"Polishing" a Speedmaster case - insert horrified expression here...

Cortezthekiller · Oct 20, 2015

I'm happy to have one of Adam's unpolished restorations. However, this is fantastic work. Agreed that the individual watch will call for refinish or no, depending on the condition of case, dial, hands, bracelet. I have a 1973 "NOS" Accutron Spaceview that I love, yet I also wear the Ghostflight with pride.

Brench · Oct 21, 2015

Wow great job.

Danflet · Jan 27, 2017

photo500
Hey Everyone,
Just thought you might like to see a Speedmaster case before and after refinishing 😀 Plus its an opportunity to do a but of gentle educating.

Refinishing a watch case means reapplying the factory finishes to each surface, these finishes include but are not limited to;
Satin graining or brushed finish - eg on the vertical sides of your Speedmaster
Polishing - to a highly reflective look (this word is frequently incorrectly used by watch collectors as an umbrella term for refinishing a case) this would commonly be seen on the bevelled part of a Speedmasters lugs.
Media blasting - a uniform matt appearance applied with a machine such as a micro bead blaster, think Sinn U1 etc.

Contrary to the large amount of misinformation present on this and other watch forums it IS possible to refinish a watch case while preserving or reinstating its sharp edges. Dents are often filled with micro welding too instead of just grinding them out.

Refinishing a watch case the right way can take just just as long if not longer than servicing the movement inside. Which is one of the reasons most watchmakers do not do it properly! It's also not something that is generally taught in watchmaking school.

While I'm not doing this kind of work to make a living I have been doing quite a bit of work for forum members here and from Instagram followers ( @Retrievador ) but I just wanted to show that there is a difference between the terms used and maybe, hopefully someday for an understanding to develop that not all "polishing is bad"

Before;

After (with a small amount of work still to do)

Love

photo500
Hey Everyone,
Just thought you might like to see a Speedmaster case before and after refinishing 😀 Plus its an opportunity to do a but of gentle educating.

Refinishing a watch case means reapplying the factory finishes to each surface, these finishes include but are not limited to;
Satin graining or brushed finish - eg on the vertical sides of your Speedmaster
Polishing - to a highly reflective look (this word is frequently incorrectly used by watch collectors as an umbrella term for refinishing a case) this would commonly be seen on the bevelled part of a Speedmasters lugs.
Media blasting - a uniform matt appearance applied with a machine such as a micro bead blaster, think Sinn U1 etc.

Contrary to the large amount of misinformation present on this and other watch forums it IS possible to refinish a watch case while preserving or reinstating its sharp edges. Dents are often filled with micro welding too instead of just grinding them out.

Refinishing a watch case the right way can take just just as long if not longer than servicing the movement inside. Which is one of the reasons most watchmakers do not do it properly! It's also not something that is generally taught in watchmaking school.

While I'm not doing this kind of work to make a living I have been doing quite a bit of work for forum members here and from Instagram followers ( @Retrievador ) but I just wanted to show that there is a difference between the terms used and maybe, hopefully someday for an understanding to develop that not all "polishing is bad"

Before;

After (with a small amount of work still to do)

Hi - Any chance I can contact you re doing something similar for me?!

omegamike · Apr 24, 2019

photo500
Hey Everyone,
Just thought you might like to see a Speedmaster case before and after refinishing 😀 Plus its an opportunity to do a but of gentle educating.

Refinishing a watch case means reapplying the factory finishes to each surface, these finishes include but are not limited to;
Satin graining or brushed finish - eg on the vertical sides of your Speedmaster
Polishing - to a highly reflective look (this word is frequently incorrectly used by watch collectors as an umbrella term for refinishing a case) this would commonly be seen on the bevelled part of a Speedmasters lugs.
Media blasting - a uniform matt appearance applied with a machine such as a micro bead blaster, think Sinn U1 etc.

Contrary to the large amount of misinformation present on this and other watch forums it IS possible to refinish a watch case while preserving or reinstating its sharp edges. Dents are often filled with micro welding too instead of just grinding them out.

Refinishing a watch case the right way can take just just as long if not longer than servicing the movement inside. Which is one of the reasons most watchmakers do not do it properly! It's also not something that is generally taught in watchmaking school.

While I'm not doing this kind of work to make a living I have been doing quite a bit of work for forum members here and from Instagram followers ( @Retrievador ) but I just wanted to show that there is a difference between the terms used and maybe, hopefully someday for an understanding to develop that not all "polishing is bad"

Before;

After (with a small amount of work still to do)

What an amazing job! Do you offer this as a service?

omegamike · Apr 24, 2019

photo500
Yep I understand what you're saying, can I ask would it make a difference if that case was done by the fellow who originally did the work at the factory? For example using the same tools and methods? I agree about considering the entire aesthetic. Usually a refinished case is paired with a pristine dial or a full resto.

I have a 145.022-71 that I’m looking to have refinished. It’s not terrible but could use some micro-welding and refinishing. Are you open to refinishing another?

zwjk · Apr 24, 2019

omegamike
I have a 145.022-71 that I’m looking to have refinished. It’s not terrible but could use some micro-welding and refinishing. Are you open to refinishing another?

Contact Adam at lewiswatchco.com

He is a full time watchmaker now in an Omega certified workshop.

larryganz · Apr 24, 2019

Beautiful work there Photo500

Albe100 · Apr 25, 2019

(EDIT - Just realized this thread was from 2015 - ::facepalm1::

) I was going to start a thread asking about case thickness/refinishing, I'll add to it instead.

I haven't gotten around to taking pictures of my 145.022-69 case, serial number suggests a 1971 production date. Side of the case is brushed as well as the curved part of the lug, as you can see in the photo. I compared it to some of my newer speedies, and the finish looks pretty good, but i'm not an expert.

It was my first vintage purchase over 4 years ago, bit of a noob (a lot), but I managed to find this example, which is being held onto for my niece until she is old enough to enjoy it. I paid less thank 3K at the time (good or not) below are some pictures of the case, it was refinished, but I think the dial has aged quite nicely. My question was going to be, how polished was it? I haven't handled many in the flesh, and reading these comments, it seems that it would be difficult to tell unless it was polished several times.

Any feedback is welcome. Thanks OP for starting the thread!

omegamike · Apr 25, 2019

zwjk
Contact Adam at lewiswatchco.com

He is a full time watchmaker now in an Omega certified workshop.

Thank you! Just did.

avidmark · Sep 27, 2019

Sorry to revive a very old post, but Id really like to know what material was used for the grained brushing?
Thanks.

Katana · Feb 6, 2020

Reviving this topic again as I’ve been reading more about polishing and refinishing. Astonishing work by photo500 btw. This topic really does raise some interesting questions and points.

Since getting my Globemaster a year ago, I’ve accumulated a few very minor scratches and scuffs, mostly from strap changes, but even though they’re small, they still bug me. In fact, the one that makes my OCD flare up the most is not even the larger scuff on the outer reflective beveled edge of the case, but the tiniest speck on the inner beveled edge of the lug that you can barely see, but the speck shows itself in some lights... just knowing it’s there bugs the crap out of me for some reason, which is why I’ve been reading up on this. I’m going to wait for the full service in a few years as It’s expensive, but it this thread did make me think about retaining the history vs maintaining the pristine look.

As been pointed out, I think it makes sense that the watches overall aesthetic should match, which brings up a point about the Globemaster. It has a tungsten bezel and a SS case, so the case will most likely age quite differently compared to the bezel. Being that the Globemaster is still fairly new I’m guess now one (or very few) has yet to put it in for full service, so I’m curious as to how the purists will fell about this watch in time as it ages. I feel it will look quite odd if the case has a very aged look yet the bezel looks like the day it came out of the factory. Also, in terms of having the history shown on the watch, I’m not sure if it’s that cool to me to see a scratch created by my strap changing mistake vs say if I received it at some notable event.

I get the desire to want to keep the worn look of the watch. Being a year in to this hobby I’m still new, but have been a life long guitarist, and there’s some cross over between the two. I remember getting a brand new made in Mexico Fender strat in 1992 as a teen and lending it to my brother who dropped in during a practice chipping off a 2 inch piece of the new paint. Despite the guitar sounding amazing, at the time the damage killed it for me and all I wanted was a new guitar, so a sold it. In retrospect I wish I had kept it as not only was it a great guitar, but there’s something cool about guitars that have that kind of aesthetic damage. I’ve only see people get guitars refinished if it’s really completely trashed. Most of the time people will leave the wear and tear, especially vintage guitars, for the same reason as watch collectors. There’s also something rock and roll about having a beat up guitar, or one that shows decades on playing. There are even custom shop guitars that have faux wear and tear and they charge a premium for it, but I can’t stand those... the whole concept of generically added wear and age to anything as it seems ridiculous and inauthentic to me.

I digress, but I do believe when it comes time I will get the full service with case refinishing when it comes time as I would like the case to match the bezel. This watch, despite being new, hold a lot of sentimental value for me, but I feel the sentiment is between met by keeping it in the best condition I can as opposed to just retaining some scratches I give it from strap changes. I would probably feel differently if it was vintage, but it’s not.

larryganz · Feb 6, 2020

Katana
Reviving this topic again as I’ve been reading more about polishing and refinishing. Astonishing work by photo500 btw. This topic really does raise some interesting questions and points.
...snip...
I digress, but I do believe when it comes time I will get the full service with case refinishing when it comes time as I would like the case to match the bezel. This watch, despite being new, hold a lot of sentimental value for me, but I feel the sentiment is between met by keeping it in the best condition I can as opposed to just retaining some scratches I give it from strap changes. I would probably feel differently if it was vintage, but it’s not.

In my case, it depends. For example, I won't refinish my vintage 1976 Speedmaster Pro 861 or even let Omega touch it, but I let Omega refinish my early 2000's Speedmaster Date when they did the service because there was no history to preserve, and there would be no mismatch between the finish, dial and hands.

When I had my 2011 Planet Ocean Liquid Metal Limited Edition serviced at Omega in 2018, I refused the re-finish, because as a collectible LE watch I wanted the finish to be original. They microscopically damaged (under 10x) the liquid metal bezel while they had it and still replaced it at no charge after I declined to pay $600 for a new one, and I don't have a problem with that because it is truly identical to the one that was on the watch.

My Ti Planet Ocean 9300 has been a frequent daily wear watch for about 4 years, and having a hard grade 5 titanium case means that all of it's scratches are superficial. From a distance you can't see any marks, and the polished parts are still nice and shiny - get up close and dirty and it's marked up a bit with shallow marks. But, since Omega's grade 5 Ti is so hard and resilient and difficult for others to work on, I might let Omega refinish the case when I send it in for service next year - I'm paying for it anyway and I didn't want to entrust the refinish to anyone outside of Omega. But it does look like it would probably be safe with LWC, after seeing examples on their website of all the work they've done.

I serviced my 2013 Omega Speedmaster Pro last summer without a polish because it looks about as good as my 2005 Speedy 3572.50 that Omega likely refinished with it's last service in 2016 (before I bought it in 2018). I also serviced my 2013 Hamilton chronograph last summer, but refused a polish because I usually only want casework when I have a dent that drives me nuts, or it's in a material that's hard for a 3rd party to work with. But, if it's a modern watch with no special value as rare or LE, and the marks bug me, then I would refinish.

I don't think it would be an issue for you to have it serviced with Omega and let them refinish the watch, unless it's truly in remarkable condition like my Speedy or Hamilton were.

Someday it might be considered vintage, but do you really think it will be that desirable to have the original factory finish? Maybe if it was one of the first to be released and then they made changes very soon after release, and so you have a unique Mk1 dial or hands, etc. Or, maybe if the majority of them had a white gold or steel bezel and your tungsten bezel model is truly rare or limited.(note - I don't know much about the Globemaster.)

Katana · Feb 6, 2020

larryganz
In my case, it depends. For example, I won't refinish my vintage 1976 Speedmaster Pro 861 or even let Omega touch it, but I let Omega refinish my early 2000's Speedmaster Date when they did the service because there was no history to preserve, and there would be no mismatch between the finish, dial and hands.

When I had my 2011 Planet Ocean Liquid Metal Limited Edition serviced at Omega in 2018, I refused the re-finish, because as a collectible LE watch I wanted the finish to be original. They microscopically damaged (under 10x) the liquid metal bezel while they had it and still replaced it at no charge after I declined to pay $600 for a new one, and I don't have a problem with that because it is truly identical to the one that was on the watch.

My Ti Planet Ocean 9300 has been a frequent daily wear watch for about 4 years, and having a hard grade 5 titanium case means that all of it's scratches are superficial. From a distance you can't see any marks, and the polished parts are still nice and shiny - get up close and dirty and it's marked up a bit with shallow marks. But, since Omega's grade 5 Ti is so hard and resilient and difficult for others to work on, I might let Omega refinish the case when I send it in for service next year - I'm paying for it anyway and I didn't want to entrust the refinish to anyone outside of Omega. But it does look like it would probably be safe with LWC, after seeing examples on their website of all the work they've done.

I serviced my 2013 Omega Speedmaster Pro last summer without a polish because it looks about as good as my 2005 Speedy 3572.50 that Omega likely refinished with it's last service in 2016 (before I bought it in 2018). I also serviced my 2013 Hamilton chronograph last summer, but refused a polish because I usually only want casework when I have a dent that drives me nuts, or it's in a material that's hard for a 3rd party to work with. But, if it's a modern watch with no special value as rare or LE, and the marks bug me, then I would refinish.

I don't think it would be an issue for you to have it serviced with Omega and let them refinish the watch, unless it's truly in remarkable condition like my Speedy or Hamilton were.

Someday it might be considered vintage, but do you really think it will be that desirable to have the original factory finish? Maybe if it was one of the first to be released and then they made changes very soon after release, and so you have a unique Mk1 dial or hands, etc. Or, maybe if the majority of them had a white gold or steel bezel and your tungsten bezel model is truly rare or limited.(note - I don't know much about the Globemaster.)

I can see that there’s a lot of nuances to consider when deciding if a watch should be refinished. Lots of good reasons for and against you’ve given.

TBH I haven’t really considered if my watch will be desirable with a factory finish when it turns vintage because it’s not really a concern of mine. The main value is sentimental to me, and I plan on having it for the rest of my life and will never sell it. As far as what it has going for it apart from the tungsten bezel, a revival of the pie pan dial, and a bunch of other design specs that harken back to classic constellation designs, it was the first Omega to be introduced as a master chronometer. Not sure if that will hold much weight in the future, but even if it doesn’t it’s won’t change how I feel about the watch. Plus, the
Globemaster line seems to be currently very underrated, and my Globemaster, with the opaline silver dial, happens to be the least desirable of the bunch (judging from the majority favoring the blue dial or gold variants), and most underrated if you ask me, so I really don’t know how history will define it. I really like it look brand new, so that’s my inclination to keep it that way, but I don’t know how I will feel in the future.

My late grandfather was really into making model trains. He meticulously created them with pieces of metal he melt, cut and molded, and created truly pieces of art. After his passing I managed to keep some of his trains, some unpainted and some painted, but they were covered in dust from his workshop shed. I decided to not even clean them while displaying them because seeing the dusty reminds me of what they were like in his workshop, so there’s a sense of closeness I feel with them to him as they are. They retain a sentimental history that I don’t want to wash away. Some of them are unfinished and my grandmother told me I should finish them, but I would never because as they are, they are how he left them. However I’m sure if he was alive he would have finished them to perfection. I think perhaps that’s what I’m like. It’s my watch and I like keeping it in the best shape possible, but perhaps when it gets passed on to my child they will want to receive it in whatever condition I left it in.

larryganz · Feb 6, 2020

Katana
I can see that there’s a lot of nuances to consider when deciding if a watch should be refinished. Lots of good reasons for and against you’ve given.
...snip...
It’s my watch and I like keeping it in the best shape possible, but perhaps when it gets passed on to my child they will want to receive it in whatever condition I left it in.

Bingo! There’s your answer.

Katana · Feb 6, 2020

larryganz
Bingo! There’s your answer.

Yes

MMariotti · Feb 7, 2020

How long does it take to refinish a case that was dented like the one you started from? The work you did looks stunning