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  1. Ryguy008 Aug 8, 2019

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    hi all! I am in need of some advice and I’d love the help of this community (y’all are awesome) to fix my issue.

    So it’s funny my uncle thought I owned no watches (I own a speedy hahaha) but as he is becoming older and wanted to change his watch up. He’s gifted me a really cool seiko diver that I’d love to polish up. It’s nothing fancy (as you can see by the pictures) but I think it’s worth the effort of a new battery and a little bit of TLC

    So I’m thinking it would look really good if I gifted it back to him in good working order to enjoy. But in doing so I need to polish the face a bit as it’s super scratched up! I don’t want to spend a fortune on it so I was coming to you guys for advice. Any cleaning products you’d recommended?

    Also of note the bezel is pretty stuck. Do you guys think it’s worth trying to fix or should I just leave it?

    Pic for your consideration!
     
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  2. jtomaselli Aug 8, 2019

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    I use Novus- buy all three together and it lasts a long time and works like a charm. Capture.PNG
     
  3. X350 XJR Vintage Omega Aficionado Aug 8, 2019

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    Pretty sure your watch has a glass crystal which is not going to respond to polishing.
     
    italy1861 likes this.
  4. Ryguy008 Aug 8, 2019

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    Yeah I was hoping that even if I don’t get it perfect at least it becomes a little clearer
     
  5. Canuck Aug 8, 2019

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    The crystal is tempered mineral. Any attempt to polish it using cerium oxide or diamond paste would cost more than replacing the crystal. Plus, the crystal would have to come out of the case, and be re-inserted. Could break.
     
  6. Ryguy008 Aug 8, 2019

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    So chances are I should take it to a local shop and see how much a new crystal would be? That's too bad as I would have preferred to keep it original
     
  7. Canuck Aug 8, 2019

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    As I see it, that’s about it. Anything done to it now will make it less original than it is right now. But better!
     
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  8. jtomaselli Aug 8, 2019

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    Ah, my bad, I thought it was an acrylic crystal.
     
  9. Ryguy008 Aug 8, 2019

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    @Canuck @X350 XJR @jtomaselli Thanks for the advice! If I get it to a local service location I'll let you know how it goes. It's a shame because where I'm from in Canada servicing watches costs a pretty penny :(
     
  10. Canuck Aug 8, 2019

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    Canada is worse than anywhere else? Are you in the far north, or out in the sticks somewhere?
     
  11. Ryguy008 Aug 8, 2019

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    I'm on Vancouver Island. It isn't bad if you take a short ferry to Vancouver but those costs add up (BC ferries is $70 each way for a person plus a vehicle). There's stuff locally but a lot of mixed reviews about it. When I got my speedy serviced my local AD told me to ship it away to get it serviced
     
  12. Canuck Aug 8, 2019

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    Possibly someone on the OMB might be able to refer you to someone on Vancouver Island. I know of a guy in Victoria, but his website is inactive. I have emailed the only address I have for him, and will get back if I hear from him.
     
    Edited Aug 8, 2019
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  13. Ryguy008 Aug 10, 2019

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    I thought I’d post a little update here! I got up to a Sunday morning activity and should share the results. Although I couldn’t get a lot of the deep scratches, the crystal looks much clearer after a buff on the felt wheel. Mineral oil, rouge polish (finest grade in the set) and the felt wheel on the drill press. The old man had all the tools for the job! Photo for attention
     
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    apsm100 and wsfarrell like this.
  14. vintagemillenial Aug 10, 2019

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    honestly looks 100% better, awesome results.
     
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  15. GandOsDad Aug 10, 2019

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    I like it, it has lived a life. Any luck w the bezel ?
     
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  16. Ryguy008 Aug 10, 2019

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    @GandOsDad i actually got the bezel to line up with the natural position using a couple pieces of cork and a vice!!
     
  17. Lovewatches2 Aug 10, 2019

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    Wow, amazing result after the mineral oil polish! It's much better than before! ::yawn::
     
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  18. Canuck Aug 10, 2019

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    A good scrub to wash off the mineral oil, and I wonder if is indeed improved? Wetting the crystal with water is likely to have the same effect,,,,,,,,,until the water evaporates!
     
  19. apsm100 applysome! Aug 10, 2019

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    I didn't think polishing a mineral crystal was even possible, great job :)
     
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  20. Canuck Aug 11, 2019

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    The only polishing agents generally used for polishing glass (hardness of 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale) are aluminum oxide, and cerium oxide. Neither of these will work on sapphire glass which has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. But attempting to polish a glass crystal while it is in the watch case can seriously damage the case.
     
    apsm100 likes this.