I have one of the above that needs a new mainspring, for starters!

Can anybody recommend someone to do this, it seems that 'Chris' does not want to be contacted.

The watch in question has been owned by me since new, and has not been serviced by Omega. It had a hard life for the first 10 years, around water, but has been in a drawer since. I would like to get it in best 'vintage' condition, to pass on. It has been opened and cleaned once, with seals renewed, by a colleague (from a long line of watchmakers) immediately after it got some condensation in it.

 

Wales.

 

There are a number of suitable watchmakers in the UK, don't know of any based in Wales but there should be no border crossing problems .

Hopefully some of our UK members can suggest a watchmaker.

@tyrantlizardrex et al.

 

try Sean at

https://watchrepair.expert/about-me/

 

Would suggest (based on having had work done by then very well in the past):

Simon Freese Watchmakers

Swiss Time Services

Both in Essex.

 

Am I right to assume it is better to leave it in its somewhat battered state (paint missing from bezzel, dial , and hands, scratches on crystal) rather than have it tarted up?

 

If you want to preserve the value: yes, absolutely. The exception is the crystal, of which a polish will a) be easily done and the overall appearance approved significantly and b) not hurt the value in any way.

 

If you want to preserve its character and value as a vintage piece, yes, just have the movement serviced and the watch case ultrasonically cleaned. Do not polish. It's up to you whether to have the hands relumed. .And do have the crystal polished as MtV recommends.

 

Thanks.

 

Rather than replacing the crystal?
I am kicking myself a bit as when it was cleaned, I had to pay for a few push buttons, and watch glasses, but they stayed with the watchmaker, and he is long gone now. Perhaps he did me a favour by not replacing the crystal..

 

You can get a new crystal for ca 150 USD I think. But, these scratches can be removed with Polywatch. You can do that yourself. Easy.

I'd only have the case cleaned (not polished!) and movement serviced and that's it!

 

Got to love the mark-up!
Polish it is..

 

+1 for Simon Freese

He is my go to for this kind of speedmaster, he will go as far as it needs without threatening the value.

as to the “markup” - there is a world of difference between generic and genuine omega plexiglass.

true, it might cost omega a few dollars to make, but I will happily pay their price for genuine as the quality and end result is worth it

 

The one for 8 pounds is not an Omega crystal...hence the price...

 

+1 for original plexi, but the one currently on it doesn’t look like it’s not salvageable. If it’s original, that is - which to me it seems to be.

 

It had a hard, and damp life. Unfortunately I don't think I have any pictures of it in use, but I will ask around, as some people might like a bit of provenance, they say.

Port side.

 

One thing bothering me is that the Omega back o ring turned to gunge. Is it really supposed to be 1mm. section, as if so the groove is badly undersized , particularly width, according to accepted o ring practice. I will stick with my 1mm. viton one if the 'correct' one is no smaller.

 

Yes, it's correctly sized for this application. 1 mm cross section.

Nitrile O-rings do turn to goop - I see it all the time - nature of the material. However if the watch is serviced at even marginally normal intervals, it's not a problem. It's not the material that's the issue really, it's lack of proper maintenance.

 

They are treating an o ring as a type of stuffing!
https://www.allorings.com/o-ring-groove-design-metric