Help for my vintage OMEGA ref. 14714-1 SC

Matching a bezel is difficult. Verging on the impossible. I still think that is the most difficult part to make. Even with a wooden box chuck. It almost seems the case and bezel are made at the same time. I have a whole drawer of pocket watches missing bezels. Especially hunter cases.

Problem is that loose bezels crush easy.

Crystals on the other hand usually are easy to find. One does have to watch out for the inner retention ring. Those turn up a lot, and can easy be mistaken for bezels.

Movement parts are really easy to find. Case parts other than crystals are unobtainuim unless unique to the design Other than the backs there are no part numbers on them. As seen in my other thread, I have a whole section of case cores. None are probably Omega. At least you have a case back. When the core is separated from the back, there is no way to match such other than trial and error. Probably why assortments sell for as much as they do.

The other issue is before 1980 Omega sold uncased movements. I once found a genuine omega movement in a fake case. (for some strange reason the museum wanted it. Probably to destroy or perhaps they wanted to to show of the absurdity.)

I actually find the omega's easier to work on than the ETA or A Schild movements. There is a reason these are the best. Serviceability is a factor. So a complete case will mean the watch will be sold whole. Parts watches on the other hand are just that, parts to fix a watch that does not have the shown part.

I personally would like to find an empty 2577 case. I have noticed that most omega are either sold complete or are sold for parts. It really comes down to timing and patience (what some would call luck.)

For you the WTB section is read only, on the other hand there are not a lot of offers on there for parts mostly complete watches.

good luck with your search.

30 years ago I thought I could do that. You need a fairly large lathe like a sears atlas. The reason for this is inertia. Inertia also makes the waiting or wanting to do something more interesting than the actual doing of the chore.

Next you need a box chuck. Which is basically a chunk of hardwood. This gets wet and expands to hold the work. How they did this in the 18th century with bow and treadle lathes is one of those amazing ingenuity of the past. Then they did not have the same distractions or millions of people trying to sell them something not needed.

I have five lathes. I do not however have a 4 jaw chuck.

Still I am considering making some delryn bezels. There was a thread here a few months or weeks ago about making a bezel from Bakelite. Of course that would be for a dive style bezel. I just got some Heuers which are missing bezels. Bit easier as these look like a kid's art project ssculpted from play-dough.

The other alternative which I suggested in a PM relating to chrono pushers, would be to make the part out of ABS. Easy to shape and the most recyclable of your plastic goods. Acetone can dissolve ABS. (how one tests for it.) There are now processes used in 3D printing for a sort of lost wax method by dissolving ABS prints. A low temp jewelry metal can then be cast.

Case making and repair is the art of the jeweler not the watchmaker. Then there are the model railroaders and gunsmiths ...

There are some threads about Peter Wuischpard (watchcaserepair.com) making replacement bezels.