I have been a longtime reader of this beautiful forum and I am here for some advice. Recently i acquired my dream Tri-Compax. It was a perfect combination of playful lugs and numerals. I have rarely been filled with so much joy as I did when I acquired it. However I guess the transaction was cursed or maybe I just didn't deserve the jubilation I felt. When I received the watch I took it to my trusted watch specialist (He had worked on my watches for years mostly vintage) for a check up to see if the mechanicals were in condition to be used. He saw the dial and asked if he should have a look at it. I told him I didn't want it touched at all, but there was a little yellowing if he could just check to see if it could be removed. He said hell take a look but if theres any risk of damage he wont go further. Thats what I wanted. I told him again while leaving please don't make anything worse or try to make it better if theres any risk. He assured me he would be careful. The next day when I returned the worst had happened. In trying to "see what could be done" he had wiped away a significant portion of the outer seconds track between 10 and 12. He had also wiped away the already almost faded arabic 11. He said he barely touched the dial and the letters just came off before he could realise what happened. he was genuinely sorry. However I am completely devastated since then. This watch was truly a grail of mine and am not being able to live with myself. Everytime I look at it now I'm filled with regret at my carelessness. Im just not being able to live with myself whenever I see it. I had a very peculiar request of you all of you. Please advice what I should do. Would it be possible to only refinish this particular portion? i.e. the outer seconds track between 10 and 12. and Arabic numeral 11? Also will it look exactly like the other original portion or will it stand out? Is there anyone in the world regardless of the cost who could do the watch justice. Or should I just let it be.
Hi welcome! Is this the one from Italy? I'm a big fan of that coat hanger 7 font! Sorry that happened to you but at this stage, I would leave the watch as is. Trying to partly redial the watch will just make it worst. Especially with your watch that has a lot of patina already, it'll just stand out even more.
Hi Drechristian. No, I dont think its from Italy. I purchased it from a gentleman from the US. I myself love the 7 and just thank god he didnt touch that part. In any case your advice makes sence, I really do not want to make it worse. Thanks for the reply, I really appreciate it.
Shame about the damage . I would leave it as it is. Anything you do will just devalue the watch ... You could keep an eye out for a dial. However, be ready to pay an arm and a leg for it as they are as rare as hens teeth. or Sell yours and buy this one ... http://www.chrono24.fr/universalgenve/universal-geneve-tri-compax-acciaio--id4426503.htm (that 's if i dont get there first)
@Diabolik I really wouldnt know how to sell my watch, I have never sold one, nor will I ever sell. Damage or not It already has sentimental value to me. In anycase the listing you provided will be far to expensive for my pocket, especially considering the exact watch was listen by robert mason? on ebay for around 10,000$ a few days back. In any case I will take yours and drechristians advice. Will leave as is. It is a life lesson on my hand from now and will learn to love it. Thanks a lot for the reply though.
That seller also has an oversize rose gold tri-compax which is very tasty, but oh-so-expensive... Sorry for the damage @Nishant Tripathi , I feel your pain...
wow, these things I really going hot right now, good stuff I got mine a while back and it is even nicer with applied steel arabic numerals...
mantra.....in the firmest snarl you can muster. " Just service the movement. Don't polish the case....Dont touch the dial or the hands..."
I'm sorry that happened man, but I don't think you should beat yourself up over it and say you weren't careful enough.
i'm not a great fan of dials with a lot of patina, but that is just me... what i can say is that the dial is not shocking that way, if you don't know what happened you would think it is normal, and as the others i would not touch it at all, the watch is great and consistent that way...
Update : 20th May, 2016. One at the very basic level, purchases a time piece for wearing it. I know that for years I have wanted a Tri-Compx for wearing it, enjoying it. I find them to be perfection and each and every one of them to be very special. I always aspired to own one for years now. To have it on my wrist. And I simply wasn't able to live with my watch in its current condition. I therefore caved in (also partly due to luck of finding one and being able to afford one) and got another dial for the watch. Having put it on, I now realise that eventhough it does not have the "special 7", or rarity or 'originality' - I don't care. I know I enjoy it much more now. I actually will be able to wear it everyday and smile whenever I look at that little moon. And I guess that is what watches are for, to me atleast. I thank everyone who supported me in my OCD, from the bottom of my heart. You guys are amazing. And apologies to those who don't approve of the decision. You guys are amazing too.
At the end of the day what matters is that you like it Enjoy it in good health BTW, the watch looks great
Very nice. I first saw a Tri Compax in a Paris antique watch shop last October. The owner would not sell me either of his pristine watches since he was unconvinced there were watch makers in the states who could care for them ( I left with a 2998 speedy though). I was obsessed. I now own a Compax, and two Tri Compax. Enjoy your watch. I suspect you now have the UG bug!