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Odds of sourcing a new case for an Omega 3520.53.00

dapellegrini
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As the title suggests, I have an Omega 3520.53.00 that is in great condition, except the original owner really marked up the underside of the lugs swopping straps. I knew this when I acquired the watch (from a friend getting out of the hobby) and paid accordingly... Now I am staring at this thing, wondering if it is possible to source a replacement case, like I can sometimes do with old Seikos?

Or... perhaps if I send it in to Omega for a service they will either polish it down professionally or offer a replacement case?

Thoughts?

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dsio
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Definitely not bad enough to need a replacement case, it can be cleaned up relatively easily at its next service, a whole new case is typically quite expensive for modern Omegas like that, if it were deeper than that or more visible there's also the option of laser welding which adds metal first to the case before polishing it back down to resolve deeper scratches and dings.
 
dapellegrini
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Thx. To my knowledge this watch is coming on 30 years old and has never been serviced. I wear it very infrequently because I have too many other watches, and it runs fine, but it might be worth sending it to get the case cleaned up...
 
dsio
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dapellegrini dapellegrini
Thx. To my knowledge this watch is coming on 30 years old and has never been serviced. I wear it very infrequently because I have too many other watches, and it runs fine, but it might be worth sending it to get the case cleaned up...
It's definitely due for a full overhaul at that point, they're very solid watches so it doesn't surprise me that it made it that long, it's a very reliable watch
 
Evitzee
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Although I hate buggered up lugs like that, on a watch that old it's part of its history. Leave it for now, but it should get a service to bring it up to spec, and the lugs can be cleaned up at that time.
 
dapellegrini
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I've got 10 speedmasters - in what is a tiny corner of a large watch collection... haven't had any serviced yet, perhaps this will be the first one.
I have a soft spot for the Speedmaster Reduced associated with Schumacher, still need the blue one(s)

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dsio
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dapellegrini dapellegrini
I've got 10 speedmasters - in what is a tiny corner of a large watch collection... haven't had any serviced yet, perhaps this will be the first one.
I have a soft spot for the Speedmaster Reduced associated with Schumacher, still need the blue one(s)

1758592874506.webp
Which are the top 3 wrist time winners, I'm guessing the white dial would be the pick for me but Snoopy is a strong contender too.
 
dapellegrini
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I LOVE (in all caps) 9 of the 10 of these. The 3520.53 is the odd man out - a watch I acquired to help a friend exit the hobby, without loosing his shirt, along with some other interesting pieces from Vulcain and Longines. Perhaps ironically, that odd one out is my son's favorite, and will probably end up with him sooner than later - especially if I have it serviced.

The 1863 has had the most wrist time (by far) - as it was one of two nice watches I had for a many years. It was worn to the edge of abuse. The others were added later, and worn sparingly and gently after I started "collecting" watches. I think the TinTin might be my favorite, but the Snoopy and the new White Dial get the most wrist time so far this year, followed closely by the Chronoscope
 
Donn Chambers
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I’ve never understood why people get so worried about scratches on the back of lugs that they’d consider buying a new mid case. We’ve had several threads on this recently. It’s not like you even see those scratches when you wear the watch!
 
padders
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Yes. They are well up for a new case until someone breaks the news that the part alone will be over $1K. They tend to be less keen after that and start to consider skilful refinishing or laser welding. Or just living with it!

Bearing in mind the cost of the OP's impressive selection of Omegas above though, he is one of the few who can probably afford it without breaking much of a sweat!
Edited:
 
dapellegrini
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To be clear, I don't mind normal wear and tear on a used watch - even extensive wear, when it is honest and age appropriate. To me though this is in a different category - completely unneeded damage created by someone who clearly had no business changing the bracelet out themselves.

Interesting to see an estimated cost at around $1k for a new case. I knocked more than that off the agreed purchase price because of this damage. I wonder if that ballpark is accurate. I may send this in to Omega to find out.
 
YY77
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dapellegrini dapellegrini
Interesting to see an estimated cost at around $1k for a new case. I knocked more than that off the agreed purchase price because of this damage. I wonder if that ballpark is accurate. I may send this in to Omega to find out.
Might be more expensive, a case incl. caseback for a Planet ocean is about 2.3k

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502 to right
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Most of those scratches will come out with a standard service. However, on one lug I suspect laser welding would be necessary to make it look factory new. The gouges are just too deep to sand out without completely rounding off that area of the case. And since I don't believe OSC's are doing laser welding, you would need to have a specialist vendor do the job. But it would be way cheaper than buying a new mid-case.

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Caliber561
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I would not be surprised if a new case runs for closer to $2k than $1k. Regardless, it would probably be less expensive to approach a professional refinisher and have the case welded. It will also probably be less expensive to go with an independent watchmaker to service this, if it's a Valjoux 7751-based movement as I recall.
 
padders
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dapellegrini dapellegrini
To be clear, I don't mind normal wear and tear on a used watch - even extensive wear, when it is honest and age appropriate. To me though this is in a different category - completely unneeded damage created by someone who clearly had no business changing the bracelet out themselves.

Interesting to see an estimated cost at around $1k for a new case. I knocked more than that off the agreed purchase price because of this damage. I wonder if that ballpark is accurate. I may send this in to Omega to find out.
Note I said "over $1K" @Archer if you can be bothered, would you care to steer us on the actual, no doubt eye watering amount.

I like these and yours seems in the main a good example but knocking $1K off a watch that was originally $2K overpriced, for instance, doesn't in itself make for a good deal 😉
 
dapellegrini
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I paid $2k for the watch USD - wasn't trying to be mysterious. No box or papers, but I believe the bracelet is original and correct and this is the dial with the minute markers that are slightly longer than the 1/5 minute markers - which I was told might be more desirable, but I am not an expert. At the time (a couple years ago) I had figured the watch without murdered lugs might be worth $3.5k or so - but I wasn't (and still am not) planning on selling it.

I suppose if they cleaned up 90% of the scratches and left the couple deep scars on the one lug that could still be a win. If a case is 2k, I may be able to source a donor with a better case in that range with parts to sell off to reduce the overall cost.

EDIT: I've had many watches serviced, but never an Omega. I have a good relationship with the local OB, but is there a good US-based recommend? I worked with an Omega certified watchmaker in Canada, but sending out of country and bring back in proved to be too complicated - and I had only sent him semi-valuable vintage Seikos.
Edited:
 
502 to right
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dapellegrini dapellegrini
I paid $2k for the watch USD - wasn't trying to be mysterious. No box or papers, but I believe the bracelet is original and correct and this is the dial with the minute markers that are slightly longer than the 1/5 minute markers - which I was told might be more desirable, but I am not an expert. At the time (a couple years ago) I had figured the watch without murdered lugs might be worth $3.5k or so - but I wasn't (and still am not) planning on selling it.

I suppose if they cleaned up 90% of the scratches and left the couple deep scars on the one lug that could still be a win. If a case is 2k, I may be able to source a donor with a better case in that range with parts to sell off to reduce the overall cost.

EDIT: I've had many watches serviced, but never an Omega. I have a good relationship with the local OB, but is there a good US-based recommend? I worked with an Omega certified watchmaker in Canada, but sending out of country and bring back in proved to be too complicated - and I had only sent him semi-valuable vintage Seikos.
If you are doing a full restoration I would just go with OSC. Call the Swatch Group telephone number in NJ and they will send you the info you need to send your watch in.

If you couldn't live with the gouges that a normal restoration would not remove, for about $500 you could get the case fixed by a specialist (using a laser welder) and then pay for a service and the watch would be basically perfect.
Edited:
 
Ron_W
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dapellegrini dapellegrini
I LOVE (in all caps) 9 of the 10 of these. The 3520.53 is the odd man out - a watch I acquired to help a friend exit the hobby, without loosing his shirt, along with some other interesting pieces from Vulcain and Longines. Perhaps ironically, that odd one out is my son's favorite, and will probably end up with him sooner than later - especially if I have it serviced.

The 1863 has had the most wrist time (by far) - as it was one of two nice watches I had for a many years. It was worn to the edge of abuse. The others were added later, and worn sparingly and gently after I started "collecting" watches. I think the TinTin might be my favorite, but the Snoopy and the new White Dial get the most wrist time so far this year, followed closely by the Chronoscope
All great choices, the others are not bad either !
 
Archer
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padders padders
Note I said "over $1K" @Archer if you can be bothered, would you care to steer us on the actual, no doubt eye watering amount.
This one is actually pretty reasonable, so about $1,300 US
 
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