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Mark020
··not the sharpest pencil in the ΩF drawerJust acquired one and want to make it a SS one. Anyone an idea and/or T&T's?
Getting rid of the gold on a two tone case
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sheepdoll
·I have considered that as well.
Would not reccommend anything mechanical like a dremel or buffing wheel.
Reverse plating could be an option.
One of the Youtube entertainers writst watch revival reccomends the foam back sanding sticks. Such is a tedius process. Takes a certain touch.
When I got back into watchwork, I was inspired by the YT entertainers. There are some interesting vids on plating. Some are part of the DIY sites.
I would also not reccomend starting with this case. Here is a shot of cases I have collected over the last 30 years or so.
Most gold recovery involves crushing and smelting the metal or computer parts as it were an ore. If one looks closely the chemicals acids and such cost more than the recovered gold. (I tend to simply toss used electronics contacts as it takes tons of ore to get a pin head sized thing of gold.) The mercury processes are the most effective, as well as being the most deadly as the byproducts are neurotoxins that can instanlty kill.
What ever is done, I recommend practicing on scrap cases first. If this is a one off, just look for another case and enjoy this one for what it is.
Would not reccommend anything mechanical like a dremel or buffing wheel.
Reverse plating could be an option.
One of the Youtube entertainers writst watch revival reccomends the foam back sanding sticks. Such is a tedius process. Takes a certain touch.
When I got back into watchwork, I was inspired by the YT entertainers. There are some interesting vids on plating. Some are part of the DIY sites.
I would also not reccomend starting with this case. Here is a shot of cases I have collected over the last 30 years or so.
Most gold recovery involves crushing and smelting the metal or computer parts as it were an ore. If one looks closely the chemicals acids and such cost more than the recovered gold. (I tend to simply toss used electronics contacts as it takes tons of ore to get a pin head sized thing of gold.) The mercury processes are the most effective, as well as being the most deadly as the byproducts are neurotoxins that can instanlty kill.
What ever is done, I recommend practicing on scrap cases first. If this is a one off, just look for another case and enjoy this one for what it is.
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JwRosenthal
·I’ve seen YouTube’s on DIY processes doing it with electrodes and basice chemicals to remove the gold content, there was no buffing or mechanical intervention and it left the base metal looking like what it was.
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redpcar
·I understand how it can work on electroplated cases but can the same be true on rolled gold plate?
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Canuck
·It looks like a gold shell case to me. Thereby, the layer of gold is much thicker than I either rolled gold plate, or gold filled. I suspect it may be necessary to heat the empty case to the point the gold solder used to fuse the gold shell would melt, allowing the overlay to be removed. The gold shell covers the bezel as well as all four lugs. You could ruin the case doing that! Maybe consider rhodium plating the case. Temporary, but a means to an end. Being your case is from a chronograph and you have the buttons to contend with, it is my opinion that what you have in mind is not possible. Let us know.
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Modest_Proposal
·That looks like a "gold capped" case. Seems a shame to want to remove the gold, since it's probably a solid gold layer and gold capped cases are somewhat uncommon and cool (in my opinion). The bezel may, in fact, be completely solid gold.
Even if the bezel was not solid gold, to remove the gold would be to significantly change the shape of the case in a way that would look unnatural. Looks to be structurally supporting the spring bar holes as well.
Here is a Longines with a gold capped case I use to have.
Even if the bezel was not solid gold, to remove the gold would be to significantly change the shape of the case in a way that would look unnatural. Looks to be structurally supporting the spring bar holes as well.
Here is a Longines with a gold capped case I use to have.
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JwRosenthal
·It looks like a gold shell case to me. Thereby, the layer of gold is much thicker than I either rolled gold plate, or gold filled. I suspect it may be necessary to heat the empty case to the point the gold solder used to fuse the gold shell would melt, allowing the overlay to be removed. The gold shell covers the bezel as well as all four lugs. You could ruin the case doing that! Maybe consider rhodium plating the case. Temporary, but a means to an end. Being your case is from a chronograph and you have the buttons to contend with, it is my opinion that what you have in mind is not possible. Let us know.
There is also nickel plating which can easily be done at home if you’re handy. I asked the question about plating a bezel here not long ago and got some good feedback.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/re-plating-a-bezel.123431/
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Mark020
··not the sharpest pencil in the ΩF drawerI'll have a better look to see whether it is capped
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Canuck
·It is capped. Believe us.
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grokas
·i have used replateit for my strela and was very happy with the results, you can send them pictures of the case and ask their proffessional opinion. Just an idea.
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Mark020
··not the sharpest pencil in the ΩF drawerIt is indeed. Complicating factor is that the movement + dial I have do not match so I think this case will end up in the parts box anyway
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