I posted an incoming thread around 18 months ago when this first arrived. It was a gift to my dad and visiting the folks this evening I realised I never got around to posting the 'after' pictures.

It was listed on eBay from the son of the original owner, who father used it for racing on the Isle of Wight. The photos weren't great by any means and it looked tired. I stuck in a bid which I thought had a slim chance of being successful and surprisingly enough, I got it. Just.

When it came the pictures weren't lying, it was tired. It had a worn case, mouldy/no lume, a knackered crystal, mk something hands and a -69 caseback. But, it also had a working 861 with a correct transitional serial, an applied logo 861 dial, average DoN bezel and a nice vintage 1171 bracelet.

And it was cheap.





So off it went to STS for the works, but before it did, I was lucky enough to source a correct .022-68 caseback. Even so, this was never going to be a show stopper. It was a gift for the old man and although I love him to bits, I'm not in a position to drop thousands and thousands on the grumpy old chap. Furthermore, he's not the type to pamper a watch. As far as he's concerned a watch, especially one such as this, is a tool, and is meant to be worn as such. Therefore, this fitted the bill perfectly.

I asked for a thorough clean, full movement service, removal of remaining lume as it looked terrible, new hands, tidy up of the bracelet and a balanced polish to bring the case back to life, without removing too much metal. I subsequently put a service bezel on it when I realised the original might get more damage.

This is how it came back. Like I said, it's no concourse winner, the lack of lume on the dial and new hands don't give that warm vintage look, but for what it cost and given its current use, it's perfect. The case still shows some nicks and wear to reflect its past use, but the guys at STS truly work wonders. The sides in particular look amazing. None of the blurred, soft edges you see with many refinishes. Even the superluminova hands have worked well as it can be used in the dark again.

Strangely enough, despite the fact that it's missing a lot of the aspects that are valued in a vintage watch, I've got a soft spot for this one and it's 'value' far exceeds the sum of it's parts.

 

Looks great and it has a great story to go along with it! Thanks for sharing.

 

I am quite certain, David that your Dad deeply appreciates the thought, intention, & deep affection behind your gift to him

I lost my Father in January and not a day passes that I do not miss him, or his love & support for
me

Value what you have, & cherish it whilst it lasts

 

Sorry for your loss Patrick.

Could not agree more with your last sentence.

 

Wonderful project and sentiment.

 

Great project and sentiment.....try with the old bezel it had great character from the years it was worn.

 

Looks ace and the sentiment is just right. I too no longer have a dad to indulge with such gifts, but I do have two sons and it's pleasant to think of these prized possessions of ours passing up and down the generations. That's a clever - and true - strapline that Patek Philippe have about never actually 'owning', just 'looking after' for the next generation.

 

Both watch and story are wonderful. I wish your pops many, many years of happy wearing!

 

Actually you said the watch looked tired but in reality, all that was needed was a new set of hands... or vintage ones at least. There is NOTHING wrong with the DON bezel, 1 little chip but other than that it looked fine. No lume would bother the hell out of me tho.
If you said that one was in bad shape, what would you call mine?

BTW that service dial with no step look completely out of place in your speedy. If you are happy with it then by all means roll with it.

 

Great to see it has a new lease of life

 

Wow!

What a transformation!

I'm sure that your father will love that it came from you even if he doesn't get the heritage of the beastie

 

I didn't replace the DoN because it had a chip, I put a service bezel on there to take the hammer, while preserving the original, to be replaced at a later date.

The dial is the original step dial, just with the remnants of mouldy lume removed. No service dial in sight. I had considered reluming it but in the end, left it without. Somehow the contrast doesn't look as sharp in real life.

 

All smiles now, I bet.

 

Curious how much this project set you back?

 

Sorry about saying it was a service dial, my mistake. It just looks odd without the lume i suppose.

 

No worries. It doesn't have the warmth of a dial with nicely aged vintage lume, but 80% of the lume had already fallen off.

It serves it's purpose superbly at the minute and we can always refit the original bezel and relume in the future, to make it correct (although the hands and case back are correct, they obviously aren't original).

 

Initial price was considerably less than 'poor' on speedmaster101, with an STS service on top.