Omega Caliber 505 GL Stepped Dial Restoration

Hoipolloi details his meticulous process of restoring a vintage Omega dial, specifically an 18K GL stepped dial with a Caliber 505 chronometer movement. His post documents the transformation of a heavily deteriorated dial, covered in a sticky, tar-like coating, into a clean and shiny surface. This article offers a fascinating glimpse into the delicate art of vintage watch restoration, showcasing the challenges and rewarding outcomes of preserving horological heritage.

Hi Friends.

  Last week, I bought a GL stepped dial coming with a chronometre 505 movement.and original hands. Looks like it's gold case was melted long time ago and this unit is like a hermit crab with no shell.

  Here it was

                        You can see  it's a 18K dial covered by a thin coat like varnish. After a long time, that coat has deteriorated and became a stuff like gum or tar or something very sticky and dirty

                                                 here's the 505 movement which is still running strong and in very good shape.

     Today, I received it from the mailman and spent 3 hours to work on that and now, here it is.

    All the dirty gum and tar were cleaned and gone, now I have a dial which is missing the original coat but looks nicer and shinnier. All the ridges of the steps are in perfect shape. No dents, no damage.

                                Certainly, I have a shell of this poor hermit crab to get into.

   and now, I have another de Luxe dial and the movement to put away somewhere.

  Don't ask me what stuff I used to clean away that gum and  leave the printings, the scripts intact. but.....there is exception, of course.

    Cheers  and thank you for looking.

   Hoi.