Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Recent Rolex Dial Refinishing by Antique Time.

Here are some recent Rolex dial refinishing jobs on watches we have serviced in our shop.  Some of these dials were nothing more than worn metal discs and a few of them had broken dial legs.  All in all they turned our very good.


A simple color change.


This dial was just a metal disc that could hardly be read.


This dial was very badly damaged when the owner dropped the watch and broke the sapphire crystal.  Of course he blamed us for the damage to his dial.  You can still see damaged four marker from when he broke the crystal.


A custom MOP dial with genuine emeralds.


DateJust dial with diamonds added and refinished.


A very early Submariner dial.  This dial was missing the dial legs and was another one that you could hardly read what the dial said.  Two dial legs were added and the dial refinished to original condition.


Early Rolex President dial that was very rusty.  Refinished to original condition.


Nice MOP dial.  We also added a Rolex conversion sapphire crystal.  Turned out to be a very beautiful watch.


Nice 18kt. white gold Cellini.  The dial was refinished as it was very worn and also had some dial leg damage at the 11 position.  If you look close you can still see the dimple from the dial leg at the 11 position.

For more information about dial refinishing available from Antique Time please visit our web site at http://www.horologist.com/.











Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Water Damaged Rolex President With 3055 Movement.

This is another example of a very badly damaged Rolex President.  The movement is a 3055.


This picture shows the watch with the damaged President dial.



Another view of the case with the damaged dial.



This shows the movement.  The oscillating weight fell out as the arbor was totally rusted away.



Another view of the damaged movement.



This shows the dial side of the movement.  Notice the extensive damage to the entire mechanism.



Close-up photo of the dial side of the movement.  All parts are totally destroyed.



This shows the auto winding mechanism.  All gears are totally destroyed.  Only the plates are good.



This is the oscillating weight.  Notice that the arbor has been rusted out and is no longer mounted in the weight.



This is the movement showing the extensive water damage to the upper plates and gears.



This is the auto winding mechanism of the Rolex 3055 movement.  This is damaged beyond repair for the most part.



The oscillating weight missing the arbor.



This is the destroyed Day wheel.  Notice the extensive water damage.



The Date wheel somehow for the most part survived the water damage, but will still need to be replaced.



Overview of the water damaged Rolex 3055 movement.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Restored Rolex DateJust With 3035 Movement.

A few months back you may have seen a water damaged Rolex DateJust in our blog.  Water Damaged Rolex DateJust With 3035 Movement.

We got some time so we decided to show the completed Rolex.  If you view the link above you will see the "before" pictures of this watch when it arrived.

The movement on this watch was very badly damaged, but now it looks presentable and the movement runs fine and produces a nice straight line on the timeing machine.


This is the restored dial.  We also added the diamonds.



We installed a new Rolex crystal.  The case and bezel were also refinished.



This is the restored movement.  Compared to the damaged movement this is a great improvement.



Here you see the balance wheel in operation.  Note the blurr of the balance.



Every gear and wheel along with the reverser gears were replaced in this Rolex 3035 movement.



Restored DateJust with original band installed.





For more information about our Rolex Service and Repair be sure to visit our web site at www.horologist.com

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Rolex Jubilee Serti Dial On An Oyster Date Model With Diamonds.

The Rolex Jubilee Serti dial is found on later model Rolex watches.  These dials are usually machine engraved at the factory using a metal base and the markings are placed in areas where the dial has not been recessed.  These dials are very popular and greatly enhance the beauty of both men's and ladies watches.


The above dial is used on a Rolex Oyster Date Precision men's watch.  This dial was a very plain.  The diamonds were added along with the Serti markings.



One unique feature of the Serti style dial is its ability to change colors depending on the angle it is viewed from.



This shows the different colors these dials can display.  The base color is a light blue color and from different angls it can also appear to be a silver color.



This picture shows the dial installed on the Rolex watch.  This Rolex Oyster Date model has a plastic crystal and a stainless steel case.



This is another view which shows the unique color change of the Serti dial.





Looking at the Jubilee Serti dial mounted onto the watch showing the color change from light blue to almost a silver color.



Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Waltham 18 Size 14kt. US Assay Fancy Hunter Case Pocket Watch.


These fancy hunter case pocket watches are very rare items.  It has been estimated that very few of these have survived as many of them over the years have been melted down and sold for scrap metal values.




This amazing case uses multi-colored gold.  Note the detail of the horse along with the flowers around the horse.  The outer edge of the case is highly engraved.



The eye of the horse also has a small diamond that has been bead set into it.  There are three covers on this case.  There is one cover that goes directly over the movement which is designed to help keep the dust out of the movement.



This watch has a double sunk dial that is made out of porcelain.  Notice the delicate hands.  This dial is unique as it also has the "military" time marked on the dial below the Roman numerals.  This watch is lever set.  The lever is located towards the bottom of the picture.



This picture shows the Karat gold markings of the case.  It reads that it is Warranted 14K U. S. Assay.  Below the markings is the case serial number which really means nothing.  Case records were never maintained by case companies.



This view shows the 18 size Appleton, Tracy and Co. movement that was made by Waltham.  This is a 15 jewel movement that features a Safety Pinion which protects the gear train in the event the mainspring breaks.  This movement is also Adjusted.

Howard 16 Size RailRoad Chronometer Series 11. Mainspring Info. Listed Also.


The Howard 21 Jewel RailRoad Chronometer is a very nice pocket watch. These were actually made by the Keystone Howard Co.



The dial on this watch is a true Montgomery style dial which has the minutes numbered around the outer chapter of the porcelain dial.



These dials are rather unique as they snap onto the movement.  There are no dial legs that hold the dial in place.




This shows the back of the Howard snap-on dial.  You can see the lip that snaps onto the movement.



This shows the dial side of the Howard movement.  You can also see the setting mechanism.  The hour wheel has been removed.



This view shows the upper plates of the movement with all of the RailRoad markings.  These movements are very simple where one plate mounts over the pivots of the gear train.  These watches are adjusted to 5 positions.



Here you can see the RailRoad markings.  This Howard has a unique serial number for those that like that sort of thing as I do.



There is only one minor flaw in the construction of these watches.  This is the click that engages the ratchet wheel when the watch is being wound.  This is a long flat spring that is mounted with one screw that is on the side of the movement.  This click fits between the top of the mainspring barrel and the ratchet wheel.  Many times this will slip out of position.  When this happens it can prevent the mainspring barrel from turning which stops the movement due to lack of power.

For the most part, these are really nice pocket watches that function very well and keep very good time.  These watches use an HR white alloy mainspring.  The HR number is SA-353.  The Howard factory mainspring number is 329 and it has the TEE end.