work/paintwork etc. I have a question too, what does the blueing of the metal do? Is that just for a cosmetic effect, or does it alter the characteristics of the metal? I’m looking into plating and anodizing of small parts for an MX bike.
Are you using an ultrasonic to clean the small parts?
There are some really nice cleaning machines out there but a small ultrasonic has worked fine for me for now. I do a clean, double rinse, alcohol rinse, and then a warm air dryer.
Its truly satisfying (and gallactically frustrating) to disassemble, diagnose, and clean everything and then watch the balance wheel spin up when its all back in order. There ia NO room for close enough. The tolerances only allow it to work properly…or not. Once tou understand the basic systems, and how they operate, its a lot easier to diagnose issues. Each manufacturer has their own take on how they design a movement, so while similar, they’re also unique.
While assembling new watches (tributes, mods, etc) is satisfying, I prefer the old watch restoration. Most of the examples I buy just need a cleaning since they’ve been around for 60- 70 years. I have found some have issues, sometimes from someone that’s been in there before…just like engines. I took apart a TIMEX last week and just left it dissasmebled in a box. Horribly cheap and chincy…but they were marketed that way and do the job.
Blueing is (to me) just an aesthetic feature. I believe there are some “hardening” properties imposed, but at this scale i dont see any real benefit to that.
2 Likes
Managed to get her all done in one day. Sanded and polished the case, wet sanded / polished the crystal, assembled and lubricated. Running pretty damn good for its age…
Decided to blue just the second hand and leave the rest original…
Someone from another forum gave me this one, along with a really nice chronograph.
2 Likes
Minor desk jockey scratches, nice thing is I don’t really have to worry about it.
1 Like
Finally got the call! I was waiting for a fluted bezel but couldn’t wait any longer as this one popped up from Reeds. I actually like the smooth bezel more than I thought I would in person. It makes it look a bit more sporty and less dressy, which 90% of the time I’m not really dressed up.
41mm Datejust
4 Likes
Sweeet
1 Like
Dropping $9k on a watch…phew. Looks cool though
1 Like
you’ll get it back when you want it. not dissimiliar from other things that retain value
1 Like
Yeah it’s already worth more than what I bought it for, but I don’t plan on selling it.
1 Like
Not dissimilar from gold or bitcoin.
Put 10k-20k into a rolex and one day if you’re totally messed up you go to nyc or elsewhere and get most of your $ back on the spot if youre in a real jam.
Youre gonna give away a healthy margin turning your gold into cash anyways so same same…
When i was in the diamond district in nyc they offered me more than what i paid for my piece right off my wrist without the box or papers even.
Certain pieces have a solid exchange value any time. Other than rolex and patek probably omega speedmasters are next and less $.
1 Like
Was it you that donated those Seiko’s to the gun raffle?
Very observant of you.
1 Like
