This lovely Omega came all the way from Norway, and is in need of a service. The owner also would like the luminous compound on the dial replaced, as it’s starting to flake off.
This doesn’t look good at all.
The movement looks nice and clean.
The luminous compound of the hands is flaky, and some of it has already broken off the hour hand.
The varnish on the dial has come off in places, and it’s turned completely yellow. This dial is supposed to be silver / black. The luminous compound has also discoloured, and has broken off in parts.
I’ll start off with the movement.
Now I turn my attention to the dial. In order to removed the old luminous compound, I have to dissolve it. With a very weak vinegar/water solution, I wash off the compound and the old varnish. You can see that some of the markers between 7 and 9 have come off, but there isn’t much one can do to prevent this happening.
I put new luminous compound on the hands. This is white compound that has been toned down a bit with our own tea-based pigment.
The movement parts are ready for reassembly.
The movement gets a new mainspring.
When I first try to adjust the movement, I notice that I can’t. Either the hairspring is too short, or the balance doesn’t weigh enough, but the movement stays too fast. Also, the balance staff is worn. As the customer has sent in a second watch with the same movement, I swap balances, and all is well.
The dial got a very thin coat of water-based varnish, and the hands go on.
Now I can case the movement.And the watch looks great again. I know that this post will split my readers, as a lot of you guys like their watches as original as they can. I have to put two arguments for what I did forward:
Firstly, I wouldn’t want to wear a watch that looked like this one when it got to the workshop, and secondly, the watch looked pretty much as it looks now when it was new, and not like it looked when it came into the workshop. Yes, we lost some of the markers, but now we have a watch that is very wearable indeed, and looks great.
I have a simelar watch, can you please tell me what is called and something more about it? Thank you in advance.
Hi, I have a 2622 with similar movement though the dial is different. Do you know the part number for the original crystal and do you have one which I can purchase?
I am afraid I don’t.
Hi there
absolutely great work Christian.
I’m very interested in your water based varnish.
Is this like an artists type varnish? Do you by any chance have the brand name? And, one last question, if I may, how do you apply it? Do you use a brush or do you dip the whole dial in.
Great reading.
Thank you
Just go to any good paint shop, and ask for a wood varnish that is water soluble.
We spray the diluted varnish with a little spray gun.
The water/vinegar solution that you used to clean the dial – that’s fascinating. Other than to remove dirt with Rodico, I’ve never cleaned a dial like that, but your results are stunning!
What is the ratio of water to vinegar that you use? Just standard white vinegar?
Is there any type of dial that you would avoid cleaning in this way?
Thanks! I had to ask. This piece really ended up being a stunner!
We use white vinegar, and up to 50%.
I think you did a great job on this one Christian. I love an aged dial, but this is one case where a dial cleaning was in order. It looks much better than before and originality hasn’t really been compromised. Good call to not replace the lume as well.
Lovely watch.
You don’t mention the age of the watch, but I’d guess a calibre 265 must be 50s anyway. For a 60 or so year od watch to work at all, let alone look as good as this, is simply amazing testament to the quality of workmanship of everyone who has ever touched the innards.
re the missing markers… One of my favourite clocks/watches hangs in a friend’s kitchen. It has no minute – let alone second – hand and the dial is marked 1(ish), 2(ish), 3(ish) and so on. These days, anybody can know exactly what time it is. Surely not being absolutely sure is the real reason why we keep watches like this going? By that measure, I’d rate losing the markers a positive enhancement!
Hope to get you to do one of my watches some day.
Hi,
Based on the serial number on the movement, the watch is from somewhere between 1947 and 1950.
I like the result. The dial in its original condition was not appealing. Good job!
I agree the dial looks better re-lacquered. I do like patina but not when it makes the dial harder to read and it is flaking off.
As always Christian, thanks for the great work!
Yes, I was torn between keeping the dial as-is or doing something to improve the look. The lume on the numerals had not degraded gracefully and was flaking, so the decision was made for me. I assumed a wooden peg might be the tool needed but Christian advised that the risk of scratching the dial necessitated the vinegar solution. It was a shame to loose those markers, but all in all the result is definitely an improvement.
And being referred to as ‘the client’ does wonders for my ego, but I think it is safe to use my name going forward 🙂
Saad
I think it looks great post-refurb – love a vintage sub-second movement – but I do understand those who would prefer to keep it aged. To me I think you have to look at on a case-by-case basis; I don’t generally mind a watch showing it’s age, but where that ageing might impact on the function of the watch – say flecks of varnish or chunks of lume migrating in to the movement – then you have to address that.
You didn’t re-lume the dial markers then? You said “replaced” in the opening paragraph – did the decision to just remove come during the work? Looks better without I think 😉
The client and I decided that it looks much better without lume on the numbers. They are so crisp and clear that it would be a shame to bung luminous compound on them.