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Hello all, I need some help

Jhudson816
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Hello all,

I was recently given my late Grand Fathers Omega Seamaster De Ville, its in rough condition, but I want to restore it while keeping the character. It is missing the lugs and from what I've read is something of a death sentence for these older watches. I need help identifying it a little more further and any advice anyone has for the problem I have. I would love to get this watch restored and back to its former glory. Should I attempt to take it to a good jeweler and try to add the lugs back or just try to get a new case? I really wanted to keep the back of the case that's why I'm apprehensive to buy a new one.

Thank you guys in advance for the help.

IMG_0888.webp IMG_0889.webp
 
SOG53
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Get a pocket watch stand and leave watch as is and put it on your desk and enjoy heirloom memories
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Evitzee
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^^^^ That's probably the best solution. Trying to put new lugs on will be far more expensive than the watch is worth. Any idea how/why the lugs came off? Maybe that was done on purpose so it could be slipped in a pocket?
 
Donn Chambers
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Evitzee Evitzee
^^^^ That's probably the best solution. Trying to put new lugs on will be far more expensive than the watch is worth. Any idea how/why the lugs came off? Maybe that was done on purpose so it could be slipped in a pocket?
My thoughts exactly. Never saw a wristwatch with all four lugs missing unless it was done intentionally.
 
dsio
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Yea lugs coming off these is something that isn't super uncommon, what's more likely is one lug came off and since it wasn't easily fixed someone went and cut off the other 3 to make it a somewhat useful pendant style watch.

What I would do is look for a donor watch with a messed up or badly repainted dial but a decent case that also takes a Cal 552 and just have a watchmaker move the dial and movement from your watch to the donor, then sell the donor's movement off to recover some of the cost.
 
aermotor
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Good suggestions here. Keep it original and enjoy it as is, or like dsio said, find a beater donor you can transplant the working parts into. That has it's own downsides as far as originality is concerned.
 
Donn Chambers
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aermotor aermotor
Good suggestions here. Keep it original and enjoy it as is, or like dsio said, find a beater donor you can transplant the working parts into. That has it's own downsides as far as originality is concerned.
Since the OP’s grandfather is likely to have been the one who removed the lugs to turn it into a “pocket” watch, I’d be inclined to leave it as is with just a service and new crystal. Get a nice stand for it, and carry it occasionally.
 
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