Lessons Learnt with Vintage

Lovely looking watch and agree the red seconds hand makes it visually "pop".

Too bad about the red seconds hand, it looked really good.

Thanks for sharing your experience. That's the danger of vintage watches. I personally feel they are generally more attractive and have more unique character, but it is a potential money sucker as you have experienced. Hope it doesn't give any further issues and you get to enjoy it when you want to wear it.

That's such a nice piece.

Before I read the text of your post I saw the red seconds hand and thought, "oh, that isn't right." That seconds hand came from a watch ten years older or more than yours. People were not so finicky 60 years ago about original parts. Watch makers would use any part at hand to repair something and the public either approved or didn't care.

I am glad that you got it sorted. It is a beautiful watch. I have told this here before but, in the spirit of this post, here is one:

This is a Mido Ocean Star from about 1965. I posted this here a few years ago and the red seconds hand was challenged (in a polite way) by a Cruncher. Mido was not known for their use of color. However, before I bought it I confirmed that Mido used a red second in 1965-66 for this model. So far, so good. What nags at me is that the second hand is too long. It should end just before the indices. So, was this a watch maker replacement, or the end of the production year when parts were scarce? I may never know.

I asked my watch maker about re-luming a handset for me. His solution was to replace the handset. So, no lume yet. Two different ways of solving the problem.

I actually prefer the non-red; I too immediately thought that it looked off. Your original watchmaker warranty was how long for works? I would have let them have another crack before going Longines-mode. I am disappointed that Longines did not offer you back the red hand, that is something.

Sorry for the headache you experienced.

When I hear stories like this, it gives me reservation about going vintage.

total inconvenience for you to not get what you want back. Ill tell you what, let me book some tickets to Australia, I want you to without thinking throw it away, and this part is crucial, throw it away in a place where a tourist can find it. that'll show em... In all reality while the red certainly made it pop, its still a great piece, that hopefully gives you no more issues.

They did send the red hand back, so I could possibly get it put back on but just can't be bothered atm.

If you get a good one it's totally worth it. Just take your time, do your homework and buy from a trusted seller.

First thing I noticed was the red seconds hand, did not feel authentic despite being visually interesting makes the watch pop! A very successful realtor friend who makes a wonderful living when owners call her office after other agencies fail or underperform moving a property. She said one of the first options is to paint a front door an appealing attractive colour that makes eye contact with prospective buyers.

I’d definitely put the red back on. I get it’s not original, so you can save the replacement. Swapping a seconds hand isn’t too much trouble. The red just sets it off.

Hopefully they returned the original hand to you as well as the other parts they replaced. That is SOP for the servicing I have gotten from Omega, Hamilton and Tag Heuer.

I'll add another leason. If you do not have a local watch maker you trust, send it back to the manufacturer foroo service and repair.

I like the black hand, but prefer the red color. Personally, I'd find red nail polish and get the best of both world's. But I don't care about "collector value" or anything.

When you buy vintage there is always a risk that you need to have a watch serviced, and even then there is no guarantee that its issues are going to be fixed.

Mostly I buy cheap vintage that are declared to be running, but some are running so badly they do need a service - which typically exceeds the value of the watch. One more expensive vintage watch I own (was about $1000) was sold as serviced with the watchmaker's receipt. That even mentioned that the crown had been replaced. A few months in and the crown came off when setting the date.

But buying vintage can also go surprisingly well. One vintage Dugena I bought for $30 on ebay I had little expectation for, but it looks superb and runs very well. The reason it went so cheap was that it was sold on a strap that looked (and was) spent (and was unoriginal despite seller's claims), lowering everyone's expectations. Objectively, that was a $300 watch.

My watchmaker always returns any replaced parts. Longines should have done the same in my opinion.

I also prefer the latest version you have, as much as I love that pop of red or orange on the seconds hand. This shape of the second hand is now more appropriate and matches the hour and minute hands perfectly.

It’s stories like yours that make me shy away from buying vintage watches. But if the love is strong enough then we just have to give in at some point… don’t we?

Now you have a great story that goes with a storied watch.

I think it’s a beautiful watch and you should enjoy it sans the red seconds hand. To be honest, the red hand didn’t add much, it looks great on the blue suede strap.

My 1970 Ricoh. It’s in excellent condition, has an incredible dial, but loses ~4 minutes/day. I know it needs a service, but there’s only one watchmaker in all of Alaska and she’s super expensive. Add to that a movement made of unobtainium parts should it need anything replaced. I love vintage watches, but I think I’ve learned my lesson and will stick with watches made since the 90s with repairable movements.

Yes, they did return the other items.

That's probably a good way to look at it.

Yeah the change to a strap from the bracelet helped the look of it.

Including the red second hand?

Yep, even the old crystal.

You can have the red second hand re-instated then.