Aftermarket Movement Refinishing - Does Such a Service even Exist?
Dear Forum, With all the beautiful watches from the great independent's on this site, I am more than a little embarrassed to ask the following question. However, the answer is interesting to me, so I will storm on regardless I've located a watch that real...
Not much of help but....
Hi Nick, Can't really answer your question, but do you actually care that much for movement finish? I think some brands do a great job on finishing their movements; some out there are truly pieces of art. But I think some of the saphire case-backs can be ...
Thanks, and yes the movement finish is important to me
as I like a watch to be "in balance". It bothers me that the rest of the watch is so beautiful and yet the movement is finished so poorly. And I know enough about myself and this crazy hobby over 25 years that if it bothers me on Day 1, that by Day 180 it...
Had the same with ETA
Untill I read about this movement, truly a reliable workhorse (I didn't mean to say that it is just a 7750). That made me decide to be less interested in the finishing of this particular movement; I know it is a good movement and I don't have to see it fo...
Hi Nick, here in the states, you could try asking
Myrick Keaton @ I think he has the skill and machinery to probably do something for you... Obviously, he's got to have the time and the interest for your project but I am sure inertia can be achieved with the right negotiation :-) Hope all is well with y...
Hi Mike, thanks for the lead
I will reach out to Myrick and see what is possible. Hope all is well with you, too - it has been too long! Best, NickO
It's not worth it.
Unfortunately, having someone refinish a 7750 is going to cost more than the movement is worth provided you can find someone who is actually willing to do it.
I think your best chance would be...
to contact a watchmaking school near wherever you are and ask if they have a final year student who might be interested in doing this for you. I see no other way to have this done for a price that is less than several times the price of the movement. What...
Finishing or Re-finishing
Good advice Don . My feeling is if you want to have a better finish then you must forget "what the movement itself is worth" and never forget why you did it. Keep this in mind, putting a superb paint job on a VW still leave you with a VW
Thanks Don, good ideas!!
Perhaps the best route would be to source a new movement. That would probably be the most cost-effective answer. However, for some reason I have a romantic notion of wanting to make this particular ugly duckling pretty. Of course there will be financial l...
An alternative - a donor watch with beautiful movement
For example, get a Chronoswiss Opus for $4k and swap the decorated and skeletonized movement into whichever beautiful case you want. Parts will be readily available, the watch already works, and a bonus -- you won't have to pester your over-worked, under-...