Case repair in the UK?

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neilbardsley

·Dec 17, 2021

The pin can loose and my watch hit the floor 🙁

A corner has been damaged. Is there anyone in the UK which can correct it.

Do I just smooth it a bit myself and forget about it?

 

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Franco

·Dec 17, 2021

Could give you two or three good addresses in Italy. In needs somebody specialised with laser welding (with the correct grade of steel), and with an appropriate "lapidello" (a cylinder head resurfacing machine) - with the appropriate skills to go with it.

Perhaps somebody can suggest an UK address - there was one in Bristol a while ago used by a friend

 

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Denarius

·Dec 17, 2021

Rocco near me in Bristol is renowned for his case work and has all the correct machinery - http://www.watchworks.co.uk/case-work.html

 

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padders

·Dec 17, 2021

Swiss Time Services can do laser welding and case correction like that. They can also put back sunburst finishes to the bezel. I too have heard good things about Rocco in Bristol but I have also heard he can stop taking work for long periods now and then so it might be pot luck if he will take it on.

 

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neilbardsley

·Dec 19, 2021

I've found someone in London which will do the work. I will report back

 

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kaplan

·Dec 19, 2021

Adds character tbh, not really watch advice but my obsession response, I let things be for a month or so, if it's still an issue afterwards I do something about it

When you're using a watch, case damage is just inevitable imo

 

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tad

·Dec 20, 2021

neilbardsley

I've found someone in London which will do the work. I will report back

What sort of quote have you had for the repair?

 

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neilbardsley

·Dec 21, 2021

Case repaired. I will pick up tomorrow

 

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Denarius

·Dec 21, 2021

neilbardsley

Case repaired. I will pick up tomorrow

That was quick, hope its a good job for you, if so post up the person who did this in super quick time..

 

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neilbardsley

·Dec 22, 2021

Not perfect but better. The place only does laser welding. The chap told me he would not be able to get the same finish because that would be watch apart and on a lathe. Perhaps a considerable for it next service

 

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padders

·Dec 22, 2021

EDIT: wrong end of stick grasped possibly here! I've left the text for comedy value (at my expense).

No offence meant at all but that isn't what I would consider a good repair, the dent is still fully visible particularly in the second and third photos, I doubt he has added any material at all, just brushed what was there. It was cheap though so you got what you paid for.

I'll reiterate, STS, and Watchworx to name but 2 can do this properly, add steel and then put the original sunburst finish back on the bezel. Buy cheap, buy twice.

Edited: Dec 22, 2021

 

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p4ul

·Dec 22, 2021

padders

No offence meant at all but that isn't what I would consider a good repair, the dent is still fully visible particularly in the second and third photos, I doubt he has added any material at all, just brushed what was there. It was cheap though so you got what you paid for.

I'll reiterate, STS, and Watchworx to name but 2 can do this properly and put the original sunburst finish back on the bezel. Buy cheap, buy twice.

Think the top pic is ‘after’ the other two ‘before’??

 

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padders

·Dec 22, 2021

p4ul

Think the top pic is ‘after’ the other two ‘before’??

In which case I will wind my neck in and say it is pretty good and very cheap for a decent job!

 

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Denarius

·Dec 22, 2021

Nice job for £60, yes other places like the Watch Works would have restored the case perfectly but at a considerable cost and probably time..