Not your ordinary 357 magnum but a ref 20357 Polerouter. Since I happened to come by a NOS case and dial I have looked for the right donor watch. Preferably with a bad case and dial. A week ago I bought this baby at a local auction site. It looked nice in the pics and I was surprised my low bid won. Once I got it home I soon understood my transplantation plan was off. This watch is way too nice to be a donor. Way too nice! The case just has some very small swirls and the case back some scratches. I would say it is untouched (no polishing done) and original. Dial has a couple of spots and oxidized “bezel” and hands. Original crown and crystal. Movement smooth and as of yet it has run 59 hours and still ticking. OK – better luck next time – I just have to find a 20357 in worse state... This one has the ref and serial between the lugs: 20357-2 My NOS case has the ref on case back: Cases, crowns, crystals are exactly the same but the Universal logo and globe on caseback of the 357-2 has more of a cast appearence compared to the NOS case: s engraved/etched/sandblasted appearence. First the NOS 20357 case back: Then the 20357-2 case back:
Bumbing this thread one and a half year later with a wrist shot (still have not found a suitable donor for the parts but I am not in a hurry...)
Buying a watch for parts and then being unable to put it to death - sounds familiar. There are two or three pieces in my watchbox that were pardoned by the governor.