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Fire damage ebay find. American ref Ross GF case rebuild thread. FRANKENSTEIN BUILD

samweldspoorly
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Bonjour. Just won this fire damage piece on ebay. Bought it for the dial only; and am in LOVE with this dial. Obviously this likely the only thing salvageable from this lump. Looking forward to swapping to a nice example with a poorly done redial. Thoughts on what this is before it arrives? Its a 33/34mm ROSS gold filled case. My guess is an American ref with a 500 or a 342 in it. I don't recognize the lugs. Ill post updates whenever it comes back to life.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336224950034

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Davidt
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Horses for courses bud. I can’t say that dial
Would appeal to me but if you like it that’s all that matters.
It would perhaps be worth looking at reapplying lacquer to the dial to try and minimise it flaking.
 
samweldspoorly
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Davidt Davidt
Horses for courses bud. I can’t say that dial
Would appeal to me but if you like it that’s all that matters.
It would perhaps be worth looking at reapplying lacquer to the dial to try and minimise it flaking.
Smart thinking. I agree.
 
Davidt
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It will certainly be unique!

Lots people like tropical/patina’d/degraded dials - me included. The only difference is where we draw the line. Good luck with it.
 
Dan S
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It's not trivial to swap dials between watches because they not only have to match up with the movement, but also the case. Unless you somehow find the exact same case, you may have to fabricate some custom parts to make it work.
 
rendo
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I don't think the case is in worse shape than the dial, so you may be able to use it after fixing the bent lugs. You may want to start your watch restoration YouTube channel with this one.
 
sheepdoll
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I have cases in worse condition, what I really like.

Dial is too far gone for my taste.

Really need to see movement shots.

It is amazing what can be saved on some of these. Currently have a 550 soaking where almost all the steel was damaged. Like the OP watch the dial is about the best part.

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looks much better in real light.

Edit: the OP watch would not be a 342 as that is a sub seconds movement. 551 perhaps if is large. 500 (and 470) are tiny watches usually. Again need to see movement and case back photos.
 
samweldspoorly
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In hand now. First time buying from NationalRarities on eBay, super fast shipping and well packed.

This thing is actually running! Opened it up, it has a 500. Oscillator looks great, escapement looks clean. Rotor winding is very stiff and juttery, thought it might be a bumper before I opened it up. The rotor is wearing the caseback so obviously we have a worn bush. But the movement is in surprisingly OK shape considering everything else. Motion works are operating fine. Caseback indicates a bunch of service history, love to see it. SN dates this to 1955. It's definitely an American reference with the OXG mark on the balance cock and GX reference prefix. I set it down and it ran for a good twenty minutes until the power was completely let down. Surprising. And fortunate I will be able to reuse most of this.

Now to find a suitable donor case and hands. Any comments, opinions, or recommendations are welcome.

Cheers
Sam
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Davidt
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I assume it’s gold cap?

Has this delaminated due to heat? It’s hard to be sure from the pictures but there seems to be a crack in the gold cap on one of the lugs? Have you cleaned the case with a cape code to properly asses it? Might be a fools errand but I’d want to rule it out for the sake of an hours polishing.
 
samweldspoorly
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Davidt Davidt
I assume it’s gold cap?

Has this delaminated due to heat? It’s hard to be sure from the pictures but there seems to be a crack in the gold cap on one of the lugs? Have you cleaned the case with a cape code to properly asses it? Might be a fools errand but I’d want to rule it out for the sake of an hours polishing.
Oh yeah. HEAVILY worn gold cap. Not worth the time to weld repair and polish. Will likely acid reclaim the gold. Thats why I am going to hunt for a compaiable case. Shouldnt be too difficult. Looking for a bad redial that no one wants.
 
Davidt
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Fair enough. I assumed that might be the case.

It would be difficult but fun (and expensive!) to try and find a solid gold case. The juxtaposition of the burnt dial against a solid gold case would be interesting.
 
sheepdoll
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Case once stripped of the bad plating might be a good candidate for some nickel plating practice. I have some cases I want to try that with. Rio Grande does list a cyanide free copper strike solution.

I bought a bunch of plating stuff, only to set it aside. So many projects so little time.
 
samweldspoorly
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sheepdoll sheepdoll
Case once stripped of the bad plating might be a good candidate for some nickel plating practice. I have some cases I want to try that with. Rio Grande does list a cyanide free copper strike solution.

I bought a bunch of plating stuff, only to set it aside. So many projects so little time.
OOOOH. Thats not a terrible idea. I've been wanting an excuse to build a plating a process table in the basement.
 
samweldspoorly
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Dial pulled today and finally protected from my father in laws grubby fingers. Movement is surprisingly clean. Mainplate barrel needs a bush. Will set aside for now.
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sheepdoll
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Looks like someone else swapped the movement retaining the case, hands, and dial.

The setworks look like NOS parts.
 
samweldspoorly
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Also possible. The amount of gunk I had to clear out of the screw slots for the case clamps tell me its been in there a while. Dial screws were spotless though. This very well may be a franken someone threw together to just free up drawer space. I'm not complaining either way. Also the reason I couldnt identify the lugs is because 3 of the 4 have been ground or filed down. Not really sure what thats about. More argument to practice plating.
 
samweldspoorly
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Im looking at this one right now, up for auction in a few days. I think this would be an excellent candidate. Case is really interesting and in great shape, an American reference Ross GX6279. Case clamps features look identical. I think this will be a compatible swap. My donor is a Ross case as well. I think this is promising.

Seller states the 500 was just serviced and is running well so that is promising. Even has a terrible redial which is exactly what I'm looking for. Gold handset is a big plus.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/297712383637
 
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