I need help with grandfather’s watch!? Closing out 2021

It’s a great heirloom of a legendary figure in your life. My paternal grandfather, who like yours loomed large even into the extended family (oh, you are Bill’s grandchild!) died well before I was born, and the few possessions I have of his, I cherish…and I never met the man.
My question to you is, do you want to continue wearing it as-is (just service it) or do you have designs to have it restored to its 1974 or prior glory? New bezel, case laser welded and recut, period correct bracelet? There are a few firms around the US that are capable of doing that kind of work. It just becomes the classic debate over conservation versus restoration…emotion aside- will the esthetics bring you more joy in its restored to original state versus it’s time worn state?

I will just say that I find the watch totally wearable in its current state. The dial is stunning, and it's really what stands out when you look at the watch. I might consider replacing the bezel since that's so easy to do and would make a major aesthetic statement, but I don't think it's necessary.

Totally understood. I inherited my fathers B&M chrono (luckily while he was still alive, I found it in his bathroom drawer next to the toothpaste and floss- it had a broken strap, so he bought another watch 🙄)

The 18kcase is dented up and the dial has moisture damage, but like you- all of this was his wear and tear- I just keep it serviced and wear it on important family occasions- just a little of him up my sleeve in attendance.

As is your grandfathers- love that sigma dial. Personally, I would swap the bezel and keep the original in a drawer. Bezels on these are almost consumables like crystals.

No matter the details, it's a great heirloom to connect you to your grandfather. The movement will be a 1575 - almost all 1575's are equipped with a bridge that says 1570, which is not correct, and the 1570 is a no date movement (I say almost because there may be one out there, but I've never seen one) Any Rolex caliber ending with a 5 will be a date caliber.

I have my grandfather's watch, a Bulova he was given by the local union on his retirement from the foundry he worked at. This is what it looked like when I received it...



It was a mess, so I did sort of restore it...not happy with the dial reprint, and at the time this photo was taken I hadn't yet found a seconds hand for it that was right...



He passed when I was just 6 months old, so I never really knew him, other than through the family stories, which I sort of discounted as being a bit too extreme to believe completely.

Then one evening I was in a pub back in the 80's, playing darts with a buddy. Two older gentlemen came in, and asked if we wanted to play teams, and we agreed, I introduced myself as Al and stated my last name. One of the older guys looked at me with sort of shocked and said "Are you related to Wild Bill (last name)?" I said yes, that was my grandfather.

He then let out a huge laugh and said "When I was a kid he shot me in the ass with rock salt from his shotgun when he caught me stealing apples from his orchard!" I then knew that my family had not been exaggerating all those years...

This is why my name is Al, and not Bill - my mother refused to name me after that grandfather, so I was named after the other one.