| Author | Message | ||
     Blgg New member Username: Blgg Post Number: 94 Registered: 04-2007 Rating: N/A |
cal. 22L, 14K yellow, about 30mm square + lugs --- but it wears as a huge, heavy, imposing chunk of defiant attitude it's in the shop now for a servicing, cleaning, polishing, new crystal (the convex original is too scratched). The dial is original -- 'LONGINES' in very good condition -- dial appears to be raw, textured metal - stamped or guilloche? I'm going to carefully immerse the corners/perimeter in electrostatic cleaner -- if I don't screw it up the dial will look very good. These are (poor) auction photos - didn't snap any before taking it in.      | ||
| Blgg New member Username: Blgg Post Number: 95 Registered: 04-2007 Rating: N/A |
hilarious, utterly useless seconds register at '6' | ||
| Blgg New member Username: Blgg Post Number: 101 Registered: 04-2007 Rating: N/A |
dial before I take a stab at cleaning  | ||
| Inkboy New member Username: Inkboy Post Number: 8 Registered: 08-2007 Rating: N/A |
that's a beauty. i've used mercury lotion cleaner and a small artist's paintbrush on dirty dials and gotten great results. the only drawback, i'd say, is that it'll wash away any light layer of lacquer that might've aged and you end up with a dial shining like a new penny, with no patina whatsoever. but it sure gets rid of the grime, and seems to leave the screenprinting, if any, alone. nice watch. | ||
| Blgg New member Username: Blgg Post Number: 137 Registered: 04-2007 Rating: N/A |
Thank you for the tip! I've managed to destroy a lot of dials in a short period trying to clean them. I tried an electrostatic cleaner on this one, and fortunately stopped before I floated away the text - though no staining was removed. I just sent the dial to Canada the other day for a refinish - as there isn't too much to go wrong. I'm also having someone I trust give the case a proper, light polish. Likely the precursor to putting it up for auction. | ||
| Inkboy New member Username: Inkboy Post Number: 9 Registered: 08-2007 Rating: N/A |
i wonder, though, about the cost benefits here. for example, i recently landed a really nice gruen rose gold '30s veri-thin (cal. 330)for way less than $100 and took it to my local watchmaker (rolex trained and certified) who did a complete tear-down, rebuild, clean, lube, adjust, etc., to the tune of $400, which i kind of choked on, but agreed to, as he is local. i mean, surely... he says he thinks if i sold it to him, he could fetch $1,500 for it. i, otoh, doubt i could come close to breaking even on what i've put into it, given the way online auction prices are going. i happen to love this watch, and will keep it, so it's okay this time. but i can't continue to fork over $400 for every watch i acquire that needs a cla. i'd lose money every time; i don't go in for omegas, rolexes and the like. i'm a 20's-30s gruen fan. anybody with recommendations for a good watchmaker i could use who doesn't feel the need to charge $400 for routine maintenance? (this watch needed only a new mainspring for parts.) i live in colorado, usa. | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 2893 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Jesus. $400 for a cla on a wind up gruen? I can take care of you in the vast majority of cases for half that or less. Contact privately. |