My watch is in pieces and about 2,500 miles away!

[Emilio84]

Thankfully its in safe (but sometimes dirty) hands.

Just a few teaser pics of my father's 197X Oyster Perpetual Dalton is breathing new life into (Water + Movement = )










I'm kinda excited...


Just a little...


Ok...


A lot.

[SLS]

I can understand your excitement! I am looking forward to seeing the finished product!
~Scott

[Tools]

Wow...

A great piece with a family history..............

[marshallr47]

I think it's going to look great. Looking forward to the full pics.

[Emilio84]

Thanks! We are still waiting on one final wheel from Rolex and then its just buttoning it all up and getting it ticking. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the final wheel will arrive this week so I can possibly have it by this weekend when I go home so I can show my father but patience is a virtue and you just can't rush these things.

[Dalton]

Hey Emilio! Good to see ya here. I can't believe that it's taking Rolex this long to get me that wheel. How about posting some before pics. I like those too.

[Emilio84]

Hey Dalton. I don't have the before pics of the case/band on my photobucket and can't get to my gmail at the moment so if you have them feel free to post them. In the mean time I'll post movement shots.


WARNING: THE FOLLOWING PICTURES MAY MAKE YOU CRY/CRINGE/VOMIT/ETC

[Emilio84]

found a couple of MY before pictures in my photobucket...

[SLS]

Wow, how much of the movement were you able to salvage? Dial & hands look OK though.
~Scott

[Emilio84]

Originally Posted by SLS

Wow, how much of the movement were you able to salvage? Dial & hands look OK though.
~Scott

I am fairly certain (feel free to correct me Dalton) the only parts of the movements salvagable were the bridges. The dial and hands are fine though which is why it was such a shock when the caseback was opened and revealed the badly damaged movement.

I am actually really glad I sent it to Dalton as I doubt anyone else would have even attempted to restore this watch.

[SLS]

Wow, it almost seems as though the bottom half of the case was sitting in water, npo wonder it wasn't working!

[Emilio84]

Originally Posted by SLS

Wow, it almost seems as though the bottom half of the case was sitting in water, npo wonder it wasn't working!

The crown gasket failed and let water in. Judging by when my dad stopped wearing it the water got in while we were on vacation in the carribean so the water that got in was most likely sea water making it that much worse. My dad isn't a WIS. He wears his watches everywhere and doesn't worry about scratches or anything like that so after 30 something years of wear and an unknown (to me) service history something had to give.

[f16570]

Wow, what a mess. When it is sorted you will really appreciate the watch.
Post the after pics soon.

[oneillba]

Thanks for the warning on the pics. I would have cried too! Good luck with the restoration!

[Emilio84]

ok more pictures...


Before:






And a couple more afters I found:

[Emilio84]

Originally Posted by f16570

Wow, what a mess. When it is sorted you will really appreciate the watch.
Post the after pics soon.

Yeah it'll be nice to finally have it on my wrist after always wanting "Dad's watch" growing up. He already hinted at him possibly stealing it from me. In which case I'm stealing his datejust!!!

[Watch Collector]

Just curious how much something like that runs to have the whole watch restored?

[Emilio84]

Originally Posted by Watch Collector

Just curious how much something like that runs to have the whole watch restored?

Out of respect for Dalton I will not list pricing but let me assure you its VERY reasonable all things considered. If you have a watch you need serviced or refinished I highly suggest contacting Dalton to get a quote.

[watchboy]

Originally Posted by Emilio84

Out of respect for Dalton I will not list pricing but let me assure you its VERY reasonable all things considered. If you have a watch you need serviced or refinished I highly suggest contacting Dalton to get a quote.

Wow Emilio, that is damn cool! I can't wait to see when everything is ready!

Yes I think you are right to suggest contacting Dalton for quotes on his work. Dalton did a couple of jobs on my watches and I, too, referred others to him and ask him for quotation themselves.

[Emilio84]

Originally Posted by watchboy

Wow Emilio, that is damn cool! I can't wait to see when everything is ready!

Thanks! I hope it comes out as nice as yours did!

[Z-Sub]

Love to see the after pictures.
Any chance to have the watchmaker take photo of the movement after as well?

[Emilio84]

Dalton promised pictures of the movement once they recieve the final wheel and the watchmaker completes reassembly. Those will be posted as soon as I have them!

[acce1999]

This thread is truly interesting to follow! Thanks for sharing.

Best,

A

[Emilio84]

Originally Posted by acce1999

This thread is truly interesting to follow! Thanks for sharing.

Best,

A

Thanks! Hopefully this will give people hope for watches they have they may have considered a "lost cause." This watch has a lot of sentimental value to me but even still the cost of refinishing/repair is less then the cost of a replacement.

[acce1999]

Originally Posted by Emilio84

Thanks! Hopefully this will give people hope for watches they have they may have considered a "lost cause." This watch has a lot of sentimental value to me but even still the cost of refinishing/repair is less then the cost of a replacement.

Absolutely. It gives hope, but what mostly makes this thread such a great reading is the obvious sentimental value, the before pictures, and eventually the result of Daltons work (some is already shown).

Looking forward to the "after" pictures.

Best,

A

[Emilio84]

Well it looks like Dalton may be getting that last wheel in very soon which means its not too long before I will finally get to wear "dad's watch."

[buz-lh]

Can't wait to see the finished product. Pretty exciting seeing your dad's watch brought back to life.

[Emilio84]

The watch is back together and currently going through the testing process so it should be ready to ship VERY soon. I will be posting pictures of the watch soon as I recieve them from Dalton!

[Lamone]

Originally Posted by Emilio84

Hey Dalton. I don't have the before pics of the case/band on my photobucket and can't get to my gmail at the moment so if you have them feel free to post them. In the mean time I'll post movement shots.


WARNING: THE FOLLOWING PICTURES MAY MAKE YOU CRY/CRINGE/VOMIT/ETC

Ouch, that's painful!
I hope that somehow you can salvage most parts.

[Emilio84]

The bridges were the only movement parts that could be saved.


The watch is complete and will hopefully ship out today.