closing tag is in template navbar
timefactors watches



TZ-UK Fundraiser
Results 1 to 21 of 21

Thread: Advice please on polishing / refinishing

  1. #1
    Master Top Cat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Reading
    Posts
    2,360

    Advice please on polishing / refinishing

    I took a punt on a watch listed on ebay as 'LNIB'. The watch arrived yesterday and I am really disappointed. There are multiple dings where the glass meets the bezel, a few on top of one of the lugs and a scratch down the side of the bezel.

    The seller says they will 'polish out' and has offered a full refund or a partial refund to cover the costs of the polishing / refinishing.

    Normally I would just take the refund but I have never seen another version of this particular model for sale and it is a beauty.

    I would like to know if there are any experts out there that could tell me if these marks can really be removed, approximate cost and any recommendations as to who to go to for the polish/refinish to get this looking mint again?

    The dinks:





    The watch:



    Thanks in advance.

  2. #2
    Banned
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Bangkok
    Posts
    4,666
    Blog Entries
    1
    IMHO Tony everything will polish out, except the dings in the bezel, they look much too deep. I would say a new bezel will be needed.

  3. #3
    Grand Master
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Wakefield, West Yorkshire
    Posts
    22,498
    The marks around the glass will be hardest to remove, and the bezel needs to come off to do this properly. There's a risk/likelihood of marking the heavy grained finish on the case whilst doing this, which means it would need refinishing. I`m assuming the bezel also holds the glass in place, so there's the gasket/seal to potentially replace. If the case top needed to be refinished it needs doing on a lapping machine to get it right.

    This is a job which could escalate, and the lack of spare parts availability would put me off doing it. Rocco at Watchworks might be the best bet, he has a lapping machine and (more importantly) a LOT of experience.

    Paul
    Last edited by walkerwek1958; 12th September 2013 at 09:54.

  4. #4
    Master Top Cat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Reading
    Posts
    2,360
    Quote Originally Posted by java View Post
    IMHO Tony everything will polish out, except the dings in the bezel, they look much too deep. I would say a new bezel will be needed.
    Quote Originally Posted by walkerwek1958 View Post
    The marks around the glass will be hardest to remove, and the glass needs to come out to do this properly. A replacement gasket needs to be available because there's the risk of damage when it's disturbed, and that's where the problem lies. I doubt whether parts will be available generally for this watch and it's a braver man than me who would take a chance on being able to refit the original gasket.

    I`ve no idea who's an accredited repairer for these and I don`t know much about the brand thesedays. If it was a TAG or Omega I`d be happy to take this job on, but the lack of parts availability is a no-no for me. A pity, because it isn`t too difficult a job to refinish.

    Paul
    Thanks Tim and Paul.

    It is a pretty rare watch, to get a replacement bezel and gasket it would need to go to GP themselves I presume (if they have replacements at all for this partcular model). Knowing GP's servicing costs it's not going to be cheap, if they can do it at all.

    I guess I am talking myself into returning it for a full refund or asking for a substantial partial refund and live with it?

  5. #5
    Banned
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    On The Fringe
    Posts
    17,010
    Quote Originally Posted by Top Cat View Post
    I guess I am talking myself into returning it for a full refund or asking for a substantial partial refund and live with it?
    I consider a cameras macro setting can spoil our enjoyment sometimes.

    That said, the marks are there for sure, so I'd agree with tackling the seller. Whether you can live with it even if a part refund is issued only you can tell.

    Lovely piece.

  6. #6
    Master Ian_O's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Berkshire
    Posts
    1,345
    Marks or not, that's a beautiful watch. I've always liked a combination of blue and gold on a cream dial and this one looks stunning.

  7. #7
    Craftsman
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Groningen, The Netherlands
    Posts
    841
    Lovely piece, not LNIB, but it can be restored. Macroshots always make it look worse than IRL.

  8. #8
    Master Top Cat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Reading
    Posts
    2,360
    Quote Originally Posted by burnsey66 View Post
    I consider a cameras macro setting can spoil our enjoyment sometimes.
    Absolutely agree! looking down at the wrist they aren't that noticeable but now I know they are there they draw my focus.

    We are lucky enough to be able to liquidate watches for cash pretty quickly in times of emergency, if I take the part refund I think I will always be worried about whether I will be able to move it on in a hurry if I had to. Something else to consider!

  9. #9
    How in the name of God did the seller think this was LNIB

    Beautiful watch though and worth getting sorted, I'd take a partial refund and put it towards a refinish

  10. #10
    Master Marios's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Cyprus
    Posts
    4,808
    Tried this a few months ago at a local shop and was really impressed tbh. If the seller agrees on a partial refund I would get it fixed.

  11. #11
    Master
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    London, United Kingdom
    Posts
    1,250
    It's a beauty, so I would also say partial refund. Although from the sellers point of view, that depends on where you take it, as I'm sure he will prefer to have the watch back if you needed to go to GP, because the price for a refinish will be huge and then you would have to wait a while too

  12. #12
    Master
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    London
    Posts
    5,073
    That is a nice watch for sure. I would check with the likes of Rocco and also Genesis to get their view on ease/availability if parts needed/cost and then see what the seller will offer. I hope it all works out as it's a beauty - and a bit different too.

  13. #13
    Master Top Cat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Reading
    Posts
    2,360
    Quote Originally Posted by walkerwek1958 View Post
    Rocco at Watchworks might be the best bet, he has a lapping machine and (more importantly) a LOT of experience.

    Paul
    Quote Originally Posted by ASW1 View Post
    That is a nice watch for sure. I would check with the likes of Rocco
    Thanks Guys for the heads up. I spoke to Rocco who subsequently looked at this thread and is confident he can return the watch to its former glory. The seller is refunding me Rocco's costs plus a few beers so a happy outcome for everyone.

    Once again the TZ community comes up trumps. Thanks very much.

  14. #14
    Fantastic news! Always good when it works out well, and seeing some of Rocco's work on here, I'm sure you'll be happy.
    It's just a matter of time...

  15. #15
    Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Living for the here and now , but mindful of the past.
    Posts
    2,549
    Quote Originally Posted by Omegamanic View Post
    Fantastic news! Always good when it works out well, and seeing some of Rocco's work on here, I'm sure you'll be happy.
    I was just about to pm the OP on this, but Rocco will have no issue with this I'm sure .

    Paul is correct about the potential for things going wrong , but it is possible with some time and patience to remove marks like this successfully without any issues .

    Loving the watch by the way .

  16. #16
    Grand Master Carlton-Browne's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Berlin, London and sometimes Dublin
    Posts
    14,907
    That's a lovely G-P and I have no doubt that it will be in safe hands with Rocco. Interesting that it doesn't have a signed crown - this makes me slightly more relaxed that my early 80s Gyromatic also doesn't have one.
    In the Sotadic Zone, apparently.

  17. #17
    Master IVK's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Leicester
    Posts
    2,375
    Good stuff, that is a beautiful watch. Please do show us the results.

  18. #18
    Very nice and like others I look forward to seeing the result of Rocco's work. 2 questions, model name and is it a fairly recent model?

  19. #19
    Master Top Cat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Reading
    Posts
    2,360
    Quote Originally Posted by liggy View Post
    Very nice and like others I look forward to seeing the result of Rocco's work. 2 questions, model name and is it a fairly recent model?
    The watch is the Girard Perregaux, model ref 2598. The first series of the model was released as the "1960 Vintage" and has that engraved on the back. GP then realised that they produced some similar models in the 70's and the second series was released as the "1970 Vintage" with the same serial number. Both watches are identical. From what I can find out, it came in 3 versions, stainless steel with a black face, stainless steel with the cream face (mine) and a Rose Gold version.

    I believe they date from around 2002 - 2005? There is a black face 1960 Vintage without strap or box on Chrono 24 at the moment but it doesn't look a patch on the cream face (It's also not a rattrapante as described in the ad, the first chrono hand times the seconds, the bigger hand behind it times minutes. So the max the chrono can register is 59 mins and 59 seconds).

    http://www.chrono24.com/en/girardper...arch/index.htm


    Full report to follow when I get it back from Rocco!

  20. #20
    Journeyman
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    London, UK
    Posts
    59
    Can't contribute to the actual question, but just wanted to say that that is one beautiful watch. Good luck, hope it sorts out well!

  21. #21
    Thanks TopCat!

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Do Not Sell My Personal Information