Community Stories

Vintage Heuer Horror Story

1972Steve
Posts
337
Likes
577
Hello OF friends,

My first vintage purchase was a 5408 Heuer (my guess at model) years ago. The rookie mistake I made was the watch was a bad dial restore. Since then I sent it to my watch maker to restore the dial. He sent it to International Dial in Ohio where they did an even worse job and LOST THE HANDS to be relumed. Since then my watch maker sent it to another dial restorer where the dial is somewhat better and added the new hands which are not correct. I just got the watch back after 2 years and am disappointed. Not with my watchmaker but with the third party quality.

Please help. Can anyone recommend a dial restorer who is responsible and knows what they are doing? Below are shots of real dial versus what I have.

Thank you - Steve
 
F32FFE33-2DDF-4CCC-93F7-AF748DB6D9E1.jpeg 38B349A6-E323-4D77-A574-386B9E53E884.jpeg
TexOmega
Posts
8,488
Likes
60,629
I hate hearing(and especially seeing!) stories like this.

Throwing more good money chasing an acceptable outcome might be futile.

But good luck
 
Evitzee
Posts
7,682
Likes
14,208
"You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away and know when to run"

Time to listen to Kenny Rogers, move on, you'll never be happy with this watch.

Most collectors have been in your position at one time or another, lesson learned.
 
Passover
Posts
2,144
Likes
2,942
I also encountered disappointing work like that, know how you feel!!
 
1972Steve
Posts
337
Likes
577
TexOmega TexOmega
I hate hearing(and especially seeing!) stories like this.

Throwing more good money chasing an acceptable outcome might be futile.

But good luck
Thank you @TexOmega. By the way love your collection of Connies I’ve seen on the forum.
 
JimJupiter
Posts
1,763
Likes
7,221
Good you started that topic just now. I will have the same "problem" soon.
Two names I allways hear are Bethge and Causemann in Germany. But results can be one day perfect and the other laughable.

Nico
 
SkunkPrince
Posts
5,636
Likes
5,810
I'd be lookinng into factory service at this point since it's now worth about nothing.
 
Syrte
Posts
7,651
Likes
21,952
Sorry to hear, have the Ohio company provided compensation for the loss of the hands?

The refinished dial doesn’t look so bad IMHO— you certainly cannot count on getting so much better. and I concur with the people who advise to stop spending on what will remain an imperfect watch.

I would say it’s worth keeping if you like it enough while you search for a new set of hands. No idea how difficult it might be to find, you might ask on OF’s twin Heuer forum called “Caliber 11”- and on Chronocentric/ On the dash.

Otherwise you might consider selling it with its certificate of service. You’ll have to eat the loss, but at least you will regain some cash, I have no idea how much that would be though.
 
JwRosenthal
Posts
16,307
Likes
44,994
I agree with the second part of what @Syrte said - sell it and move on. Having been down this road before myself with watches and cars, you will always know it’s not right, you will always remember the frustration and disappointment that is this watch, you will never love it.
Sell it with full disclosure at a fire-sale price (sum of the parts which is all it is worth at this point) and someone will snatch it up and love it. Then buy yourself one that you really want.
 
redpcar
Posts
4,340
Likes
10,291
Bummer about the hands. They jump out as the worst part to me.
First glance at the dial, it looked somewhat ok UNTIL I checked against an original. Ouch.

I agree. Sell it and look for something you will love rather than 'have to live with'.
 
Syrte
Posts
7,651
Likes
21,952
JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
I agree with the second part of what @Syrte said - sell it and move on. Having been down this road before myself with watches and cars, you will always know it’s not right, you will always remember the frustration and disappointment that is this watch, you will never love it.
Sell it with full disclosure at a fire-sale price (sum of the parts which is all it is worth at this point) and someone will snatch it up and love it. Then buy yourself one that you really want.
Agreed.
 
SkunkPrince
Posts
5,636
Likes
5,810
Hm, since TAG doesn't appear to offer the same restoration services as Omega, I might agree with the people who say dump and run... though take a year to find parts on eBay if you can....
 
mzinski
Posts
487
Likes
1,719
I've had a few experiences with a couple dial restoration companies:
Kirk Rich Dial in California, USA
Lou is a great guy and works hard to get your project right. If he has the original cliches he does a great job. If the project requires new cliches I've found he's not always perfect. My Wittnauer came out splendidly with him: https://omegaforums.net/threads/realizing-goals-with-my-wittnauer.122373/#post-1643409
Bill and Sons, Ltd in Essex, UK
I'm currently working with Chris and Alannah there on a project. While they haven't finished, the preliminary work in progress looks very promising (since they're not done, I don't have pics to share yet). Coupled with the great work they show off on IG, I would highly recommend them.
Both charge very reasonable fees. Since you're all ready in it with your redials, I vote try one more. Contact both companies with pics of your watch, what you want it to look like, and ask if they have the cliches to do the work without producing new ones. You could also ask if they've refinished this dial previously and if they'd share the results with you.
 
mzinski
Posts
487
Likes
1,719
mzinski mzinski
I've had a few experiences with a couple dial restoration companies:
Kirk Rich Dial in California, USA
Lou is a great guy and works hard to get your project right. If he has the original cliches he does a great job. If the project requires new cliches I've found he's not always perfect. My Wittnauer came out splendidly with him: https://omegaforums.net/threads/realizing-goals-with-my-wittnauer.122373/#post-1643409
Bill and Sons, Ltd in Essex, UK
I'm currently working with Chris and Alannah there on a project. While they haven't finished, the preliminary work in progress looks very promising (since they're not done, I don't have pics to share yet). Coupled with the great work they show off on IG, I would highly recommend them.
Both charge very reasonable fees. Since you're all ready in it with your redials, I vote try one more. Contact both companies with pics of your watch, what you want it to look like, and ask if they have the cliches to do the work without producing new ones. You could also ask if they've refinished this dial previously and if they'd share the results with you.
Thought I’d follow up with the result on my Tudor dial with Bill and Sons. I think it turned out splendid. I do still need to lume it to match the hands.
602793B7-41B1-4E61-B534-0F5BB766836D.jpeg 9F3C2E3F-95EE-4894-A099-F7DD5F455D43.jpeg
 
mzinski
Posts
487
Likes
1,719
timoss timoss
Got any “before” shots?
Sure do.

Severely damaged might be an understatement:

FB622F66-F4E4-4FD8-BF1F-8870C9DF07B1.jpeg


Tried a different dial maker for the first restoration. Not satisfied with this. You can see misalignment and mis-proportioned plots. I then moved on to have it redone a second time by Bill and Sons (see above post).

482459CB-9451-4878-AC9E-F6FE9357616E.jpeg C4613D32-7140-4193-9E9F-F2A161D53B12.jpeg
 
airansun
Posts
2,520
Likes
17,832
@mzinski : Which surface is correct, mirror or matte?

@1972Steve : Yeah, I agree with the consensus: sell the watch and move on. In your position (where I too have been with other watches), the piece would haunt me if I kept it.
Edited:
 
mzinski
Posts
487
Likes
1,719
airansun airansun
@mzinski : Which surface is correct, mirror or matte?

@1972Steve : Yeah, I agree with the consensus: sell the watch and move on. In your position (where I too have been with other watches), the piece would haunt me if I kept it.
Matte dial is correct. I meant to point that out as another error in the first restoration attempt.
 
1 More Post...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

YVR785

My Omega Service Centre horror story…

YVR785 Modern Omega Watches
Archer
Archer
Posts
74
Views
10K
W210

Causemann, Horror Story

W210 Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
W210
W210
Posts
0
Views
881
tomvox1

PRE-SUMMER SALE! Vintage 1970s Omega Genève Day-Date w/Beautiful BLUE Dial

tomvox1 Watches For Sale
tomvox1
tomvox1
Posts
32
Views
19K
High Hope

Almost an eBay Horror Story (But not Quite) Sicura Chronograph

High Hope Open Discussion
High Hope
High Hope
Posts
26
Views
3K
tomvox1

Vintage Heuer Camaro ref. 7220NT Exotic CHOCOLATE Dial

tomvox1 Watches For Sale
Faz
Faz
Posts
3
Views
8K
Pascal S

The Channel crosser: a Speedmaster’s tale

Pascal S Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
S
steversaurus
Posts
22
Views
11K