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Refurbishment advice

H
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Hello all,

I have recently inherited my father-in-law‘s watch, which was issued to him whilst in the Royal Air Force in Great Britain. It’s not running at the moment so it needs a service. I wanted your advice on what steps to take with refurbishment. I gather it’s an early tritium sin arrow dial show do I just get the dial cleaned as best as they can for originality, or do I go for the full Omega replacement, and polish etc. Also, I would appreciate a recommendation for a service and restore in the United Kingdom. You will be glad to know that I’m not interested in a valuation as it will never be sold and handed to my son when I pop off!
 
9364B2EC-308B-46E0-B848-3C093004963C.jpeg 72BF72C3-56F7-4652-AE8D-D8A010732294.jpeg
jaegodylan
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Amazing.. what an heirloom!

I would keep it as is and get it cleaned up. Simon Freese is a known sympathetic restorer who can service the movement and clean up the crystal and dial. The thin arrow dial is valuable so I would not consider changing it.

The hands could use a relume to match the dial better as they were likely relumed with that green paste during an earlier service. I would recommend James Hyman aka the Alchemist Relumer for that.

Both of them are UK based and you could send the watch to Simon and ask him to send the hands to James for the relume. If you have any trouble finding them feel free to reach out and I can send you information.
 
RoadRunner73
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A broad arrow : Wow !
I agree to 200% with what @jaegodylan just suggested with regards to cleaning the dial and reluming the hands!
I would not refinish the dial to be more specific, and considering that the crystal is more than likely a plastic / Hesalite one, some nice polishing should do the job.
Also, the tail of the seconds hand looks quite smart !
 
H
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jaegodylan jaegodylan
Amazing.. what an heirloom!

I would keep it as is and get it cleaned up. Simon Freese is a known sympathetic restorer who can service the movement and clean up the crystal and dial. The thin arrow dial is valuable so I would not consider changing it.

The hands could use a relume to match the dial better as they were likely relumed with that green paste during an earlier service. I would recommend James Hyman aka the Alchemist Relumer for that.

Both of them are UK based and you could send the watch to Simon and ask him to send the hands to James for the relume. If you have any trouble finding them feel free to reach out and I can send you information.
Thanks very much for the advice
 
Aroxx
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Just to make it explicit, absolutely do not send it to Omega. They will replace parts and destroy the character and value of the watch. Follow the advice above.
 
SmithSJ
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Great example of the rare thin arrow - great heirloom. Can also try Vintage Watch Fever outside London #ursmidur
 
H
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SmithSJ SmithSJ
Great example of the rare thin arrow - great heirloom. Can also try Vintage Watch Fever outside London #ursmidur
Thanks
 
Franco
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Thin arrow Omega Pilot 1953, ref 2777,in its original configuration with radium dial. Please leave dial untouched, and as suggested get Hyman to relume the hands with a darker tone paste. Do not change the large unsigned crown which is original. The seconds hand should not be with the counterpoise, but with the long triangular tail . Simon Freese will service the cal. 283 without problems.
 
watchlovr
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As said above;
Very rare to find the original radium dial still present.
With the right sympathetic treatment, I reckon this will be a stunner, and a very very wearable size for a milwatch.
 
H
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Franco Franco
Thin arrow Omega Pilot 1953, ref 2777,in its original configuration with radium dial. Please leave dial untouched, and as suggested get Hyman to relume the hands with a darker tone paste. Do not change the large unsigned crown which is original. The seconds hand should not be with the counterpoise, but with the long triangular tail . Simon Freese will service the cal. 283 without problems.
Thanks
 
Dan S
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Late to the party, but I was also going to say radium, not tritium dial. Go slowly and preserve the originality as best you can. At a later date, you might regret any irreversible changes.
 
H
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Thanks all very much for the helpful replies; I will endeavour to post some pictures of the completed item in a few months.
 
RoadRunner73
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Wow ! the Alchemistrelumer really seems to have golden hands !! 🥰
Is definitely worth keeping his details for any specific need in the future !
Whereabout is he based ? London area ?
 
Mark020
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RoadRunner73 RoadRunner73
Wow ! the Alchemistrelumer really seems to have golden hands !! 🥰
Is definitely worth keeping his details for any specific need in the future !
Whereabout is he based ? London area ?
Bit more north I believe
 
H
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Hi all, just got the watch back from being serviced and it’s now working again. Tragedy is, the crown and pin were broken and had to be replaced with a non-original item as they could not source an Omega part. Anybody got a good contact for vintage Omega parts?
 
watchlovr
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H Hairycamel
Hi all, just got the watch back from being serviced and it’s now working again. Tragedy is, the crown and pin were broken and had to be replaced with a non-original item as they could not source an Omega part. Anybody got a good contact for vintage Omega parts?
Who did you use?
What happened to the original parts?.
 
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