Flightmaster rehab. what would you do?

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I am looking for input on what is the best course of action on this early Flightmaster. It seriously needs service. What is the proper stewardship, Send it to Omega and have it rebuilt and have them replace what they decide or leave it as original as possible with its obvious wear and just have it serviced.
 
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That totally depends if it´s a keeper or will be sold. You have to enlighten us.
 
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These can be deceptive: they always look bad when they are dirty and unloved, but often clean up far better than you would imagine.

I suggest yours would come up nicely (no polishing!) with a new crystal, movement and bracelet service from an Omega licensed watch repairer, and a good clean. It will still look used, but full of character, whereas if you ask Omega to do a factory service it will come back to you looking like a new watch.

The main thing is to instruct the repair guy NOT to polish or brush the case. If you want to see why, just cruise through Chrono 24 examples of shiny, over polished cases.

I speak from experience, having carefully taken a slightly shabby Flightmaster through this process a year ago. I am very happy with the result.



If you live in Canada I would suggest contacting @Archer through this Forum.
 
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Yea I’d spend the money to get it to a really good watchmaker that specializes in vintage Omega, its worth spending the money and a really good sympathetic restoration could have it looking pretty spectacular. These watches I do tend to get refinished case wise too as the finish is a key feature of the watch.
 
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Yea I’d spend the money to get it to a really good watchmaker that specializes in vintage Omega, its worth spending the money and a really good sympathetic restoration could have it looking pretty spectacular. These watches I do tend to get refinished case wise too as the finish is a key feature of the watch.

This. There are a few threads showing before/after results on these - the results of a sympathetic refinish (by an experienced restorer) are indeed spectacular.
 
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This. There are a few threads showing before/after results on these - the results of a sympathetic refinish (by an experienced restorer) are indeed spectacular.
Yea I should have mentioned a refinish on one of these is not a job for Billy the Boot-repairer it’s an Abel Court / Archer type job.
 
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I picked this one up off of OF just after joining....

Didn’t know enough yet and the “local” people were too busy, or maybe I just wasn’t part of their established clientele, and wanted to wear the watch. As I was in Vancouver at the time I dropped into the boutique to talk to them.......

4 months later, and after a whole pile of back and forth correspondence:



I think that it cleaned up nicely and charged for a routine chrono service (in CAD so even better)....Most importantly they were able to re-do the radial brushings on the case.



so I wouldn’t necessarily say that going back to the factory is a guaranteed disaster. Either way, as long as you are part of the decision making about what is getting done...

Unfortunately I lost my way and traded this one away (again on OF) for an IWC aquatimer!
 
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That totally depends if it´s a keeper or will be sold. You have to enlighten us.
A Keeper for sure
 
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These can be deceptive: they always look bad when they are dirty and unloved, but often clean up far better than you would imagine.

I suggest yours would come up nicely (no polishing!) with a new crystal, movement and bracelet service from an Omega licensed watch repairer, and a good clean. It will still look used, but full of character, whereas if you ask Omega to do a factory service it will come back to you looking like a new watch.

The main thing is to instruct the repair guy NOT to polish or brush the case. If you want to see why, just cruise through Chrono 24 examples of shiny, over polished cases.

I speak from experience, having carefully taken a slightly shabby Flightmaster through this process a year ago. I am very happy with the result.



If you live in Canada I would suggest contacting @Archer through this Forum.


This is really good advice!
 
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I picked this one up off of OF just after joining....

From me 😁

Unfortunately I lost my way and traded this one away (again on OF)

I’d lost my way first!

If someone here still has this specific watch, I’d love to buy it back

🥰
 
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I would advise a replacement crystal, and a movement service and having the original crowns repainted with modeling paint. Done.

I would not refinish the case in anyway, yours has the original brush and has not been spoilt by hand polishing. If the case is re lapped it changes the feel of the watch completely, making the new case seem incongruous with the patina of dial and hands.

Also 90% of times the line of the case turns into a wave as it is very difficult to lap past the holes, which also might starty to cut into the top of the case, there is not much room on the 910 case! Your case is fantastic as it is.

 
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I would advise a replacement crystal, and a movement service and having the original crowns repainted with modeling paint. Done.

I would not refinish the case in anyway, yours has the original brush and has not been spoilt by hand polishing. If the case is re lapped it changes the feel of the watch completely, making the new case seem incongruous with the patina of dial and hands.

Also 90% of times the line of the case turns into a wave as it is very difficult to lap past the holes, which also might starty to cut into the top of the case, there is not much room on the 910 case! Your case is fantastic as it is.

Totally agree.
 
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From me 😁



I’d lost my way first!

If someone here still has this specific watch, I’d love to buy it back

🥰
Me too!
 
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I would advise a replacement crystal, and a movement service and having the original crowns repainted with modeling paint. Done.

I would not refinish the case in anyway, yours has the original brush and has not been spoilt by hand polishing. If the case is re lapped it changes the feel of the watch completely, making the new case seem incongruous with the patina of dial and hands.

Also 90% of times the line of the case turns into a wave as it is very difficult to lap past the holes, which also might starty to cut into the top of the case, there is not much room on the 910 case! Your case is fantastic as it is.


100 % agreed ! Leave case as is. Good luck and report back with pics ! Kind regards. Achim
 
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I would advise a replacement crystal, and a movement service and having the original crowns repainted with modeling paint. Done.

I would not refinish the case in anyway, yours has the original brush and has not been spoilt by hand polishing. If the case is re lapped it changes the feel of the watch completely, making the new case seem incongruous with the patina of dial and hands.

Also 90% of times the line of the case turns into a wave as it is very difficult to lap past the holes, which also might starty to cut into the top of the case, there is not much room on the 910 case! Your case is fantastic as it is.

Excellent, thank you !
 
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Thanks everyone. I will post the pictures after the service and crystal. I think the patina is prefect and love the signs the watch was worn and loved. Preservation seems like the best route