A few years ago, I bought an A 3817 off the 'bay - we've all done it - despite subpar pics. I got burned. It had a badly polished case, so much so that it became my poster child for mutilation of the angeld tonneau Primero cases by hamfisted refinishers. Well, after a long while, I lucked into a used but unpolished case from South America, and off it went to the shop. Earlier this week, it returned to me. The watchmaker and I debated how much to refinish the replacement case - he hesitating to touch it at all, which I took to be a very reassuring sign. When one works with professionals, one leaves the decisions to them and that is what I did. He chose to do a very light polish, and restore the brushed finish to top and sides Close inspection does reveal that work has been done A look at the polished surfaces will reveal that he did not polish smooth all the dings, an aspect we had agreed upon before he started work. We both felt that restoring the case surfaces to perfection would have irretrievably altered the shape. Some comparisons with the original case I'm hard pressed to see how the work could have been done better, which is to say not only more skillfully but with better judgement. The watchmaker is Abel Court of Heuer fame. Deserved fame, I would say.
I've been trying to get a measly 22L Longines from him for a couple years now. Lou also keep saying he's going to sell some watches one of these days. I think he moves at a glacial pace.
Gorgeous piece there Lou, love the strap combination! Agreed, this needs to be kept in a loving and caring home...
Looking at the first pic, many would think "Mmm, that's not bad". It's only until you see the contrast, and understand and appreciate the skill that went into making the latter case what it is.
Hey Lous, this is a very nice watch. I kind of regret it, that I sold mine. But I know it has a good home now. I believe Abel practised a bit on my former example. This is great work!!! Mine was unrestored before I sold it. Kind regards, Manuel
Thanks all - I'm really thrilled to have this back - for the first time in a long time, all my early Primeros are together, returned from their various trips for maintenance. It does occur to me that I ought to have posted images of the replacement case before the work was done - it really brings out the skill applied to it. and again, the final product
Those make the job even more remarkable; definitely skill but also an eye for detail and artistry. Mr. Court is to be commended. Kudos again Lou!
Well, as it happens I did much the same thing, taking an unpolished case from an otherwise buggered-up A385, and switching it in to my over-polished A3817 (keeping, of course, the A3817's original caseback and number). I did not have mine touched up due to lack of faith in the watchmaker's ability to do it perfectly as did Lou's. I also switched in a Gay Freres ladder bracelet from a different buggered-up Zenith. The result (it only took 3 watches to achieve it, and I do not have an in-house photography studio like Lou does):
