Decisions, decisions

Sell each part separately and buy something nice with the proceeds. Without a good dial as a starting point, it's not a worthwhile project, IMO.

If someone buys the parts, you can still feel good about saving them, IMO, since they will likely be used as part of a project. It's not like you'd be melting a case down for scrap gold.

If, by a queer quirk of circumstance you were able to improve that dial (which I doubt), it will still be a mess! You’ve heard the old metaphor about the sow’s ear and the silk purse? Consider it a donor watch, and look for something better.

There are a few of us who aquire (not sure if the word collect fits here) Rusty ratty old movements. These become a labor of love and the costs are excessive. The time even more so.

Such things are never a one off. They build and build again and again. Always a part needed. If this appeals, then you do not ask the questions, one just does it, becouse it is what one does.

The real problems are the cases. There are many more movements than cases. So it is always (in hind site) better to find a junk case than vice versa. The competition for good cases is fierce. Even the fakes command significant prices, and are completly worthless.

Dials should never be touchched. Ever. Water is the universal solvent. Given enough time it will disolve anything.

I come from a time when repainted dials (dyles) were normal service procedure, so they do not bother me personally. Others find these totaly abhorent. So it really comes down to the emotion of the thing. Surprisingly. decent usable dials show up quite often. In my case I am more likely to repaint a generic landeron chrono, or similar junk, and then with fantasy names, to confuse people in the future.