Reply With QuoteThat looks fantastic.
Congratulations and enjoy.
I received my Mark II back from STS this morning.
I'd been meaning to get it serviced for a very long time, but just never got around to it. I couldn't decide what I wanted to do with it, whether I wanted to give it the spa treatment or not. In the end, after Simon from STS sent me a video showing their Mark II case refinishing work, I decided to send it in for a full service and case refinish. I also decided to change the hand set, which I know divides opinion(!), but I'd never got on with the tobacco brown hands against the green markers of the dial.
Anyway, here are some photos that show how badly pitted and over polished the case was:
And after STS worked their magic:
I think it's a big improvement, and I can't wait to wear it. I'm going to put it on a black Cordovan rally strap rather than the 1162/173 bracelet.
That looks fantastic.
Congratulations and enjoy.
It looks great , they did a fantastic job !
What a fantastic transformation.
I would imagine you you are over the moon.
Good hand choice in my opinion, nice job too.
Jaw dropping, great job. Reminds me of sword polishing/restoration:
http://swordpolisher.com/beforeandafter.html
Thanks for all the comments!
I think it's fair to say that the case was a right dogs dinner, and STS have worked a minor miracle with a combination of laser-welding, lapping and polishing.
It certainly wasn't a cheap service, but I'm glad it's done now.
Wonderful transformation!
It's great that we now (well for a couple of years) have a "one stop shop" for the full treatment of our vintage Omegas, movement, warranty, lapping/welding. Complete peace of mind...at a cost of course ;-)
I'd even wear it battered!
I did, a lot :)Originally Posted by Dan95
I'd even wear it battered!
Partly why I thought I should give it some love and attention!
Wow - that looks fantastic.
I noticed yesterday a MKII Speedy has just come into the place I recently got my De Ville chrono from. The case isn't as bad as this was, but definitely needs work. I was wondering - just for curiosity's sake you understand - how much a restoration like this might cost?
It was £450 for the standard service (including a new crystal, crown, and pushers), and then an additional £108 for the full case refurbishment, which included laser-welding to restore metal to the case profile, before lapping and polishing.
That's not too bad honestly. I do believe that if it hadn't been for the required laser welding the total cost with full case lapping would have been £450 as refinishing is included in a full service normally.
Yeah, that's quite true webvan. The additional £108 was purely to cover the laser-welding.
That is a heck of a makeover. I was going to say you'd best look after it now, but actually I suppose the moral of work/pictures like that is, in fact, you may as well wear the hell out of it because it can always be restored...
What a great result! Enjoy wearing it and congrats on a good job well done.
Looks fabulous
Judging by the pictures, the extra £108 for welding was money well spent to minimise the loss of metal.
Absolutely. It's amazing what they can do now that they have the laser-welding equipment and the lapping machines.
Looks great Joppers! Guess you won't be selling it now ;)
Nice job indeed.
Looks lovely , they certainly did a great job.
Yep that seems like fair price to me - thanks.
I hope not!
looks great, what a massive change
money well spent..
Looks very good. Yes, STS aren't cheap but they are very helpful and excellent at what they do.
That's a sublime green on the markers!
I would say that the work done was a bargain. Gone from a battered (not patina'ed) watch to a gorgeous heritage/vintage watch.
Looks absolutely stunning now, quite tempted to keep an eye out for one myself knowing that quality of refurbishment is possible. I was also quite taken the modern Mark II racing edition when I saw it in the flesh recently, better get saving.....
That really is a beautiful job - they did similar for my dad's old Seamaster (though without the laser welding - I didn't want to erase its history, just tidy it up) and the quality is marvellous. Another oldie back from the dead!
(I miss my Mk 2. The only watch about which I've had serious and lasting seller's remorse!)
Wow what a result. Definitely 100 quid well spent there sir!
Looks great.
When you think how much you can spend on an OEM leather strap, £108 on laser welding to end up with a case so brilliantly refinished is a bargain.
It may have been re-lumed in the past. I'm not sure to be honest.
that looks stunning now,a very good job they've done
no wonder you are pleased
looks nicer with the hand change in my opinion,good choice
looks great
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