Community Stories

'69 Speedmaster - Chrono Hand Broken at Service

gdupree
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Hi all,

It's been a while since I've been around. Hope everyone is well.

Recently, I took a 145.022-69 in for service. When I got the watch back, there was no commentary from the watchmaker. To my surprise, the chrono hand had been replaced with a teardrop hand, which looks like a tritium service hand. After spending a few minutes convincing them that this was not the original hand I turned it in with, they finally admitted the original was damaged and had to be replaced, though they didn't include the original damaged hand with the other replaced parts I had requested to be returned. Luckily, I caught the issue before I left, and they then returned the original hand to me.

I'm here to ask for the community's opinion on whether it's possible to repair this hand. Its tube is clearly split. I'm fairly convinced it's the original hand, and in any case, it matches the lume and condition of the rest of the watch well. The current, non-correct teardrop hand is an eyesore to me, so I'm hoping the original can be repaired. Clearly, my former watchmaker could not (or would not) repair it. I appreciate any thoughts or comments, as I would love to avoid hunting for or paying for a matching vintage hand.

Thanks!

IMG_3506.jpg IMG_3499.jpg


Here are a couple more attractive shots of the watch prior to the replaced hand, just for fun.

dsc_0263.JPG dsc_0033.JPG
 
SOG53
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Would this one be good candidate for coffee treatment? I’ve heard of it but no idea how it’s done but someone here will know.
 
S.H.
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I have made new tubes for chrono hands, so it is possible. There is a high risk of paint damage while riveting the new tube to the hand.
 
rendo
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I had the same thing happen on a newer speedmaster chrono during service. The watchmaker replaced the tube and painted the hand by color matching the hour/minute hands.
 
Syrte
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In what country did this happen? Name and shame.
The fact they tried to hide it instead of owning up to it is completely unacceptable. If they weren’t willing or able to perform the repair themselves, they ought at least to have actioned their insurance in order to compensate you for the damage or costs of finding a correct replacement.
 
gdupree
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Syrte Syrte
In what country did this happen? Name and shame.
The fact they tried to hide it instead of owning up to it is completely unacceptable. If they weren’t willing or able to perform the repair themselves, they ought at least to have actioned their insurance in order to compensate you for the damage or costs of finding a correct replacement.

This was in Houston, TX, at Atelier Watchmakers. They seem to have no regard or understanding of what is important to vintage watch owners. This wasn’t my first disappointment with them on a vintage watch, so I should have known better. They got a small oil stain on the dial of my 145.022-74 and repainted the bezel on my '60s Seawolf, despite doing everything short of begging on my knees not to polish or visually alter the watch in any way. Even the concept of not polishing the cases seemed unthinkable to them, but at least they followed that instruction.

I struggle with the risk of shipping my watches out of state or country and have found no better options locally. In this case, the watch had an issue, and my wife was due to give birth to our first son in only four weeks. I was intent on wearing this watch for his birth, so reluctantly, I allowed them to work on it. They did complete the work in time for it to be with me when he was born; I just wish the quality had been better. About a week later, they asked me to clarify for them what the correct hand was supposed to look like in order to look for a replacement. Considering they didn't notice the differences in a completely different hand for a different movement, I had little faith in them to find a period-correct and visually consistent hand to replace it and did not pursue it. But, mildly to their credit, they did make some effort to make good.

I gave them more chances than I should have because I desperately wanted to find a local watchmaker to form an ongoing relationship with, but I have made my final mistake with them. I'm now just hoping I can find a way to repair the damaged tube.
 
DON
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Wonder if a pin vice can squeeze the tube closed?

Can remove the hand and bury it in some dirt for a few weeks and see what happens

The coffee or tea method will only age the luminous, but could make it too dark. Tea might work better

Can't change the tail though
 
S.H.
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DON DON
Wonder if a pin vice can squeeze the tube closed?
This trick may work on a regular sweep hand but it usually fails on a chrono hand: too much acceleration on reset, the hand won't keep its zero position.

That's why some factory service insist on swapping original handsets for new ones. It's much easier than trying to work with old hands and it works everytime.
 
DON
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S.H. S.H.
This trick may work on a regular sweep hand but it usually fails on a chrono hand: too much acceleration on reset, the hand won't keep its zero position.

That's why some factory service insist on swapping original handsets for new ones. It's much easier than trying to work with old hands and it works everytime.

true
 
desygityaso
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gdupree gdupree
This was in Houston, TX, at Atelier Watchmakers. They seem to have no regard or understanding of what is important to vintage watch owners. This wasn’t my first disappointment with them on a vintage watch, so I should have known better. They got a small oil stain on the dial of my 145.022-74 and repainted the bezel on my '60s Seawolf, despite doing everything short of begging on my knees not to polish or visually alter the watch in any way. Even the concept of not polishing the cases seemed unthinkable to them, but at least they followed that instruction.

I struggle with the risk of shipping my watches out of state or country and have found no better options locally. In this case, the watch had an issue, and my wife was due to give birth to our first son in only four weeks. I was intent on wearing this watch for his birth, so reluctantly, I allowed them to work on it. They did complete the work in time for it to be with me when he was born; I just wish the quality had been better. About a week later, they asked me to clarify for them what the correct hand was supposed to look like in order to look for a replacement. Considering they didn't notice the differences in a completely different hand for a different movement, I had little faith in them to find a period-correct and visually consistent hand to replace it and did not pursue it. But, mildly to their credit, they did make some effort to make good.

I gave them more chances than I should have because I desperately wanted to find a local watchmaker to form an ongoing relationship with, but I have made my final mistake with them. I'm now just hoping I can find a way to repair the damaged tube.
gdupree gdupree
Hi all,

It's been a while since I've been around. Hope everyone is well.

Recently, I took a 145.022-69 in for service. When I got the watch back, there was no commentary from the watchmaker. To my surprise, the chrono hand had been replaced with a teardrop hand, which looks like a tritium service hand. After spending a few minutes convincing them that this was not the original hand I turned it in with, they finally admitted the original was damaged and had to be replaced, though they didn't include the original damaged hand with the other replaced parts I had requested to be returned. Luckily, I caught the issue before I left, and they then returned the original hand to me.

I'm here to ask for the community's opinion on whether it's possible to repair this hand. Its tube is clearly split. I'm fairly convinced it's the original hand, and in any case, it matches the lume and condition of the rest of the watch well. The current, non-correct teardrop hand is an eyesore to me, so I'm hoping the original can be repaired. Clearly, my former watchmaker could not (or would not) repair it. I appreciate any thoughts or comments, as I would love to avoid hunting for or paying for a matching vintage hand.

Thanks!

IMG_3506.jpg IMG_3499.jpg


Here are a couple more attractive shots of the watch prior to the replaced hand, just for fun.

dsc_0263.JPG dsc_0033.JPG
If you still need help I can laser weld this tube back to shape it shouldn't be a problem. I repaired this one on my baby and it was broke off at the tube, talk about a high stressed area when that reset takes place. I will need a sample chronograph runner so i can test fit the hand. Just give me a shout if you haven't had it repaired already. Desy

Screenshot_20190826-160400_Gallery.webp
 
gdupree
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desygityaso desygityaso
If you still need help I can laser weld this tube back to shape it shouldn't be a problem. I repaired this one on my baby and it was broke off at the tube, talk about a high stressed area when that reset takes place. I will need a sample chronograph runner so i can test fit the hand. Just give me a shout if you haven't had it repaired already. Desy

Screenshot_20190826-160400_Gallery.webp
Wow. PM sent.
 
impaw
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135
desygityaso desygityaso
If you still need help I can laser weld this tube back to shape it shouldn't be a problem. I repaired this one on my baby and it was broke off at the tube, talk about a high stressed area when that reset takes place. I will need a sample chronograph runner so i can test fit the hand. Just give me a shout if you haven't had it repaired already. Desy

Screenshot_20190826-160400_Gallery.webp
impressive!
 
precisionhrlgy
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713
I’m a bit late to the party but it certainly can be done. Here is a post from my blog:

When this Tudro Monte Carlo came through the door it appeared to be a stellar example of a vintage watch. It had been recently 'serviced' but wasn't behaving as a recently serviced watch should. One of the chronograph pushers was unscrewing and the movment had a variety of issues. But we won't cover that here, instead we will focus on the chronogrpah seconds hand.

09819b_7e9877e37ff44af583efca2091879a48~mv2.webp




The hand was not resetting correctly due to a split cannon, or pipe, the part that sits around the pivot of the wheel. The glue used by the previous 'watchmaker' just didn't seem to be holding! Note the crack in the pipe as indicated by the black arrow and the glue as indicated by the green.

09819b_416111c0b275429abd40b868d38a96eb~mv2.webp




A new hand was impossible to find so we needed to ressurect this one. We did that by turning up a new pipe and riveting it onto the existing hand. We start with 2mm brass rod.

09819b_204b1a0d5df7491b95b60a1c6669d225~mv2.webp




Which is turned down in the lathe.

09819b_fafeb985aabd4361aded0b459d3537f3~mv2.webp




We drill our centre hole for the pipe.

09819b_854e81f6ae424a4bbfd7f6faf485d04f~mv2.webp




Hole drilled.

09819b_9e38cbe8241a4649b1a86059836fa8e9~mv2.webp




We turn down the brass to our needed dimensions.

09819b_8f30bdfaa81646238f70d74cfa7e1fb2~mv2.webp




Almost there.

09819b_1941580777ce498799a4f8bf10bfd768~mv2.webp




Checking the fit of the hand onto the pipe.

09819b_1d44ad158d90447ca2bc650ae8959813~mv2.webp




Once to size we can part the workpiece. Reference for size. Not the pipe has a flat table. That is what sits underneath the hand and gives us a stable surface to make the rivet.

09819b_04cb34a8dc964866b1e0998a91be537d~mv2.webp




Final reaming to size.

09819b_13d09a952fdd4ff5a3f2959b6d0371e5~mv2.webp




The hand is then riveted onto the pipe.

09819b_97d7206151c14663930361b7646bbd7f~mv2.webp




Due to the removal of the old pipe and fitting the new one, the paint deterorated around the centre.

09819b_2dec49e7e71c4b33af6db9598605e1f6~mv2.webp




We then start to repaint to match the old colour.

09819b_c85bfdde39cd47aba9b64a70a92f3839~mv2.webp




Hand saved! Our job is then complete. The chronograph can now function as intened for years to come.

09819b_a5f0b2c7c2bb4924af3470a940222193~mv2.webp
 
precisionhrlgy
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I’ve perfected the process a little more now and usually the paint can be saved apart from the area directly on the rivet.
 
precisionhrlgy
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713
Or, the new and could be painted. Here is an example of that:

I was sent a Rolex Submariner reference 6205 which was a recent pickup for one omy regular cusomters. It is a lovely example with great patina but the hor and minute hand had seen an unforutnate re-lume at some point during its life. The harsh green wasn't in keeping with the look of the beige lume plots that had developed on the dial. So, a re-lume more in-keeping with the dial was in order. The watch also received a complete overhaul.

09819b_81587e2ae62b42a6acd7888f99aea0cc~mv2.webp




With the crystal removed we can get a better idea of the hands compared to the dial.

09819b_a941cd1775f6460bba8dd32ba8d64967~mv2.webp




I mix my propriatary luminous blend and get to work. The result can be seen below. Much closer to the dial now.

09819b_27fc83f682cb4e13b8c8cb61ec99ba7b~mv2.webp




Here we can see it installed in the case. Whilst a re-lume is never going to be as desriable as an original, a bad re-lume job can always be made better and result in a very close match to the original.

09819b_daaceebe9cf44e8d9a98c01cee6c677b~mv2.webp
 
precisionhrlgy
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I’ll add that things break, it’s human nature (although these 2 watches were sent to me after other watchmakers had done bad work) but the important thing is to own up and fix them. I find customers aren’t (usually) upset if you are straight with them and do all you can to fix it. Anything else is not acceptable.
 
precisionhrlgy
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desygityaso desygityaso
If you still need help I can laser weld this tube back to shape it shouldn't be a problem. I repaired this one on my baby and it was broke off at the tube, talk about a high stressed area when that reset takes place. I will need a sample chronograph runner so i can test fit the hand. Just give me a shout if you haven't had it repaired already. Desy

Screenshot_20190826-160400_Gallery.webp
I’ve heard of this being done but haven’t tried it myself. No laser welder but I think it’s a genius method of doing it. Nice work!
 
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