closing tag is in template navbar
timefactors watches



TZ-UK Fundraiser
Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Lazer welding to restore case

  1. #1
    Master
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    West Yorkshire
    Posts
    3,405

    Lazer welding to restore case

    Not sure if this has been posted but spotted this on the STS site. Rather impressive what can be achieved these days with lazer welding

    https://swisstimeservices.co.uk/2019...refurbishment/

  2. #2
    Quote Originally Posted by Schofie View Post
    Not sure if this has been posted but spotted this on the STS site. Rather impressive what can be achieved these days with lazer welding

    https://swisstimeservices.co.uk/2019...refurbishment/
    It really can transform watches, but only if the subsequent lapping is done well.

  3. #3
    Master sweets's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Bristol - UK
    Posts
    6,031
    So who offers this, other than Watchworks Bristol and STS?
    Does Simon Freese?
    Anyone else?
    I am asking as I may have a need in future for something small.
    Specifically, I have a 1940s chrono (Lemania of course) that is gradually wearing the back of the lugs out. Some new material needs to be put down and ground back in order to stop the springbar holes emerging from the back of the lugs.
    It doesn't need doing yet, but I can see it will in 12-18 months or so.
    This scale of job (on a watch that is probably not be worth a fortune) cannot really be sent to any of the big boys. Rocco doesn't take any vintage stuff at all, and costs of the larger players can be prohibitive (especially if they insist on it being part of a full service, when a service is not actually required).

    All suggestions gratefully received.
    Dave

  4. #4
    Craftsman
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    London
    Posts
    369
    This chap has quite an impressive portfolio of work, I haven't used his services myself but the workmanship looks amazing!

    https://www.facebook.com/Lapinist/
    https://www.instagram.com/lapinist_watchrestoration

  5. #5
    Master Seiko7A38's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    S.W. England
    Posts
    4,438
    Quote Originally Posted by minskii View Post
    This chap has quite an impressive portfolio of work, I haven't used his services myself but the workmanship looks amazing!

    https://www.facebook.com/Lapinist/
    https://www.instagram.com/lapinist_watchrestoration
    Yes, Kamil's work is extremely impressive. I discussed restoring this dinged Racer (Orient) J39 watch case with him last year.




    He quoted me 150 Euros at the time, which I thought was very reasonable but as the watch had only cost 95, I didn't ultimately proceed.
    Last edited by Seiko7A38; 13th November 2020 at 12:47.

  6. #6
    Craftsman
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    St Albans
    Posts
    316

    Lazer welding to restore case

    I know ALS has been using laser welding for a while to fill deeper scratches, etc. But, as another member mentioned, it is not cheap and the “value” of the watch has to justify the price of the work!

    BW,
    Chi Kai


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Last edited by Ctam; 13th November 2020 at 16:23.

  7. #7
    Recently been working at a company that had a guy who did laser welding, I was amazed when I used to watch him, some of the intricate welding he used to do, never thought about watch cases being welded though. I was even more impressed that he could weld titanium, stainless steel, cast iron.

  8. #8
    Grand Master Onelasttime's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    Everywhere, yet nowhere...
    Posts
    13,707
    I had some work done on a watch a while back:

    https://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.p...ejust-be-fixed

  9. #9
    Apprentice
    Join Date
    Oct 2020
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    31
    Quote Originally Posted by Seiko7A38 View Post
    Yes, Kamil's work is extremely impressive. I discussed restoring this dinged Racer (Orient) J39 watch case with him last year.




    He quoted me 150 Euros at the time, which I thought was very reasonable but as the watch had only cost 95, I didn't ultimately proceed.
    I had a quote for E_3_50 for restoring the case on an Omega, so sounds like you passed-up a bargain!

    Mind you possibly a more complex geometry on the Omega, it's like this one:
    http://www.urdelar.se/Case,%20Omega%...ref:%20168.015

  10. #10
    Apprentice
    Join Date
    Oct 2020
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    31
    Quote Originally Posted by clarkes View Post
    I had a quote for E_3_50 for restoring the case on an Omega, so sounds like you passed-up a bargain!

    Mind you possibly a more complex geometry on the Omega, it's like this one:
    http://www.urdelar.se/Case,%20Omega%...ref:%20168.015
    A quote from Kamil, to be clear. And he had a 9month lead time.

    Good luck to him - his work is stunning and 350 felt reasonable to me, but the dial/hands aren't good enough to justify it.

  11. #11
    Master
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    ' EXEMPLO DUCEMUS '
    Posts
    5,770
    I have just had the drilled lugs vintage Mulco laser welded. I went through ALSAL as always who sent it away to someone who carried out the work. I have not had the watch back yet, so I cannot report how good of a job has been done.

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