Wittnauer super compressor - request for opinions please

Hi fellow watch lovers

This came in the post today. Upon opening the package and inspecting the watch I was very happy to see dial, hands and lume intact and all original. One of the crowns has been replaced but I knew that from negotiating the deal.

The big surprise was that the case appears to have been refinished / chromed. The texture is more "plasticky" than stainless and the caseback "stainless steel" engraving appears filled in from the plating (hard to capture in photos).

So what was meant to be a great vintage diver is now a questionable purchase. I don't understand why people would plate and refinish if they can polish??

Would appreciate thoughts on whether you think a refinished case can be lived with. Or somehow remedied? I know this is highly personal... feel free to tell me I'm an idiot and of course should return and seek refund. 😉

I've contacted the seller. Waiting for their reply...

Thanks!!

Thanks cristos71. It's so tightly shut, I haven't been able to get it open yet. Will take it to watchmaker to try and open.
I haven't handled enough chromed vs freshly polished cases to know for sure... any pointers / tips on telling the difference would be greatly appreciated.

It also looks like the lume has been redone. Are the two crown different from each other?

Send it on back if you can. Re-chroming of a chromed case is one thing, but this is just wanton abuse of stainless steel.


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Yes, one of the crowns was replaced. That was something I was aware of at time of purchase.

Watchmaker confirms it is likely heavy polish and not rechrome.
That I can live with... ...

Thanks all for the wisdom and thoughts, as always! Still have much to learn....

It should be relatively easy to source a crown for this watch.

My best guess is that someone fugged up the caseback trying to remove with plyers or whatever these retards use to open (doesn't it seem like the morons who destroy case-backs all use the same wrong tools?).

You can reconstruct the crime most times - they start with flat plyers and eventually move onto needle nose and then Chanel Locks and grandpa's bench vise lol.

Anyway - I like this watch but of course it all depends what you paid for it. The dial and hands look great.

These super duper compressors are in demand right now and I see no signs of stopping.

The lugs look pretty freaking original (sharp), i bet if you're patient, a clean case-back will find its way to you and then you've a really /hot watch.