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The watch thread: pocket, wrist, sporty, showy? You name it!

Does anyone know if this watch is worth fixing? It was presented to my other half's Grandfather on his retirement. A quote of £500 was plucked from the air by someone.
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I don't know but it appears to read 'Thos Russels & Son'.. on a Swiss made watch... which makes me think Russells is/was a dealer rather than a maker. If that's the case probably a pretty standard swiss movement.. but all guess work on my part. Looks like gold. Looks like much of the yellowing of the dial may actually yellowing of the 'glass..if it's err. not glass. I'd be inclined to take it to a reputable repairer for an opinion.

@Mullardman years ago I had a very similar square Seiko 5 DX with a lovely green dial. It was a non-runner and the local jewellers told me it was beyond economic repair. I rather wish I'd held onto it now!

Sorry to hear that.. I wish I'd known they were available in green.. it is probably my favourite colour. I saw a green one on an old eBay listing. Very nice.



It's gone.. but it did look very tidy. It had different 'batons' and hands to mine.

I was thinking about Mull - he's minted.

If only... Just a poor old retired public servant....

Anyway. I called the 'Watch Lab' at their HQ, which is just up the road in Preston. Enthusiastic young chap assured me they could clean and service my watch, polish the case and replace the crystal .. even if they had to 'hand make one'.. all for about £300. Now that's what the watch is worth.. at best.. but I might be tempted as I'm falling back in love with the thing after not using it for maybe 15-20 years.

But.. my bullshit detector was tweaked a couple of times. 1. I explained there was a small burn mark in the crystal.. which made me think it was acrylic. The lad replied.. "It's probably 'mineral glass'." I didn't challenge his assuption, though I rather doubt 'mineral glass' would melt in one place from a spark in a foundry...

Next up.. "We can't change the crystal without servicing it.... because you have to take all the cogs and wheels out to get to the glass". Again.. I smiled to myself as I'm fairly certain the movement (the cogs and wheels :)) come out as a unit and the crystal therefore 'could' be changed without servicing the watch.. but I want mine serviced anyway..

On parts. "We can assess what's needed.. and if we don't have parts we can contact Seiko 'Vintage Dept'. (Really? Do you know something that Seiko UK don't?)

And on polishing. I said I'd considered taking the movement and crystal out and re-polishing the case myself.. as I'm a fairly competent metal worker. He insisted that they would do it better because .. (waffle for five minutes..) ...and all in the price anyway....

As it is I am confident I could polish the case sides.. which are mirror polished stainless. Straight forward enough. As for the case front.. which is brushed. Just run the case face on some suitable abrasive paper, keeping one edge (protected by tape) against a guide.. to reproduce the 'brushing' effect in straight lines... and then polish the brushing to create the 'silky' finish. Hardly rocket science...

I think I may call another branch of the Watch Lab tomorrow..act daft and see if I get any more or different bullshit... but in the meantime I'd appreciate any recommendations for other competent repairers/restorers. Either chains. or independents. I don't care so long as they know what they are doing.

Did I ever tell you how Goldsmiths of Liverpool managed to take about 5 weeks and charge £65 to change the battery in my Rado? It's enough to make you weep....
 
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Do some research. I am not familiar with watch repair specialists in the UK but as a vintage watch lover for a long time I know there are guys there that can repair and service your watch without charging you an arm and a leg, unless spares for your watch are non-existent. Many of the jewelers and large watch shops are just con-men when it comes to servicing/repairs/battery change.
 
I don't know but it appears to read 'Thos Russels & Son'.. on a Swiss made watch... which makes me think Russells is/was a dealer rather than a maker. If that's the case probably a pretty standard swiss movement.. but all guess work on my part. Looks like gold. Looks like much of the yellowing of the dial may actually yellowing of the 'glass..if it's err. not glass. I'd be inclined to take it to a reputable repairer for an opinion.

A quick look shows that Thos Russel made watches in Liverpool, after moving from Preston and even got a Royal Warrant. They bought in Swiss movements later on in their life. The yellowing of the dial seems to be a design feature. I think this is going to be a battle of sentiment over value!

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Picked up this guy up from the makers' studio in Emsworth last week. Nice to support a local business for a change

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RE: my Seiko. There's a nice one on eBay Aus..with a new glass. So I've contacted the seller. to see if they sourced the glass and whether he can supply..or point to one.
I've also been watching a 'non runner' in Venezuela which is cheap as chips and has a glass which looks like it would polish up. Solvol Autosol on newspaper works well on acrylic watch 'glasses'.
 
I was just watching the latest Urban Gentry video and TGV mentioned that the book Fortis commissioned to celebrate their 100-year anniversary is now available to download as a pdf - and sure enough, it is. Click here if you want to view and/or download the book for yourself.
 
Just picked this up from the AD a few hours ago


That looks almost exactly the same as my Oris Diver 65 that I got for £1200, even down to the deep blue dial. The hands on mine are a bit thinner and the blobs are a bit smaller.

I've also got a Seiko Cocktail time dress watch with a silver/blue dial which was the princely sum of £350 and is gobsmacking value for money. How much was the above, if you don't mind me asking?
 
That looks almost exactly the same as my Oris Diver 65 that I got for £1200, even down to the deep blue dial. The hands on mine are a bit thinner and the blobs are a bit smaller.

I've also got a Seiko Cocktail time dress watch with a silver/blue dial which was the princely sum of £350 and is gobsmacking value for money. How much was the above, if you don't mind me asking?

The RRP is £2800 but you can find them for about £2350
It has a one piece case so no case back and the best lume of any of my watches
The movement is the 8L35 which is undecorated and unadjusted base model of the 9S55
Used in the Grand Seiko range

 
Looks nice but that's rather a lot for an ETA 2824 watch. Your Image is a bit noisy, is the fit and finish really good?

It doesn't use the ETA 2824 sir it uses the Seiko 8L35 the picture of which is above
But I do have many watches which use the 2824
The most expensive watch I own with that movement be it the COSC version is this new
Breitling Colt 41

 
I see Rolex have released a new 41mm kermit, like its predecessor, looks much better than the hulk IMO. as for some of the new OP colours, yuk!
 
I see Rolex have released a new 41mm kermit, like its predecessor, looks much better than the hulk IMO. as for some of the new OP colours, yuk!
I was never a fan of the Hulk always looked to big and square but the new one with the slimmer lugs does look better
But still the Kermit is King and they I don't mind the new coloured OP's

 
I've always had a thing for Rolex's, but they're almost in Harley Davidson territory now in terms of sitting on their laurels / flogging tarted-up versions of their old stuff instead of doing something fresh and new :(
 


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