I have a watch question too (ID and the idea of getting it serviced)

Jayne

Jayne

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Organizing the safe today and found that dad had left a few watches behind (I was storing his stuff while he was moving). This one is one of the few 'family' things we have from dad's family, and I'm curious to know exactly which model this is and what year it was made.

I'm thinking I should get it cleaned up by a pro before giving it back to dad. Not a full factory refurbish job, but maybe it can be cleaned and polished up, replace the (likely) gross gasket, etc? It started right up after I moved it around a bit.

Those of you with sentimental watches, is getting it serviced a good idea for a sentimental piece or is better left "as worn" by the original owner?


IMG_3708.jpg IMG_3709.jpg
 
Automatics need to be serviced every few years. It's a standard thing, like going for a tune up. I'd put it in for regular service and get it cleaned up while your at it. Cost is about $200.
Gsimmons, are you in the business? If so, I've got a Seamaster that needs service too.
 
It should be serviced. I would also replace the crystal, but I do not polish the case or bracelet unless they are in really bad shape.

For most of the past 20 years a stainless seamaster has been my daily watch. It has been serviced several times, the crystal replaced once and the case and bracelet have never been polished.
 
I like Omega’s aswell.
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I would have that Omega checked, serviced and polished and wear it. That piece will come out very nice and you’ll leave it to your kid ... a true family heirloom to keep on passing down!
 
I have three Omega's my grandfather left. Pretty cool watches.

I admit that they all need servicing now and I never wear them anymore. I should get them tuned up. But it got expensive every couple years doing 3 watches.
 
FYI I'm also a fan of vintage watches. Especially, omegas.
 
NKD said:
I should get them tuned up. But it got expensive every couple years doing 3 watches.
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How do you safely "park" one of these? If you're not going to wear it there must be some way to keep it from degrading just sitting there.
 
concepthomes1 said:
You guys and your classics......

These are truly generational timepieces:

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I wear my apple watch all the time for work, really makes it easy to read/respond to texts while in customer meetings without looking like you're not paying attention like pulling a phone out does.

Looking forward to the day I'm not working for a living and can dump the smart watch. No one will text the old retired guy puttering in the garden.
 
Jayne said:
How do you safely "park" one of these? If you're not going to wear it there must be some way to keep it from degrading just sitting there.
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They do make little auto-winder dealies. They keep it wound up. Have no experience and I'm the wrong guy to ask, as I don't know if they keep them running.

Finely made tiny little super complicated mechanical gadgets: I suspect they are like Sig pistols and only work for a week or so, before needing complete overhauls.

I keed I keed! About the watches being as bad as Sigs. But they do need oil and cleaning and whatnot.

Edit: Here's yer Glock watch Jayne:
https://www.amazon.com/Casio-Tough-...ID=377110011&psd=1&keywords=casio+tough+solar
 
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I don’t personally like winders. I think they are unnecessary and put undue stress on the watch. I’ve seen a couple high grade watches destroyed by winders. One was a Rolex Yachtsman that the rotor came completely apart and wore the upper rotor axle jewel bigger.
 
gsimmons said:
I don’t personally like winders. I think they are unnecessary and put undue stress on the watch. I’ve seen a couple high grade watches destroyed by winders. One was a Rolex Yachtsman that the rotor came completely apart and wore the upper rotor axle jewel bigger.
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So there is no safe way to park them? You just leave them and have them serviced if you ever want to put them back in service again?
 
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Jayne said:
So there is no safe way to park them? You just leave them and have them serviced if you ever want to put them back in service again?
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Correct, if you’re not going to use them for years. It’s a good idea to have them serviced before you start wearing them regularly again.
 
NKD said:
Edit: Here's yer Glock watch Jayne:
https://www.amazon.com/Casio-Tough-...ID=377110011&psd=1&keywords=casio+tough+solar
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I use the digital version of this. Cheap and tough. I’m hell on watches.

Gave away two nice fossils because I never wore them, even get beat up while I’m not working. Tried a plain stainless Fossil for work, but after a couple months it kept shearing pins in the band...

These eat a band every 3-6 months. Eventually wallow out the pin holes so I get another. Of the two, neither “meter” for the charge state has ever come off full. One has lived in my always open toolbox top in the corner of the garage for the last couple years after it was replaced. For all I know the solar deal is a gimmick and it just uses a battery. But for cheap, tough and not HUGE (like a gshock). I like em.

Just killed the pinholes in the solartough and I’ve been wearing a Seiko 5 during a trim job. Debating using the Seiko til it’s killed or getting the exact model you linked. Would love to have a nice collection but first have to figure out how not to kill em lol
 
If y'all are looking for service, I'd say give @gsimmons a shot. His office is on the same block as mine and seems to do a brisk business. We both have green doors and we were ALWAYS getting older folks climbing the 25 steps up to our office asking for watch repair. Easily 3-4 times a week until I finally put a big sign on the door pointing folks in the right direction.
 
Jayne said:
I dunno... solar? Sounds pretty high tech, maybe that's a Gen 6 thing after they put the finger grooves back on, remove the slide serrations and chamber it in 9x18.
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I got my wife a Casio solar last year. No issues at all. Works fine. Probably even more reliable than a Glock.
 
Trevillian said:
I use the digital version of this. Cheap and tough. I’m hell on watches.

Gave away two nice fossils because I never wore them, even get beat up while I’m not working. Tried a plain stainless Fossil for work, but after a couple months it kept shearing pins in the band...

These eat a band every 3-6 months. Eventually wallow out the pin holes so I get another. Of the two, neither “meter” for the charge state has ever come off full. One has lived in my always open toolbox top in the corner of the garage for the last couple years after it was replaced. For all I know the solar deal is a gimmick and it just uses a battery. But for cheap, tough and not HUGE (like a gshock). I like em.

Just killed the pinholes in the solartough and I’ve been wearing a Seiko 5 during a trim job. Debating using the Seiko til it’s killed or getting the exact model you linked. Would love to have a nice collection but first have to figure out how not to kill em lol
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Don't think mine have a battery. Because I've left them in a drawer and they died. Back in sun and they come to life.
Although I am a desk jockey, and not terribly hard on watches, I've had one at least 5 years now and it still looks and works great.
Bargain for sure.
 
My wife and I have 4 self winders that are in use daily and in rotation. We seem to have them serviced in about 4 year intervals. GMT..Yachtmaster..Turnograph[Thunderbird], and a Datejust. All are handgun tortured on a bi-daily basis and all are going strong.
 
NKD said:
Don't think mine have a battery. Because I've left them in a drawer and they died. Back in sun and they come to life.
Although I am a desk jockey, and not terribly hard on watches, I've had one at least 5 years now and it still looks and works great.
Bargain for sure.
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Good to know, thanks:) yeah haven’t found anything better in that price range. They make it about 4 years. Then the plastic pin holes wind up hogged out so I get another lol
 
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Today’s watches are pretty much disposable compared to the Omegas, Hamiltons, Rolex ... etc of of Grandpas. I have a a half dozen or so I pull out and look at and put back. For daily wear I have a Citizen Promaster EcoDrive than has been thru about everything ... work, range, vacations and so on. No batteries and I set the time when the date needs adjusting or for Daylight Saving switches ... it does an excellent job on keeping time. For special occasion dress, I pull out my Pop’s Hamilton (damn tiny and thin compared to my Citizen) but that is not that often anymore. My Promaster Diver has been beaten on and aside from replacing the strap ... if you care about wear and not looks so much try a NATO nylon strap!!! For me that thing keeps going but I do have my doubts it will last like the vintage watches posted in this thread ... 60’s means 50+ years old ... I’ll be lucky to get 1/4 that before it gives up its ghost.
 
BillWild said:
Anyone on here work on or know someone who works on a mid sixties Bulova Accutron?
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Certain parts are very scarce and expensive. First thing I’d suggest is put a battery in it, if it humms the electronics are good and I can possibly fix it.
 
Jayne said:
Organizing the safe today and found that dad had left a few watches behind (I was storing his stuff while he was moving). This one is one of the few 'family' things we have from dad's family, and I'm curious to know exactly which model this is and what year it was made.

I'm thinking I should get it cleaned up by a pro before giving it back to dad. Not a full factory refurbish job, but maybe it can be cleaned and polished up, replace the (likely) gross gasket, etc? It started right up after I moved it around a bit.

Those of you with sentimental watches, is getting it serviced a good idea for a sentimental piece or is better left "as worn" by the original owner?


View attachment 90742 View attachment 90743
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be sure to also 'service' the bracelet spring bars, yours looks bent.

also do not be tempted on a 'half arsed' service job, in for a penny, in for a pound... most decent watchmakers will not take shortcuts. if the watch has features to provide water resistance, be sure the procedures are followed.

I know of one original Rolex Sub owner that did take those shortcuts as evidenced by the damage his example received at the bottom of High Rock Lake after his watch slipped off of his arm at his dock. :(

I know of another Rolex owner that 'snubbed' my recommendation of a service person and 'cheeped out'.. saw him other day with a different watch on his wrist... asked where the Rolex was... "would not keep running" was the response... boy did i ever refrain from "i told you so" but I did remind him of where he could get it repaired for certain and be factory specs when done..... ;)
 
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NCFubar said:
Today’s watches are pretty much disposable compared to the Omegas, Hamiltons, Rolex ... etc of of Grandpas. I have a a half dozen or so I pull out and look at and put back. For daily wear I have a Citizen Promaster EcoDrive than has been thru about everything ... work, range, vacations and so on. No batteries and I set the time when the date needs adjusting or for Daylight Saving switches ... it does an excellent job on keeping time. For special occasion dress, I pull out my Pop’s Hamilton (damn tiny and thin compared to my Citizen) but that is not that often anymore. My Promaster Diver has been beaten on and aside from replacing the strap ... if you care about wear and not looks so much try a NATO nylon strap!!! For me that thing keeps going but I do have my doubts it will last like the vintage watches posted in this thread ... 60’s means 50+ years old ... I’ll be lucky to get 1/4 that before it gives up its ghost.
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I have a Promaster Dive, too. I really like it. I have a few NATO bands for it as well. I like those, but if I had a complaint it would be that they are so slick that the heavy watch really wants to rotate around the wrist a lot. Kind of annoys me. Going to try and get one out of canvas or leather and see if it feel a little grippier.
 
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