Diran Adopts a Donkey...
So, I've met lots of good people through the inexplicable love of watches we all share. One of them is a thoroughly decent chap by the name of Diran (no, I've never heard of anyone called Diran before either). He was introduced to me by another thoroughly decent chap called Craig (@Guvnor64).
Just before Christmas he was looking for a vintage Seiko with a white dial. He'd found one on eBay but, to be frank, it was way overpriced and I guided him away from it. I found one that I thought was better, cheaper and had plenty of refurb potential. He duly took my advice and bought it...
It looks reasonable there but the lume was spent, the hands weren't great and the day wheel was misaligned...
The case was tired and the glass was only fit for the bin...
It was also fairly crap on the timegrapher...
Time for a few days at the Gasworks Spa then.
Upon opening and disassembling, it was clear that it had previously been serviced by someone who was just a bit heavy handed with the oil...
The dial ring had perished and broken...
And the mainspring/barrel were filthy...
A nice bath later and it was feeling much better about life...
I continued to clean, reassemble and oil (with the correct oils in the correct quantities) and it was much happier on the timegrapher as a result...
Onto the dial (which turned out to be more silver than the white that Diran wanted... oops) where the lume was reapplied to the indices (steady hand required) and also the hands (which got a gentle polish too)...
On to the case... this is the bit that takes the most time and, if you want good results, much patience...
With the crown and caseback polished and a new glass fitted it was fully refurbished and ready to go off to its new home with Diran. Here they are together ❤
A few other bits I've been working on include this Citizen...
This Citizen...
And this Seiko...
I'm currently working on this Seiko Actus SS... the faceted crystal has to go... update when it's done
I think that's enough of my nonsense for now.
Take care folks ❤
A self-confessed Seikophile who spends far too much time looking at bits of watches under a microscope. Probably the finest restorer of vintage Seikos in my house. https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/gasworks
Really great work and obviously motivated by a passion. I'm just getting started and have most of the tools I need. I aspire to be able to do this type of work some day.
Fantastic work, Gareth! Turned out great! 👌🏼
Nice work Gareth and thank you for sharing!
Wow! Amazing work. Well done and thanks for sharing.
Masterful work once again, Gareth!
My man! 🫡
A great and interesting update as always my friend. No mention of quartz tissot though?
A great and interesting update as always my friend. No mention of quartz tissot though?
Cheers brother. I thought the post was getting too long so I abridged it.
But yes, I've put a new movement in this (a battery leak destroyed the previous one and damaged the dial) and also refinished the bezel...
..and I put a new crown and stem in this after the previous stem was snapped inside the crown. I did try to dissolve the stem in Aluminium Potassium Sulphate to save to crown but to no avail
And to complete the epilogue, I also swapped the dial (from turquoise to white) on this Straton for the aforementioned Diran...
It's been a busy few weeks at the Spa.
Cheers brother. I thought the post was getting too long so I abridged it.
But yes, I've put a new movement in this (a battery leak destroyed the previous one and damaged the dial) and also refinished the bezel...
..and I put a new crown and stem in this after the previous stem was snapped inside the crown. I did try to dissolve the stem in Aluminium Potassium Sulphate to save to crown but to no avail
And to complete the epilogue, I also swapped the dial (from turquoise to white) on this Straton for the aforementioned Diran...
It's been a busy few weeks at the Spa.
Busier than a busy thing! Keep it up!!
Fantastic work👏
If you were within a day's drive you would know all of my watches.
Awesome work!! Wow is the best word. I want to send you my watches. Love this.
You did an amazing job, congratulations!
Great work!