Got an old Longines incoming today.

Broken and scratched crystal for a start. The strap went into the bin before I started taking pictures, and that is just as well as it would take your appetite away. Maybe for good...




The gunk accumulated on this watch was a new record. It was even a black ring of dirt along the outer edge of the crystal. And what was between the lugs was absolutely disgusting





The back case was dead stuck. So I cleaned it with some desinfectant from Cuba and glued an old nut to the back with crazy glue and with a wrench it could be forced open.






Inside turned out to be pristine ! Calibre 12.68z with a serial nr in the 8 800 000 range, Case ref is 6404-1 129




Will update when I get it in a better shape.

 

sorry if it's a silly question, but how will you get the glue off the back?

 

Acetone. Or nail polish remover Don't tell the mrs

 

Nice looking, gilt 12.68Z. Dial looks to be in good condition too. Radium on the hands still intact. And a sharp case. Hope it cleans up well.

 

Heat will work too

 

Turned out rather nice I would say - new crystal reveals a lovely dial and original lumed hands. Apologies for rather blurry mobilephone picture with bad whitebalance

 

BEFORE and AFTER shots don't get much cooler than those two !

 

Holy crap!!!!!! NFW! Gotta say the nut glued to case back made me laugh! Did the “cleaner” have anything to with that decision. Perhaps mixed with good Mexican Coke and a lime wedge?

 

and THIS is why we gamble on crappy auction pics!

Congrats, it's a stunner.

 

Absolutely!
What a lovely watch.

 

That some consumption of the cuban desinfectant (as my dear wife calls it) took place during the session, should not be ruled out

 

Great post! Quite inspiring. Maybe I should be taking more educated gambles?

 

and a black one:

 

And what a beauty that is too! Interesting to see that outside caseback is unmarked on both of them. Yours seems to be variety 2 of case ref 6404 while mine is 1.