The Miraculous Old Watch Is Back

[77T]

This is a good-time story, so hope it doesn't bother anyone if I use up some digital ink here.

I know it's been a long time since I mentioned this, but almost 2 years ago I gave my watchmaker an old Omega that my parents gave me for a graduation. This was a K-8 private school back before the days of Middle School - and the High Schools were grades 9-12. In the past I've posted about how it has survived over 50 years.

Well it isn't anything flashy - not a Seamaster or a DeVille - and the movement had bronze bushings in the auto-wind bridge that were kaput. That's what took so long. But here is the "miraculous" part...this watch was the only one not stolen in a burglary last December when I lost 4 Rolexes. (The Police recovered one of my wife's Rolexes which the RSC made "like new" and our daughter now has a special memento of her Mom). The search for the others continues but that's another story for another time...

Why did this "miraculous” Omega survive? Because it was in my watchmaker's safe awaiting parts.

A short detour now - my watchmaker couldn't find replacement bushings since Omega/Swatch has stopped making them. Although he has a parts account with them, they had no other replacements either. So he was going to press them out and perhaps drill the use properly sized jewels as replacements.

In the meantime, my Dad's old Omega Seamaster was needing a full restoration so I could surprise my brother at a June family reunion at Ft. Myers Beach. It also needed parts. SO I hopped to it and bought a donor movement in the same caliber as my Dad's watch. Saved some money that way. The project got finished using a few parts from the donor movement and was an amazing surprise at a family dinner on the waterfront.

Today, my watchmaker texted me and my watch was ready...here's the great irony - the auto-wind bridge from the donor movement (the one that provided some parts for my Dad's Omega) also fit my perished auto-wind bridge along with a pinion that had been bent over time. Result: Avoided many hours of pressing, drilling, jewel placement, etc. So it's 75% original with a small transplant And saved $$$ for the pinion by using the compatible one from that donor, too...

Now the "Miraculous Old Watch" is back and hope it's charmed life continues many more years - keeping good time, too!