This Speedy comes all the way from California, and David has sent it in for a service.
The luminous compound of the hands has darkened considerably over time, and doesn’t match the dial markers any more. Also, when engaging the chronograph, the second hand jumps sometimes.
The amplitude is a bit low, so a service is in order.
I love dust covers – they tend to have cleaner movements under them.
The 861 in all its glory. The movement is in good condition.
The hands need some new luminous compound.
And some of the paint has come off as well.
The pushers need a good clean.
The bottom plate – looking very good as well.
Time to take the movement apart.
With the bridge for the central runner and for the minute recorder removed, you can see a bit more detail.
I will put in a new mainspring.
Time to take the bottom plate with the hour recorder apart.
Only the keyless works are left.
The new mainspring has arrived.
In order to put the barrel in, the hour recorder and its plate have to be in place.
A view from above onto the hour recorder and its hammer.
Just put together – looking good.
Now I can start on the chronograph.
Now I will have a look at the hands.
The pushers go back in with some silicone grease – the gaskets are still ok.
In order to re-paint the hands, I have to take off the old paint with paint stripper first.
Now I have clean hands that I can paint.
And here are the painted hands.
I am trying to hit the colour tone of the dial markers with the new lume, and mix some yellow and white lume together, and spice that up with a bit of tea paint. We make our own brown-ish paint from dried tea 😉
I’d say that’s pretty much spot on.
And I can put the case back on.
When I put the movement in, I notice that the tachymetre ring doesn’t quite align, so I take it off and put it back on.
That’s better!
Hi Watchguy
I really like all your work . Often find them really helpful when servicing a watch . I wonder what kind of paint you use when you paint the hands on this speedmaster ?
Rogart
Hi Rogart,
We use enamel paint that is also used in model making – Humbrol is one of the brands available. You have to thin the paint, and use a small oiler tip to apply it.
Hi, I’m looking into picking up a used Speedy, which will no doubt need a service, but I have no idea of the sort of costs involved in this (I’ve got a few manuals and automatics, but to be honest they have never been serviced as they are running fine and only a few years old).
Would you be able to give a ball park cost on the say
1 – the mechanical service done above (I appreciate what needs doing will vary wildly from watch to watch though!).
2 – The hand repainting and re-lume
3 – replacing the crystal/plastic with a saphire version?
Sorry for all the questions, but would be great to know from someone who has previously worked and done such a good job on the exact version I’m after picking up.
Thanks
Check out my price list – this is a manual chronograph. I won’t replace the crystal with anything but the Omega original I’m afraid.
Christian, you are a genius. It gladdens my heart to know that there are still people in this world that take such care in their work.
Hi Christian,
Looks great!
What paint stripper do you recommend/use?
Thanks in advance.
Henrique
I use nitromors.
Did you happen to spot the reason why the second hand was jumping?
The depthing of the teeth of the central chronograph runner was far too large – the teeth hardly engaged.
Christian,
Congratulation, looks wonderfull !
I really like what you did on the hands with your new lume mixture !
On my speedy you fixed last summer, it does not match as well :
http://watchguy.co.uk/photos/621/IMG_8174.JPG
Would you be able to do the same magic on my hands?
Cheers
Martin
Sure – send it over and we will sort it out.
Lovely!
Christian, I can’t thank you enough for this fine work on my Speedy, its looking fantastic! And, thanks for your patience with all my questions and inquiries thru the process. As Rad notes, I’ve wanted one of these for a while now and finally was able to find one within my budget. So, it was with great relief that I got your comment that the movement was in good order. I’ll likely keep this watch forever and let my sons figure out which one gets it next! Can’t wait to get it back stateside and share this experience with others. Thanks again! David
Tea paint! you sir, are a genius.Spot on match.
The performance looked perfect, a dead straight line and zero beat error.
Excellent! This is my friends watch. He has lusted over my Speedy for some time and finally bit the bullet. I know he will be pleased.