Cleaning up corrosion from hands doable or not?

Posts
383
Likes
349
Hi, I have this 1959 Pie Pan with hands thar have corrosion on them. When I bought the watch a while back I first thought about replacing them but can’t find any ones out there. Nowhere. Then I thought about some moderate cleaning. What if I just gave them a little Coca Cola treatment and then do a very light sanding. What do you think, making better or worse? Doing anything with the value when touching them? Sorry, had to zoom in. Heavily so bad quality pic.

ps, without the insert it would be no issue since these hands I found.

 
Posts
24,233
Likes
53,968
They might be chrome or white gold plated. I'm not sure of that, but you should be cautious.
 
Posts
4,593
Likes
10,810
A good Watchmaker can do it better than you I presume

exactly. As Dan mentioned they might be plated and most watch makers are pals with a jeweler so the hands could be removed and re-plated. sanding or attempting to polish them is not a good idea. Bring it to a watch maker.
 
Posts
335
Likes
144
I’m having my watch maker take a look if they can do anything in my Connie as well. Same situation with only markers.
 
Posts
29,666
Likes
76,824
I've posted this before, but this gives you an idea of what's involved:


This is a video made by the Lititz Watch Technicum - Rolex school in the US.

Note that the hands on the Constellation are likely plated, so additional steps would be required. It's not a small job if you want it done properly.

Cheers, Al
 
Posts
383
Likes
349
Thanks. The thing it that imago’s do not want them “brand new”. So I am a bit in doubt. The best would be to find a set that is better and genuine. Can’t find them anywhere.
 
Posts
383
Likes
349
I've posted this before, but this gives you an idea of what's involved:


This is a video made by the Lititz Watch Technicum - Rolex school in the US.

Note that the hands on the Constellation are likely plated, so additional steps would be required. It's not a small job if you want it done properly.

Cheers, Al


What would these be plated with? I thought these were the standard hands. So no platinum (not at that time I think) nor gold.
 
Posts
24,233
Likes
53,968
What would these be plated with? I thought these were the standard hands. So no platinum (not at that time I think) nor gold.

Read my previous post.
 
Posts
383
Likes
349
I found two hands in the UK but no seconds hand. Anybody an idea where to get a new one. Not the obvious places.
 
Posts
2,162
Likes
1,350
My old refinisher would replate the hands as long as the corrosion didn't go beyond a set condition

Hour and minute look doable. Sweep hand not so much.

He also replated indexes, so hands matched

You can buy a new sweep hand or see if a parts supplier has a generic that matches or comes close

DON
 
Posts
100
Likes
131
view/climb ratio don't make sense to me, but hey, it is yours. Careful it doesn't look new on old face when done.