Question removing gold-coating ( cases OMEGA & Co.)

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Fallout Boy

·Jan 6, 2024

Hi, I would like to restore a vintage Polerouter, gold-capped/coated, 60? microns.

First time in my life, I have planned intentionally to „destroy „ a scruffy rotten case.

-> My question is: do I find the 100% original steel-case after removing the „gold“ and can I (no me, any PRO) restore it to „steel“. Or did they use a different steel-alloy

Does anyone know how (if) the case was originally pre-treated?

Or should I abandon this experiment?

merci for any input

 

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JimInOz

·Jan 6, 2024·Melbourne Australia

Gold CAPPED, or gold PLATED?

There's a significant difference.

 

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Fallout Boy

·Jan 6, 2024

IMO they are gold capped- I do not posess the watch .... It is only the upper side of the case in "gold".
What do you think: UG capped the polerouters??? Watch is from 1953

 

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gatorcpa

·Jan 6, 2024·ΩF InvestiGator

Early Polerouters had very thick layers of gold. Up to 300 microns if memory serves. This is more than the contemporary Omega Constellations.

Older gold plating was around 20 microns and modern stuff is as little as 5 to 10 microns for comparison.

https://download1531.mediafire.com/...gbHLjs1srDG1SrfkA/0lm6y9wl4eg5k01/GoldCap.pdf

I think you would need to consult with a specialist company like Replateit to determine if the work is feasible.
gatorcpa

 

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Fallout Boy

·Jan 6, 2024

300 is a lot!
The question(s) from above remains. 😉

 

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gatorcpa

·Jan 6, 2024·ΩF InvestiGator

Fallout Boy

The question(s) from above remains. 😉

Please read the article. Generally, there is stainless steel underneath. However, I would guess that even if it were possible to chemically remove the gold, you’d either need to heavily polish or replate the case to get it to be presentable.

Some gold-capped watches had solid gold bezels. I do not know if the Polerouter was one of them.

I realize that you are not in the U.S., but if you happen to find a U.S. 10¢ coin, it would be like removing the top layer of copper-nickel alloy.
gatorcpa

 

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Fallout Boy

·Jan 6, 2024

Thanks for the later added link !

 

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X350 XJR

·Jan 6, 2024·Vintage Omega Aficionado

So I tried this experiment sometime ago on a trashed 1950s gold capped Seamaster case and this is as far as I got. That layer of gold is pretty damn thick.

 

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Fallout Boy

·Jan 6, 2024

With a DREMEL? 😀

 

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X350 XJR

·Jan 6, 2024·Vintage Omega Aficionado

 

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Fallout Boy

·Jan 6, 2024

Wait, I ve seen this.................




at my dentist 😁

 

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fskywalker

·Nov 8, 2025

What about removing a 20 micron gold layer off a watch bracelet?