Help/Advice Please
This was my dad's watch, he bought it in 1981 from Longines in Manhattan, wore it for work for decades and passed it down to myself.
Recently it somehow got caught when closing the car boot and fell onto concrete.
I've determined that it still winds and works, and replacement glass is no problem, but one of the arms seems to have bent, should I just try to bend it back?
Or should I send it off to a professional to completely sort it?
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I would send it to a watchmaker to get sorted. It's possible as well that some fragments of glass have got into the movement which they could also check.
Something like this obviously has sentimental value and if i was in your shoes i would want to make sure it is fixed properly and working like it should. My opinion is to send it to a professional to have it fixed.
You're fired, lol. First rule if you are going to be doing something that could damage your watch take it off. Seriously, just take it to a professional and lesson learned.
You're fired, lol. First rule if you are going to be doing something that could damage your watch take it off. Seriously, just take it to a professional and lesson learned.
You're right.
Let me guess, there were no spring bars in place when dropped. That's how I bent a lug, albeit not to that extent, with my stainless Mr Jones Watch. A local jeweler* was able to remedy it for almost nothing. If this is a gold case, the malleability works in your favor.
You can certainly try prying it back, but then if it breaks or is made worse you have nobody else to blame. Furthermore, it has to be bent back so the dang spring bar holes align adequately, which is a three dimensional problem.
* Note that jeweler means one that makes or modifies jewelry, not just a seller. The former is used to shaping metal. I think they use a bit of heat. I'd assume that this is best done when popping out the movement to replace the crystal anyway.
Let me guess, there were no spring bars in place when dropped. That's how I bent a lug, albeit not to that extent, with my stainless Mr Jones Watch. A local jeweler* was able to remedy it for almost nothing. If this is a gold case, the malleability works in your favor.
You can certainly try prying it back, but then if it breaks or is made worse you have nobody else to blame. Furthermore, it has to be bent back so the dang spring bar holes align adequately, which is a three dimensional problem.
* Note that jeweler means one that makes or modifies jewelry, not just a seller. The former is used to shaping metal. I think they use a bit of heat. I'd assume that this is best done when popping out the movement to replace the crystal anyway.
Sort of, yes. It somehow caught and ripped the strap off which may have bent it, then landing without the spring bar.
😭
Thinking I should definitely get it done properly.
Yep, apart from the hands, I think it is better take it to a watchmaker to check whether there is a glass fragment in the movement or not.
I hope there is nothing serious issues in there