Blind date... or something similar to it... I bought a CK 2627 in a brick and mortar auction recently. They had one single photo in the online catalogue and after asking for additional photos I received some badly lit images but still none of the movement... as they were not able to open the case So I rolled the dice and took some risk... as you know: no risk, no luck... When I received the watch I saw this: Gunk all over the watch, not just wrist cheese which is expected to be greasy, but dry and hard, brittle. But hey, isn´t this the condition we like to buy watches? - left alone, not pimped up from a seller to make a quick buck. All edges crisp, very little use - look at the opener slots - no traces of clumsy attempts to open the case with improper tools. As none of my openers matches perfectly I did not take a risk - it has to go to a professional with proper equipment. So I cleaned the case only with some tooth picks and have still to wait for a movement view. But what I can already enjoy is the face of this old girl Very early version with the rectangular date window and old lume still present. Evenly patinated with a light tobacco tone. Only concern is the pitted minute hand - do I have to worry? Is this a sign of previous moisture intrusion? I hope not - I will know soon after the visit to my watchmaker next week. Keep your fingers crossed.
Nice score. I think the hands just oxidize and lose their plating. I've seen many 50's seamasters with nice dials and hands that look toast. Yours looks to be in pretty good shape!
Very nice! Sometimes I miss blind dates... To open this case, have you tried the kind of soft ball (not the sport!) that usually do the job? Or an old piece of rodico? If the case if not screwed too tight, it usually works. I also have seen corroded hands on watches with nice movements. I cannot tell why. I guess sometimes the plating became thinner and the under metal oxidized. I have tried to polish hands before. It is easy when it is only to give them back a nice finish. But when they got oxidized, it is another story! Next time I face that, I will try a trick used by Christian of Watchguy-UK to stop the oxidation of movement parts: putting then in a strong black tea! British method I guess! Obviously, not to try on hands with lume...
That may not work with this watch François, the caseback is held on by the notched ring, so using a ball or rodico may only spin the caseback if the ring is held tight by gunk.
Beautiful early date window Seamaster. I’m curious whether the dial or crown was born with that watch. A movement photo would help. “Swiss Made” dials go with clover crowns instead which are intended for European market. Here’s an American market version:
Not absolute on this one, but it looks like a two part case back we (the forum) had a discussion about a couple of years ago. Maybe @X350 XJR remembers the post or can comment.
It looks like a common screw-down caseback as used on other Seamasters (a few don't have the ridge), but then again they do look very similar to the two-piece ones!
You are probably right Jim! Anyway, I would use one of the correct tool with soft metal ends - so as not to scratch the back. But Mac_Omega is fully right not try to avoid any chance to dammage it.