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  1. Francisco S Apr 17, 2019

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    Hello,

    I'm new to this forum and this is my first post. I am actually looking for your advice as my father has given me his Ploprof 600. He has had this watch since the early 80' (at least); unfortunately he lives in a very dangerous country, a country where you would be killed for a Casio let along a Swiss watch so he doesn't wear it anymore, that's why the watch has been sitting in a safe box for the last 15-20 years, until recently when he gave it to me to restore, repair and wear. I'm not sure what way to go. Common sense for someone who knows nothing about this brand is: "take it to the Omega Service Center" but I have also read that taking it to a reputable watchmaker with experience in vintage watches is a better idea. Is this true?

    I want to keep the watch, it is not my idea of a day to day watch but it has soooooo much character... and it's my dad's watch... so I really watn to conserve it. So my plan is to repair it (the watch is not working) restore it, keeping it as original as possible but I wouldn't mind to clean the dial and the hands... The crystal is in perfect shape, the case and bracelets are in great shape. The red button needs some love. I have attached a few pics. He is lefty and wear his watches on the right hand. I think he made someone to assemble the watch so the crown is at the 3pm. i want to assemble it the original way, with the crown at 9pm.

    Where would you take it (Omega vs Watchmaker) and what would you tell them? Any idea of cost range???

    Thank you

    Francisco
     
    IMG_5845.jpg IMG_5851.jpg IMG_5847.jpg IMG_5848.jpg IMG_5849.jpg IMG_5850.jpg
  2. Campus1969 Apr 17, 2019

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    If I had that watch from my father, I would just get the movement serviced and do nothing else. That way it retains all of the history. Definitely go to an independent repairer who has specialist knowledge of conserving vintage watches correctly. If you indicate which country you are in, you’ll get some recommendations.

    A lovely heirloom, Francisco.

    Cheers
     
  3. Francisco S Apr 17, 2019

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    Thank you so much! Yes, I want to have it service it, ROTATE the mechanism back to its original position with the crown at 9pm and that would be it. But if there is a way to remove some of the mold from the white marks on the dial that would be a great bonus! The exterior is in great shape and the small marks do not bother me.


    I live in Farmington, CT. USA.. Thank you again for your input!
     
  4. TimtimeIntl Apr 17, 2019

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    What Campus said. Very cool watch. The lucite in the bezel can be polished and it would look much better. I would not do anything else to the case orbracelet other than have it ultrasonically cleaned when movement is serviced. They are big chunks of a watch but oh so cool. Jacques would be proud.
     
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  5. Francisco S Apr 17, 2019

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    I just read that removing mold from Tritium is not possible, so I better leave it as it is..
     
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  6. Omega-Q Apr 17, 2019

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    Please keep it as original as possible! That's what makes the watch so valuable...the history! Agree with others...send it to an independent watchmaker that can keep it as original as possible!
     
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  7. ChrisN Apr 17, 2019

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    Nice thing to have and I hope you get it fixed up.

    For me, I'd have the dial re-lumed by a specialist - in UK, the established expert is James Hyman but I don't know in USA. It will never look much better unless you do that.

    Regarding rotating the dial:

    The dial feet (the pins on the back of the dial) that go through the movement plate appear to be exactly opposite each other for the cal 1002 (about 5 O'Clock and 11 O'clock) so, it should be possible to rotate the dial 180 degrees and it will fit and line up. I know this might seem like obvious design but many calibres are not like this. Oddly for a watch that you hardly ever see, I just closed a PloProf so can't check but my photos show this.

    The date ring is a special one for the PloProf because the date window in the dial is opposite the crown - the one you have today is a standard cal 1002 as the date window is right next to the crown. If you think of the date shown on your watch being at the 15th, then directly opposite that would be between 30 and 31 so, the date ring you have is not suitable for rotating the dial 180 degrees. Not sure of the availability of these special date rings.

    The red button (it's a long bar with a red button on top) is available but, at a price.

    I lived in Brazil for some months and bought a very cheap Seiko to wear while there (this was 20 years ago) and was warned by local friends to take it off...

    Good luck.

    Cheers, Chris
     
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  8. JanV Apr 17, 2019

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    What I see is a fully original Ploprof with all correct parts. Please tell us the serial of the movement when it’s opened up, this can help further pinpoint if everything is timed and correct according to the serial.

    I would not do anything else than service the movement, in a odd way that dial and hands looks pretty beautiful the way they are. If the grey lume bothers you, and ONLY if, then you could relume the dial and hands, but DON’T touch anything else on the dial. And for heavens sake, don’t polish the case or bezel, on a Ploprof they are meant to be rough, part of its beauty.

    Service for a Ploprof can be around 700$ to 1000$ depending on where it’s serviced and how much is needed in spare parts for the movement.
     
    Edited Apr 17, 2019
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  9. Francisco S Apr 17, 2019

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    Thank you Jan..

    I think that's where I'm going first: Service it first, make it run again.. I really want to have it assembled the original way, with the crown at 9pm, hopefully this is not a problem, but that would be it.... later I will see if the lumen bother me that much. Good thing is that the dial has not bubble up (yet). I will not polish the case nor the bezel but the Bezel lock button is in bad shape... I will ask them to clean it first to see how it looks without that whitish gunk...

    I'm located in Connecticut.... Is there someone nearby who could do this???

    For sure I will post the serial #... I want to know as much about this watch as possible!.


    Thanks again


    Francisco
     
  10. JanV Apr 17, 2019

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    Just clean the bezel lock button lightly, nothing more. The white gunk will always accumulate on the button every time you use the watch. It is moisture and sweat from your hand that turns it white and will always be present if you use the watch, so I wouldn’t be worried about that at all. Yet again one feature that makes the Ploprof unique.
     
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  11. drhombus24 Apr 17, 2019

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    I do know of some people. I haven’t given them anything vintage (since I don’t currently own anything vintage), but they seem to know their stuff. When I met them, one was wearing an old Seamaster with a cal 321 in it. They also told me their business is primarily in vintage watches. No guarantees, but I think these may be good guys. Just search Gehan and Doherty watchmaking. They’re located in Sandy Hook, CT
     
  12. Mouse_at_Large still immune to Speedmaster attraction Apr 17, 2019

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    It depends on your budget and your motivation. If you want to keep the watch as it is, then a service with or without rotating the mechanism is what you should go for. If you decide to restore it then possibly a service replacement dial and handset (if available) might be a path to go down. If you get the original handset and original dial back then you can always swap them back in.

    Personally speaking, and this is my opinion only, the dial and handset is the face of the watch, and it looks a bit sad :(

    However, it's your watch and as long as you have a good idea of the pros and cons of the options, whatever you decide I wish you many happy years of ownership :thumbsup:
     
  13. ilayd Apr 17, 2019

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    You may want to look into flipping the dial a bit more. I found this link that states it may be a MKII where the red button is on the left side of the case.

    As ChrisN mentioned, the date ring you have now would not work by flipping the dial in your case. That means if your dad had it flipped, he must have went out and sourced a different ring. May want to ask him if he actually did that. If not, then its even more likely that the watch actually came that way.

    If that's the case, all you need is a mechanism service and a nice clean... I wouldnt touch anything else. A watch's value as it ages definitely comes first and foremost from the original parts. If you do decide to change the lume out, I would not relume the current hands and dial but instead get a different set and keep the original ones safe and secure.
     
  14. ilayd Apr 17, 2019

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    There's also more reading here that I found that could give you more info about the watch and the specific details.
     
  15. rob#1 Apr 17, 2019

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    That’s a great watch with truckloads of character :)

    I would have it serviced with a sympathetic clean - and if you can get hold of a service dial you could have that put on and keep the original. Leave it the way it is (especially if you’re left handed) and wear it in good health.
     
  16. Taddyangle Convicted Invicta Wearer Apr 17, 2019

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    I had mine restored by @photo500

    He did a service, and also converted from left to right. I bought a date wheel and sent that to him. He also rehabbed my case and painted my modern hands to match dial, which was not touched.

    Search "Roll call: ploprof" on this message board. Lots of ploprof info in that thread.

    Welcome to OF

    IMG_20190416_160423.jpg
     
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  17. valkyrie_rider Apr 17, 2019

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  18. Taddyangle Convicted Invicta Wearer Apr 17, 2019

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    But if you are left handed, I'd leave as is.
     
  19. tritto Apr 17, 2019

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    Awesome watch to jade and keep in the family. Are you sure your dad had the watch changed to wear the opposite was around? I'm sure I read a thread from @photo500 recently where he provided evidence that your configuration was available from the factory.
     
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  20. Francisco S Apr 17, 2019

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    I’m not sure about it. I know my dad is lefty and wears all his watches on his right hand. I am assuming he have this watch assembled the “lefty way”. He is now close to 80 years old and is not a convincing historian anymore...

    My understanding (and I know nothing about this watch) is that there was no “inverse Ploprof” watch from the factory. All of them were fabricated and assembled with the crown at 9pm.... later one can have it configured to the “lefty” assembly.

    I guess I will figure out once the watch is opened