Speedmaster professional mark ll refurbishment.

johnnyboy32 · Oct 12, 2020

Hello,
I’ve just come across my fathers old Speedmaster and am wondering if there is a realistic chance of refurbishing the case to the original starburst finish.

As you can see it’s pretty beaten up an I wouldn’t wear it unless I could return it to near its former show room glory. Obviously the watch isn’t that valuable so I would like any work to be economical.

thanks in advance.

alam · Oct 12, 2020

Check with @photo500 as he has the right skills for the task

padders · Oct 12, 2020

I think that may be just too far gone. Not only is it like a bar of soap, but it is gold plated so you have in essence 2 major problems, how to put material back, recut the original profile and then reinstate the sunburst finish. Then you need to replate the result.

janice&fred · Oct 12, 2020

I love it as it sits. The work you're looking for could be done but it needs to go to a place that specializes in Omega case restoration, and then replated afterwards. That isn't going to come cheap. If you're going to refuse to use the watch unless it's mint, and expect an economical restoration, then you're better off either putting it away or selling it and put the money into something new.

SkunkPrince · Oct 12, 2020

I wonder whether Omega would refurbish it or replace it?

johnnyboy32 · Oct 12, 2020

Thanks for your replies. If refinishing it to its original finish is a non starter what would you recommend? I don't want to wear a watch that is badly scratched but I suppose I can't polish it because of the gold plate. I believe I can get a new crystal and tachymetre for approximately £120 and I would like to fit an Omega leather strap but I can't find the original spec ( the official Omega site states it was originally supplied with a leather strap). What sort of price would I be looking at to tidy the case up, and what are the do and don'ts of cleaning it up with out losing any value?

SkunkPrince · Oct 12, 2020

It is likely that bracelet was sold with the watch.

If that were mine I'd send it for factory service and see what they do with it. They may replace the case, but it would likely be at your expense.

janice&fred · Oct 12, 2020

J johnnyboy32
Thanks for your replies. If refinishing it to its original finish is a non starter what would you recommend? I don't want to wear a watch that is badly scratched but I suppose I can't polish it because of the gold plate. I believe I can get a new crystal and tachymetre for approximately £120 and I would like to fit an Omega leather strap but I can't find the original spec ( the official Omega site states it was originally supplied with a leather strap). What sort of price would I be looking at to tidy the case up, and what are the do and don'ts of cleaning it up with out losing any value?

At this point maybe you should define the term "economical" you used to describe the amount you are willing to spend on the restoration. What is the dollar figure you were thinking of?

Sherbie · Oct 12, 2020

I think that case is too far gone - its been polished to buggery

there seems to be almost no metal left on the lugs at all at the 6 o’clock end, and i suspect the 12 o’c end wont be much better

a new case might be the way to go here, on a new leather strap (Just save the original bracelet, but you can see that its a different colour now to the watch, so it too is well worn)

Sherbie · Oct 12, 2020

Ps - gold plated cases get a bad rub, but when new they looked spectacular

please see picture borrowed from internet (from Dogen’s World class Omega collection) - these are not Mark IIs, but the case is closely related

Lurk41 · Oct 12, 2020

Ouch, it hurts to see this case. Same as the others: it is too far gone to be able to save the case at a reasonable cost 🙁

What surprises me is that @Sherbie said, it looks like there is barely no metal left on the lugs. Now, to reach that amount of damage, their should be no gold plating left. Why polish it that badly while taking care of replating it?

Either it is a rare solid-gold "BA" version (unlikely - and it would be even more a shame...), or, the pictures are misleading us and all hope is not lost

edit: you have to show a Seamaster Yachting when taking about gold plated watch!
(from: https://www.timeline.watch/watch/1973-omega-ssemaster-yatching-ref-176-0010)

redzer007 · Oct 12, 2020

People often harvest the 861 movements out of these and sell off the cases. It might take a while but I'd say you will get a case is usable condition for a lot less than any restoration work

Biezmez · Oct 12, 2020

J johnnyboy32
Hello,
I’ve just come across my fathers old Speedmaster and am wondering if there is a realistic chance of refurbishing the case to the original starburst finish.
As you can see it’s pretty beaten up an I wouldn’t wear it unless I could return it to near its former show room glory. Obviously the watch isn’t that valuable so I would like any work to be economical.

thanks in advance.

Hi

You’ve already received some good advice from members of the forum. I had a watch replated as part of a service I had done last year. This was done at replateit.com. You might want to get in touch and see what they are able to offer regarding your watch. Otherwise the alternative of looking for a replacement case would be my other option.
Best of luck
Chris

roman9662 · Oct 12, 2020

Assuming you're looking at a stainless steel case there are people that can laser weld material back on.
I had that done to my vintage racing MarkII earlier this year by Tanner Morehouse of tmwatchco.com. SWTC ground the hell out of the case during a service in the 90s and I never wore it much afterwards. Tanner specializes in restoring these particular cases. Regarding the p!ating, you're on your own.
I'll post some pictures in a minute when I can get to the correct device.
Good Luck whichever way you go.

roman9662 · Oct 12, 2020

alexei.joukovski · Oct 12, 2020

I would send it to Re-Plate it in Canada. https://www.replateit.com/
They have done about 20 cases for me at very good cost.
This cost me roughly $150 CAD to replate.
They filled the holes, restored the profiles. They know all the old omega profiles. They do a remarkable job. Especially if you pay extra for repair rather than just a strip/brush/plate.

Gold plated cases are not salvageable at home. Despite what people tell you, a well refinished one is still worth money. If it is the difference between wearing and not wearing, I know what I would do. Especially if it is a heirloom.

Their work is so good that you can still read 20 Micron O.R in between the lower lugs.

My case was in worse condition than yours. I had to source new pushers and crown from ebay, but you could get the old ones replated.
I have more photos if you wanted to see.

padders · Oct 13, 2020

alexei.joukovski
I would send it to Re-Plate it in Canada. https://www.replateit.com/
They have done about 20 cases for me at very good cost.
This cost me roughly $150 CAD to replate.
They filled the holes, restored the profiles. They know all the old omega profiles. They do a remarkable job. Especially if you pay extra for repair rather than just a strip/brush/plate.

Gold plated cases are not salvageable at home. Despite what people tell you, a well refinished one is still worth money. If it is the difference between wearing and not wearing, I know what I would do. Especially if it is a heirloom.

Their work is so good that you can still read 20 Micron O.R in between the lower lugs.

My case was in worse condition than yours. I had to source new pushers and crown from ebay, but you could get the old ones replated.
I have more photos if you wanted to see.

V nice indeed. Can we see a before picture? I am finding hit hard to visualise how it could be worse than the OP watch originally.

simonsays · Oct 13, 2020

The OP's case does look slightly beyond repair. The GP cases are brass, so where the gold has gone it is still yellow in colour. It really is a bar of soap judging by those pictures

jaguar11 · Oct 13, 2020

You could have it serviced, wear and enjoy as is. Assuming your father owned the watch for a number of years each of those marks has a story behind it... Good luck either way!!

roman9662 · Oct 13, 2020

alexei.joukovski
I would send it to Re-Plate it in Canada. https://www.replateit.com/
They have done about 20 cases for me at very good cost.
This cost me roughly $150 CAD to replate.
They filled the holes, restored the profiles. They know all the old omega profiles. They do a remarkable job. Especially if you pay extra for repair rather than just a strip/brush/plate.

Gold plated cases are not salvageable at home. Despite what people tell you, a well refinished one is still worth money. If it is the difference between wearing and not wearing, I know what I would do. Especially if it is a heirloom.

Their work is so good that you can still read 20 Micron O.R in between the lower lugs.

My case was in worse condition than yours. I had to source new pushers and crown from ebay, but you could get the old ones replated.
I have more photos if you wanted to see.

That looks wonderful.
Thanks for the plater reference!
You never know when it'll come in handy.

Speedmaster professional mark ll refurbishment.

johnnyboy32

alam

padders

janice&fred

SkunkPrince

johnnyboy32

SkunkPrince

janice&fred

Sherbie

Sherbie

Lurk41

redzer007

Biezmez

roman9662

roman9662

alexei.joukovski

padders

simonsays

jaguar11

roman9662

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