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Making Old Look New ?

2K views 66 replies 18 participants last post by  TheTigerUK 
#1 ·
It is probably just me, When old watches are made to look new again just never hits the mark. I understand a new crystal and gaskets, But to do so much work on an older watch when one can see the original beauty of the watch mixed up with the new redone parts just has too much contrast in the overall look. Yeah, I know it is just me.....But I also know you see it too ;)
 
#7 ·
^^^ Guy, Things like fresh new looking lume on worn original hands, Case Refinishing/Polishing that looks fresh but still has nicks and dings elsewhere...Dials that are obviously aged with new/wrong looking lume. Wrong colors etc...Heck even the wrong New profiled crystal looks off...If I meant this towards any one I would mention there name. Just observations and opinion.
 
#8 ·
Well, on polishing I always think it curves edges and looks too blurry, but it can work. Case wear has no impact on dial wear so...a new dial in an old case doesn't bother me. We see that on originals anyway.

Relumes, I'm for them, especially if done well. I have a niggle about it, of course everyone does...but I see it as well worth doing on brown black original lume. And if done right I think can really look beautiful. Jonas' bullhead springs to mind aswell as ones Tom and Dave M and Duncan have done.

Fresh new lume on worn original hands I'd agree...but maybe only if it is crisp green or white lume. Toning it down with yellow and blacks I think can make it look a lot better....if a hand is too worn then surely it would always look poor, relume or not.

Crystals, well I'm with you there.. but even the 6105 has a large range of originals, type 1 2 3 etc., that all work in their own right. But when I see double domed blue ar on a 6309 etc..I can't stand that...:)
I do tend to leave a lightly scratched crystal more than I used to.
I think there is a lot of resistance to restoration because of what others might think, maybe if one is trying to sell. And also of course resistance because of originality. But then if originality is the issue I would argue against any replacement parts! And that includes train wheels.
 
#9 ·
I think it depends on the watch, in case by case scenarios and also the person, all subjective. Saw Spencer’s Friday video and the ufo that the customer was interested in reluming. He adviced against it, and I agree, it would have lost some of its vintage characteristics. I have a watch for restoration that I’ll probably end up having to ask Guy to relume, the level of deterioration is a little over the top that it’s no longer pleasing to look at.
 
#12 ·
Well for me...i love using original parts as much as possible ...but i also will use the very best quality aftermarket parts too when it comes to seals and gaskets from Adrian VTA and crystals like Spencer Klein and Jonathan's and even bezel inserts and such .....i prefer relumes as well...hands and dials with black on lume areas needs to be addressed...any way we can put these beautiful watches back together and enjoy them...God Bless,John
If it were not for all of you with your great work and sharing that knowledge....we would not be able to do what we do...truly appreciate it

Sent from my LGL41C using Tapatalk
 
#13 ·
Come on fella's its only an old Seiko.
Polish the case until it has a mirror finish, don't bother reluming the hands or dial, it takes too long, just fit shiny new AM parts. If the dial doesn't fit, glue it on and if the hand holes are slightly too big use a MIG welder.
Then join a forum and give yourself a fancy name, something like WatchquackUK, and proclaim its what your customers want.

Hat, coat>>>>>>>>>>Gone
 
#14 ·
Well i hope more will not do work like this...it makes it harder for us all....

Sent from my LGL41C using Tapatalk
 
#15 ·
I have found The most important Refresh has most to do with the
Person doing the work. After Hundred or so Most came out beautiful. The worst is OVER Polishing Losing the Edge of the case line as spoken above. Reluming, Gaskets, Really a Full Servicing is Nice when necessary. IMHO its a learning experience as in purchasing a Watch
"Buy the Seller"Same as in who does the work.
I have been Extremely Fortunate I pay what is wanted and expect
Beautiful Work to be done. As Randal Benson would Say" The better condition of the watch you send me the better my work will come out>" It's a JOY opening a pkg from the Mail Box and Not be able to stop Smiling
Nice Topic.
 
#16 ·
Yea, I'm still driving around in my o'l 70' Mustang. All those Rust holes along with the Blue Smoke coming out of the tail pipe just give it Character. The Chassis never been lubed so you can hear me coming from around the corner a mile away and that thing is just all over the road from those Loose Steering parts and Dry Rotted tires but one thing I can say For Sure: The Finish is original, Dull as Heck, and it's never been Polished!.
 
#18 ·
Tom, The automobile analogy is always a good laugh, Thanks for that. It just may be that the work should mimic the original rather than make it looking newer, Often the sympathetic feel is thrown out there...Well, Sympathy sounds more like "Oh well I felt I did the least without making any noticeable difference" I can't do the work most do...I don't want to. If the work and effort put forth looked like it was original Maybe, Just Maybe it would look as nice as Factory work rather than a re-do of sorts. Just thinking out loud and there is always room for improvement rather than praise.
 
#19 ·
David,
I only had Humor in mind with my post. I've been working with metal since the 70's and I'm always very careful when it comes to refinishing. Case lines can be kept intact and factory finishes can be restored for the most part with refinishing work.
Case lines that have previously been damaged by poor workmanship can't be restored and large dings + dents can only be minimized. I just prefer a watch that looks as close as possible to what it looked like when new. If you lived close by I'd invite you over for a tutorial.........:)
 
#21 ·
this is so complicated. some people treat watches as art
projects, some as history projects, some as art history
projects, there's good and bad work done in all categories,
and then there's the whole matter of taste, which is simply
indisputable, and always has been.

i advise you to please yourself, whoever you are, and i think
any job worth doing is worth doing as well as possible. and
the bottom line is, if you're not pissing somebody off, you're
probably not doing good work :) seriously.
 
#22 ·
this is so complicated. some people treat watches as art
projects, some as history projects, some as art history
projects, there's good and bad work done in all categories,
and then there's the whole matter of taste, which is simply
indisputable, and always has been.

i advise you to please yourself, whoever you are, and i think
any job worth doing is worth doing as well as possible. and
the bottom line is, if you're not pissing somebody off, you're
probably not doing good work :) seriously.





Punctuation is a job worth doing properly ;)
 
#29 ·
well no matter what u do...make sure u are happy with it...if u are not...no matter who else is...does it really matter?...God Bless,John
 
#30 ·
nope, it doesn't. i wasn't attacking anybody personally, i was just trying to make sense of the thread. i had my punctuation skills judged, though the
error has yet to be pointed out and is non-existent, and i've been told i've "failed miserably" without any any explanation of how....this is just weird,
from where i'm sitting.
 
#32 ·
Oh Lord Guy, Not at all. Anyone who visits any internet source searching for help bringing a junker back to life stops here and the job gets done to there liking. Shouldn't take posts personally. Heck the world is a big place.
 
#47 ·
well, classism is classism, and i hate classism, i think it's
a big part of what's wrong with this world. i would never
judge another person based on their punctuation, or deem
them to be failures, that is sitting on a very high horse.


if i could sit and have a beer with you, i would. you seem
like a guy with a good sense of humor :)
 
#46 ·
Not so sure John. I get the impression unless it's a sympathetic restore... it's a waste of time.

Dave, do you not see how that's what comes across at all? I mean just a day before, I did s 6105 restore thread, the watch took me 2 full days to work on and I charged 95 quid. EDBOner does a Kakume restore thread yesterday aswell and to my mind these two threads were in quite close proximity to this one. And not long after, where your posts were the most critical in my 6105 thread, which is fine if upfront...you say in this here:

"But to do so much work on an older watch when one can see the original beauty of the watch mixed up with the new redone parts just has too much contrast in the overall look."

And you feel I'm getting the wrong end of the stick and should see a doctor if I take it personally? I mean, maybe I should as I do get anxiety and depression, so could be worthwhile I guess. In all honesty if I have got the wrong end of the stick then fine. But I dont think what I'm saying is without reason.

Anyway... apologies if I am overreacting but when the first couple of replies are from someone whose watch it was and someone who never comments on my restos and seemingly comes across to say the same thing as you, well maybe I am seeing what isn't there..
 
#50 ·
Well as i speak just for myself...this thread has seriously went off the rails...to those who criticized those who try their very best to help us all restore these beautiful watches...my question to you all....Why...if u do not like what they have done...ok...that is your opinion...u are entitled to that...but you are wrong...these great men and women do what they can to help us all and we should thank them for sharing their hard work with us....i personally know how hard this is and what skill level it takes...no many can do work at this level...to those who criticize others...before you write any more letter...remember this...it is easy to throw stones...but someday you too will be the ones receiving them...and those who criticized grammar and punctuation...really on here...grow up...we all are poor at best....i know i am...this forum and others should never be used as a sword....it should be used as a tool to help others and share knowledge and friendships...if you think.i am wrong....so be it...anyone who gets so upset due to posts on here...life is way too short for all that....i want to personally thank all the great watchmakers who have helped so many of us...please do not let people get u upset or discouraged.....we all appreciate you more than u know....God Bless,John

Sent from my LGL41C using Tapatalk
 
#51 · (Edited)
i agree with you completely. and i would like to apologize for
the de-evolution of this thread, it's my fault, i just don't
like being bullied by people that don't know the first thing about
me. i think anyone should feel safe and respected when
commenting in a forum like this. you know, there are people
who are seriously challenged by putting their thoughts on
a page, when i run into their writing, i make every effort
to understand what they're writing....
 
#52 ·
I really think you guys have got the wrong end of the stick ref this thread.
Ive had work done by Guy, Duncan and James Hayman, all the work has been sympathetic to the watch in its current condition, and its all been first class work.
Im pretty sure that Dave is referring to something like a clapped out 7002 with a scratched up dial which has been relumed to glow like Fukashima reactor no3, and has a battered case that's been polished to death, but still has all the dents left in it. Its old and worn and someone has tried to make it look new.

As for the punctuation/english grammer side show, that was a case of, pull the pin out, toss it in, and see what happens. Some trolls are sneaky.
 
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