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Whatwhato
·Hey guys
So my Dad has owned the watch in question from new. He is a very practical man and from the 'use it 'till it dies' camp! 😁 I can imagine this 1970's Omega Constellation has seen decades of mixing up cement, carpentry, drilling holes in walls and working on cars... with zero mercy!
Its one of the few material items I've known him to become attached too, in fact the only one I can think of actually. Its in incredibly poor shape and in need of some serious love, it has spent the last decade or so feeling sorry for itself in the back of a cupboard. Having some time on my hands of late I offered to do an exterior restoration for him.
The watch has NEVER been serviced 😲 yet still works. Once the exterior is done we will be sending it off for a movement service. I really don't fancy getting involved in that house of horrors on a watch so dear to him. If it was a Seiko 7s26 with cheap and easily available parts.... I'd be in. As things stand and with the predicted mess that movement will be in.... I'm out!
As you will see by the end of this thread the work is almost finished. I need your help with part numbers for a new crystal and 1x spare bracelet link please guys.
On with the show:
BEFORE:
AFTER:
First obvious issue - non genuine clasp hinge has been bodged in due to failure of the original at some time over the years. As you can see its bent and it doesn't fit the bracelet well at all:
On with the strip down:
Always a good sign when the very first thing you touch turns to dust
Not a problem, I have many new spares
I wasn't sure if these screws would come out! The one head I could see looked a bit iffy and they were absolutely caked in muck, but they came out fine with some patience.
Lets get rid of that nasty aftermarket clasp hinge:
Time for some much needed ultra sonic cleaning 🤮
First clean complete, ready for sanding and polishing to remove scratches:
Notice this is bent. Gently moved back into position with some light heat and pliers:
On with the sanding! I started with 1000 grit dry, moved onto 1200 wet and finished up in 3000 grit trizac wet. All done by hand, it took hours! Around 5 in total. Why sand? Why not just hit it with the polishing wheel? Sanding carefully is far more controllable and sympathetic as far as material removal is concerned. I did not want to lose any of the many shapes and lines. You can spot a watch that's had the life polished out of it a mile off, I wanted this to remain looking 'crisp'.
Polishing time:
Moving onto the watch head:
Light clean for the exterior of the movement With some Rodico and that's it. I do not want to disturb it at all, its a miracle it still works after all thee abuse and neglect. Safely stored away behind the telly under a glass for the time being:
Old perspex Crystal is toast! Does anyone know the correct part number please?:
So my Dad has owned the watch in question from new. He is a very practical man and from the 'use it 'till it dies' camp! 😁 I can imagine this 1970's Omega Constellation has seen decades of mixing up cement, carpentry, drilling holes in walls and working on cars... with zero mercy!
Its one of the few material items I've known him to become attached too, in fact the only one I can think of actually. Its in incredibly poor shape and in need of some serious love, it has spent the last decade or so feeling sorry for itself in the back of a cupboard. Having some time on my hands of late I offered to do an exterior restoration for him.
The watch has NEVER been serviced 😲 yet still works. Once the exterior is done we will be sending it off for a movement service. I really don't fancy getting involved in that house of horrors on a watch so dear to him. If it was a Seiko 7s26 with cheap and easily available parts.... I'd be in. As things stand and with the predicted mess that movement will be in.... I'm out!
As you will see by the end of this thread the work is almost finished. I need your help with part numbers for a new crystal and 1x spare bracelet link please guys.
On with the show:
BEFORE:
AFTER:
First obvious issue - non genuine clasp hinge has been bodged in due to failure of the original at some time over the years. As you can see its bent and it doesn't fit the bracelet well at all:
On with the strip down:
Always a good sign when the very first thing you touch turns to dust
Not a problem, I have many new spares
I wasn't sure if these screws would come out! The one head I could see looked a bit iffy and they were absolutely caked in muck, but they came out fine with some patience.
Lets get rid of that nasty aftermarket clasp hinge:
Time for some much needed ultra sonic cleaning 🤮
First clean complete, ready for sanding and polishing to remove scratches:
Notice this is bent. Gently moved back into position with some light heat and pliers:
On with the sanding! I started with 1000 grit dry, moved onto 1200 wet and finished up in 3000 grit trizac wet. All done by hand, it took hours! Around 5 in total. Why sand? Why not just hit it with the polishing wheel? Sanding carefully is far more controllable and sympathetic as far as material removal is concerned. I did not want to lose any of the many shapes and lines. You can spot a watch that's had the life polished out of it a mile off, I wanted this to remain looking 'crisp'.
Polishing time:
Moving onto the watch head:
Light clean for the exterior of the movement With some Rodico and that's it. I do not want to disturb it at all, its a miracle it still works after all thee abuse and neglect. Safely stored away behind the telly under a glass for the time being:
Old perspex Crystal is toast! Does anyone know the correct part number please?:
