Community Stories

Time for a new watchmaker!

Tigeranteater
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WTH, is it too much to ask to have your pristine watch come back from the watchmaker in the same condition? I sent my Omega Dynamic to my watchmaker for service. The watch was in fantastic condition with no scratches on the case brushing. You can see the result from my photos. It looks like he serviced it with a monkey wrench This is a VERY experienced watchmaker. Strike one and two was when I sent my pristine Rolex 1503 for service. The case back sticker was still present. I sent an email and a note with the watch telling him not to buff anything just perform a service. I got an email back with two pictures, one after a few minutes on the wheel and the other after the original sticker was buffed off, saying I received the watch OK but there seem to be some tarnish on the back which I removed with the buffer. I am pleading and begging for one of the superior watchmakers on this form to take pity on me and service my watches in the future. Please enjoy the pictures and empathize in my misery.
 
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Snickers1985
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My heart would sink if a watch I sent to professional came back worse off than when it was sent. Ask for compensation.
 
VetPsychWars
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I once had a very experienced CMW basically melt a stainless case to nothing. I certainly sympathize. I'd be all over those guys making them pay to have your cases restored by the manufacturer.

Tom
 
Tigeranteater
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Oh and I had him install a NOS bracelet....he put it on so it clasps backwards. I NEED a good watchmaker from this forum that understands. Does anyone think that the brushing can be restored?
Cheers,
Steve
 
KingCrouchy
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If you are in Europe or GB I can't recommend @ChrisN enough.👍
I had similar experiences in with some Watchmakers in Switzerland, one polished and changed all the pieces on a family heirloom, while I had asked him to not do so.::facepalm1::
 
JwRosenthal
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I feel your pain. My regular guy that I have been using for years is winding down and is taking longer to get things done (4-6 months sometimes, waited almost a year for one piece). I have sent two pieces to different watchmakers to test the waters. One local place took them 3 tries to get it to right (kept stopping). Another out of state came back with a thumb print on the dial and flecks of metal under the crystal (that has been remedied by a fiend).
The search continues.
 
BlackTalon
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Another out of state came back with a thumb print on the dial and flecks of metal under the crystal (that has been remedied by a fiend).
Yikes, it must have been bad if a fiend made it better! ::rimshot::
 
Archer
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Tigeranteater Tigeranteater
Oh and I had him install a NOS bracelet....he put it on so it clasps backwards. I NEED a good watchmaker from this forum that understands. Does anyone think that the brushing can be restored?
Cheers,
Steve

The radial finish is not simply brushing - it's applied using a lapping machine. I took this video of how it's done at the Omega service center in NJ while there for training some time ago, so it will give you an idea of what is involved:


One thing to consider is that it tends to remove a fair bit of material, and some cases (Mk. II Speedmasters for example) end up losing a lot when the wrong person does this. There are watchmakers here who do this, but unclear if they would do it just on it's own or not. I'm sure one will likely pop in and offer his services...

Note it's a Dynamic case that he's refinishing in the video...
 
Tigeranteater
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Archer Archer
The radial finish is not simply brushing - it's applied using a lapping machine. I took this video of how it's done at the Omega service center in NJ while there for training some time ago, so it will give you an idea of what is involved:


One thing to consider is that it tends to remove a fair bit of material, and some cases (Mk. II Speedmasters for example) end up losing a lot when the wrong person does this. There are watchmakers here who do this, but unclear if they would do it just on it's own or not. I'm sure one will likely pop in and offer his services...

Note it's a Dynamic case that he's refinishing in the video...
Great visual! Thank you.
 
Mac5
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Archer Archer
The radial finish is not simply brushing - it's applied using a lapping machine. I took this video of how it's done at the Omega service center in NJ while there for training some time ago, so it will give you an idea of what is involved:


One thing to consider is that it tends to remove a fair bit of material, and some cases (Mk. II Speedmasters for example) end up losing a lot when the wrong person does this. There are watchmakers here who do this, but unclear if they would do it just on it's own or not. I'm sure one will likely pop in and offer his services...

Note it's a Dynamic case that he's refinishing in the video...
Did you ask him why he is wearing two watches? Maybe they were next in line....
 
JwRosenthal
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Archer Archer
The radial finish is not simply brushing - it's applied using a lapping machine. I took this video of how it's done at the Omega service center in NJ while there for training some time ago, so it will give you an idea of what is involved:


One thing to consider is that it tends to remove a fair bit of material, and some cases (Mk. II Speedmasters for example) end up losing a lot when the wrong person does this. There are watchmakers here who do this, but unclear if they would do it just on it's own or not. I'm sure one will likely pop in and offer his services...

Note it's a Dynamic case that he's refinishing in the video...
Would it be possible to touch up those little scratches with some lite Emory cloth or proper grit sand paper- perhaps a scotch brite pad? It’s not bad, but it would piss me off too.
 
Tigeranteater
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Would it be possible to touch up those little scratches with some lite Emory cloth or proper grit sand paper- perhaps a scotch brite pad? It’s not bad, but it would piss me off too.
I was wondering the same thing
 
precisionhrlgy
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Would it be possible to touch up those little scratches with some lite Emory cloth or proper grit sand paper- perhaps a scotch brite pad? It’s not bad, but it would piss me off too.

I’ve seen watchmakers try this and it never ends well. I wouldn’t recommend it.
 
precisionhrlgy
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I certainly do sympathize and that is very shoddy work indeed. However, the part I don’t understand is that there are recommendations for great watchmakers on this forum and others. So why not heed the advice be use watchmakers that come highly regarded?

I also have a general question. What do you look for when looking for a watchmaker?

Is price the overwhelming factor? Training? Experience? Testimonials?
 
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