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Vintage 30T2 jumbo got wrecked in service, where to get replacement parts

scphnt
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Well only the 37mm diameter case back, but I'm kinda out of luck finding a replacement. Any ideas?
Factory cant help, service says they don't have parts... Located in Europe.
 
503647107-orig.jpg broken.jpg 503647149-orig.jpg
bardamu
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I think that your best bet is keeping an eye on ebay, looking for a spare part or directly for a donor in bad shape…wish you the best of luck!
 
DON
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Even if you found a case on EBay. You would probably really have to pay up to get it as others are not just going to let a 37.5 mm case just walk away for nothing.

your back looks corroded in that area and just couldn’t handle the stress anymore and broke off.

you could try a metalsmith to weld a section in and finish to fit

finding a back is slimmer than finding a case
 
speedb
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+1 for a repair. Look for someone who can do microwelding and have a watchmaker fabricate the broken bit.
 
Geezer
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I would send replateit.com the pictures you posted and ask if he can do it.
 
Franco
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In Italy there are many who could laser-weld steel there, one of the best is Laoratorio Portanova in Bologna. They have years of experience and woud be able to refinish at the end to match the current look/
 
scphnt
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Apparently the service I took the watch has a laser welding machine, but the case back is so corroded that it cant be fixed... So I'm double out of luck.
 
Deafboy
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You could have a back machined to the same dimensions. It wouldn't be "original" but at least you would have a functioning watch.
 
scphnt
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I think that would be an ok temporary solution, until I could maybe find a new case / back later.
 
scphnt
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Apparently machining a back would be really expensive here in the Nordics, any ideas where I could get a back machined in a reasonable price?
 
DON
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scphnt scphnt
Apparently machining a back would be really expensive here in the Nordics, any ideas where I could get a back machined in a reasonable price?

Not going to be cheap from anyone

Sell it and let someone else worry about it.
 
tennjed
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I believe the world of 3D printing has progressed to the point where they are now doing it with metals. Maybe that is an option.
 
MrFriday*
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scphnt scphnt
Apparently the service I took the watch has a laser welding machine, but the case back is so corroded that it cant be fixed... So I'm double out of luck.
I would try to get a second opinion before machining a new one. I would ask e.g. watchcaserestorations (from austria) on instagram.
 
sheepdoll
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tennjed tennjed
I believe the world of 3D printing has progressed to the point where they are now doing it with metals. Maybe that is an option.
Pretty much the same as laser welding. I believe the process is called sintering. Basically you take a bunch of powdered metal and melt it together. Usually using some sort of plasma process.

I saw the Machines at SpaceX (now 5 or 6 years back.) We even got to hold some samples. While there was fine detail, It did not feel like such would have worked with watch parts. (even when I was taking a break from watches I was keeping an eye out for alternate ways to work on them.)

The thing with any 3D printing or cutting is that such are still dependant on the resolution of the lead screws that drive the X,Y,Z table. At one time I had some glass scale guides. Such could be used to improve the accuracy.

EDM is the reverse process, what removes metal by spark erosion.

Most watch parts seem to be stamped or die cast. Casebacks seem to be spun. How the old guys could do it in the 18th century with a wooden box chuck and a simple lathe amazes me.

Good luck on getting this repaired and keep us up to date on the progress.
 
gbesq
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Check with Tanner Morehouse at TM Watch Company in Fargo, North Dakota. Omega case restoration is their specialty and they do incredibly good work. If they can’t repair it, chances are good that no shop can. Good luck.
 
scphnt
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Ended up finding a ref 2325/5 donor watch with a better case, but water damaged movement.
If I find a case back in right size (31mm interior and 33,5mm outer) the donor might end up restored back to its original glory.
But original case back was beyond salvage.
Edited:
 
OllieOnTheRocks
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The 2325/5 is a centre second watch, so the case would already have slightly different proportions because the centre second movements were deeper than the sub second movements. Usually you'll find centre second have domed casebacks, while sub second case backs are more flat.
 
scphnt
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Yes it was little bit more domed, but extra space didn't hurt this time.
 
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