New to forum and seeking advice please.

topboxtim · May 14, 2012

Hello Omega lovers.
I recently inherited an Omega Seamaster memomatic which is in a very sorry state. The movement is rusty in places but has been drying out for the past 20 years so is stable. I've had a couple of watch repairers locally look at it and one gave me a price in excess of £1,200 and the other just said he didn't have time for such an endeavour. It's currently with a third but I'm very open to suggestions if you've had one of these refurbished anywhere in the UK.
I have needless to say fallen in love with the idea of what it could hopefully be again, and I'm very much hoping it will be the family heirloom that it rightfully deserves to be.

This is what I have... (+ I have got hold of a 2nd working movement from Ebay)

the working movement

And this is what I would dearly love to return it to...

Many thanks.
Tim

ulackfocus · May 14, 2012

Hi Tim. Nice watch and doubly good that it's an heirloom. I don't know how close to totally restored that can get, especially the dial. Jesse has done some bang-up jobs on really beat watches though:

http://omegaforums.net/threads/definitive-proof-of-why-you-need-to-find-a-good-watchmaker.204/

Shoot him an e-mail at [email protected] or start a conversation with him - he's member omega564.

dsio · May 14, 2012

That dial really doesn't look all that bad under the crystal, definitely seen much worse.

topboxtim · May 15, 2012

U ulackfocus
Hi Tim. Nice watch and doubly good that it's an heirloom. I don't know how close to totally restored that can get, especially the dial. Jesse has done some bang-up jobs on really beat watches though:

http://omegaforums.net/threads/definitive-proof-of-why-you-need-to-find-a-good-watchmaker.204/

Shoot him an e-mail at [email protected] or start a conversation with him - he's member omega564.

Thanks ulackfocus, thanks dsio.
And many thanks for this contact. I wouldn't want to trouble him unless he's in the UK. Would he be a resident here?
There's a guy in Italy who has been sent pictures to quote for dial restoration. It's pretty hard to see just how bad it is but there is definitely some brown staining from rusty water damage. And being a 3 part dial I'm expecting somewhere in the region of £200 fir the dial restoration alone.

I'm hoping to find a person in the UK who can do the dial and the other work on site if at all possible.

Steve · May 15, 2012

topboxtim
Thanks ulackfocus, thanks dsio.
And many thanks for this contact. I wouldn't want to trouble him unless he's in the UK. Would he be a resident here?
There's a guy in Italy who has been sent pictures to quote for dial restoration. It's pretty hard to see just how bad it is but there is definitely some brown staining from rusty water damage. And being a 3 part dial I'm expecting somewhere in the region of £200 fir the dial restoration alone.

I'm hoping to find a person in the UK who can do the dial and the other work on site if at all possible.

He's in the US. But he's very good, well recommended.

topboxtim · May 15, 2012

Steve
He's in the US. But he's very good, well recommended.

thanks, I'll drop him a line for an opinion on it. I've just had a 2nd UK repair shop say they are too busy to take it on. 🙁

dsio · May 16, 2012

In the UK, I've seen Desmond (Mondodec) recommend Chris Heal at http://www.chealwatch.com/ for more serious Omega restorations while maintaining originality, and he tends to be rather particular about who he lets touch his toys.

topboxtim · May 16, 2012

Fantastic, many thanks for that, I have sent Chris Heal an email with all the details of what the job entails. fingers crossed A. he can do it and B. I can afford it.