WWYD if a watchmaker did this...

Scott675 · Aug 31, 2021

Dropped it off for a service (winding was getting a bit crunchy), and made the usual insistence that 'no cosmetic work needs doing'. I did ask if the bezel spring could be looked at as it wasn't turning nicely.

Three weeks later I have a bezel insert that's been removed, all the old lume cleaned off, bits of black background touched up and replaced off centre. They polished the crystal too.

I'm not wrong to be slightly furious, right? What would people do in my position? Attempt to have (them) try to restore some colour to it? Source a period replacement? Burn their car?

spe777 · Aug 31, 2021

What were your instructions when you dropped off the watch? Did you tell them not to polish or try clean up the watch in any way? Most watchmakers will make some cosmetic "improvements" and polish the crystal/refinish the case during the time of service.

Walrus · Aug 31, 2021

Shoot is that someone you use regularly? “No cosmetic work” is pretty straightforward off they would do so much thst you specifically requested they wouldn’t

gbesq · Aug 31, 2021

With a vintage watch, my expectation would be, first and foremost, "do no harm." That being said, it is your responsibility as the owner of the watch to tell the watchmaker what you do and do NOT want done. If the watchmaker did not follow your explicit instructions on the first go around, I certainly would not entrust him to fix whatever damage he may have caused. I doubt that you're going to be able to get much satisfaction from the watchmaker unless your instructions were given in writing.

Scott675 · Aug 31, 2021

I always underline that I just want the movement serviced, no polishing, no cosmetics, no new crown, no new crystal. I can't even fathom why they would have done this anyway, it's not even standard.

pdxleaf · Aug 31, 2021

You should feel anger.

If this were a building trade, your watchmaker just bought themselves a watch, or least no payment.

Reality is, not much you can do except talk to them. Look them straight in the eye and politely and calmly ask them why they did what they did when you asked them not to do it. Depending on their answer will be whether you ever use them again. Possibly something happened to the lume when dismantling and they tried to fix it and it got out of control. Hard to imagine though, even trying to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Sorry for your experience.

philips · Aug 31, 2021

This is frustrating, as your watch has been altered in a way you did not want. They did not listen to you. I would negotiate the cost of the service. How much has their service reduced the value of your watch? I have had similar experiences. I have had watches relumed, when I only asked to a movement service.

nicks · Aug 31, 2021

On the other hand, you dodged a bullet inasmuch as they didn’t have a go at the case and dial. In my opinion, polishing the crystal is okay.

I would be taking the advice above from pdxleaf above. Sorry for this happening.

Revo · Aug 31, 2021

Trying to the watchmaker's side of the issue, "no cosmetic work needs doing" is a bit ambiguous. If those were your exact words then I can see why he might have thought "heck, it might not need doing but let's clean this thing up a bit."

He thinks he's done you a favour (and/or himself one). In his eyes he's done a Good Thing ('look how nice and tidy it is now!")

Anyway, it's a sad case. Good luck with the anti-restoration.

size11s · Aug 31, 2021

This might sound dumb, but are you sure that is the same bezel?

Archer · Aug 31, 2021

I would first ask them what happened. Depending on the answer, then you can decide how to proceed.

If this is the same bezel, then they should at a minimum, pay to have it brought back closer to what it was previously, but not by them.

One other comment on this:

"made the usual insistence that 'no cosmetic work needs doing'"

Odd phrasing, so maybe room for misinterpretation. When you say "usual insistence" does this mean it's a watchmaker you have used previously, and they have followed those same exact instructions before without issue?

Scott675 · Aug 31, 2021

Archer
I would first ask them what happened. Depending on the answer, then you can decide how to proceed.

If this is the same bezel, then they should at a minimum, pay to have it brought back closer to what it was previously, but not by them.

One other comment on this:

"made the usual insistence that 'no cosmetic work needs doing'"

Odd phrasing, so maybe room for misinterpretation. When you say "usual insistence" does this mean it's a watchmaker you have used previously, and they have followed those same exact instructions before without issue?

I meant that it's the usual thing most of us would say to any watchmaker when bringing them something vintage and yellowed 😀

Scott675 · Aug 31, 2021

size11s
This might sound dumb, but are you sure that is the same bezel?

Not a dumb question at all. The bezel is definitely the same (doesn't like to turn much) but actually difficult to tell if it's the same insert. Probably is... unfortunately.

Fallout Boy · Aug 31, 2021

If there was a verifiable assignment of what to do and what not to do, then I would ask the watchmaker to buy the watch from me!

PS: the 1 and the 4 is like the original one (bezel) and the OMEGA-logo is inside the glass, so thats no problem

Archer · Aug 31, 2021

Scott675
I meant that it's the usual thing most of us would say to any watchmaker when bringing them something vintage and yellowed 😀

So this is a watchmaker you haven't used before for vintage? If so, then I would recommend to anyone to really make sure they understand that nothing cosmetic is to be touched. Not saying you didn't, but you really do need to make it crystal clear with no ambiguity, because as others have said some watchmakers will do you a "favour" you don't want.

For myself, I default to not doing any cosmetic work on a watch that has come in, so unless it is specifically asked for, it doesn't happen.

BTW I do not include polishing scratches out of the crystal in that, because it does no harm really.

Let us know how it goes when you hear back from the watchmaker. They should be willing to make this right somehow...

mac_omega · Aug 31, 2021

Fallout Boy
I would ask the watchmaker to buy the watch from me!

that

Dgercp · Aug 31, 2021

I would be very angry and it sounds like you made things clear enough. If there was ambiguity he easily could have asked you prior to doing the dirty. In this hobby it is vital to have a watchmaker you know and trust. Can't hurt to honestly discuss with him but really what you need is a correct original bezel insert and that will not be so easy to find.

Charlemagne1333 · Aug 31, 2021

Option three.

But it would depend on what car it is…

rcs914 · Aug 31, 2021

If they has stopped at fixing the black part on the bezel insert, I'd probably be ok with that. When they removed all the character by removing the tritium - that's pretty much destruction right there. I've never seen one of these bezel inserts outside of the bezel, so I didn't know that this type of "clean up" was even possible.

Foo2rama · Aug 31, 2021

What’s up with the dust on the dial?

WWYD if a watchmaker did this...

Scott675

spe777

Walrus

gbesq

Scott675

pdxleaf

philips

nicks

Revo

size11s

Archer

Scott675

Scott675

Fallout Boy

Archer

mac_omega

Dgercp

Charlemagne1333

rcs914

Foo2rama

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