WATCH POP

My new – “just serviced - Working perfectly” Speedy Pro arrived this morning and although I am disappointed I am getting a quote to restore.

Reference number: ST 145.022-69
MOVEMENT Caliber number: 861 Serial Number 2963XXXXX

It has the following issues – unfortunately many of which I was not informed about by the seller –

However on the plus side this model is quite hard to find and I have wanted a pre-moon 861 for a long time – I think it is worth restoring....

1: The crystal is not Omega and needs replacing - different shape and no omega logo in the centre

2: All the hands are in poor shape and I doubt that they can be restored.

The main hands are flaking paint..

The chronograph second hand is the wrong type – no diamond near the end.

The chronograph hour counter has just fallen off and looks as if it was painted with araldite, as was the minute counter

I am a bit worried that brand new hands will look a bit odd with the old dial but this will probably be the only solution..

3: Needs a new bezel as although it sort of looks ok I think it may be an aftermarket and probably not the original - see how the divider lines extend to the edge near the bottom of the bezel

(The new ones are a bit different to original from 69 but will be ok until I can find a good used one)

4: Runs ok but needs a service and clean plus a light touch up to the case which is actually in quite good condition.

5: The dial looks original and although a bit dirty could be cleaned up – I hope - I would want to keep it as original as possible so just a clean and not a re-lume.

6: One of the pushers looks as if it is coming loose – so I think we need 2 new ones…

Ah well such is life, I will of course complain to the seller, but as the end price was not too high I may end up with a nice watch if I invest a bit more time and money

Think I prefer this to sending back and cancelling my cheque, which I could probably still do...

Good luck


Mark

My 69 Pre-Moon (actually made in 68) has new hands on it, and they look fine to me.



Be careful with trying to have the dial cleaned, it's not easy to do, and it's very easy to screw up and ruin the dial.

Best Regards,

Damon When your watch gets out of order you have a choice of two things to do: throw it in the fire or take it to the watch-tinker. The former is the quickest. -MT Hi Damon

yes that does look good, please could you let me know if the serial number on your watch is similar to mine?

Just wanted to make sure that the movement is correct.

Best regards

Mark All new hands will probably be best. All your issues will be resolved after a full overhaul from Switzerland. NJ serviced a 861, but send my 321 to Switzerland. It came back from Swizterland everyting new except the movement and dial. I have the original hand and will try to get the old hands installed and older style bezel re-installed.

Youre right, while the font and marks look correct on the bezel, the extended lines are not common. I'm looking at a NOS bezel, and the lines are shorter. I dont have the original w/me maybe someone else can address. If you got that at a good price I think you've done ok. Most of the things that you have quoted as wrong with it, would be sorted at the time of a good service and if you keep the original dial you are going to end up with a nice piece.

I've finished restoring my pre-moon 861 recently, just had a new bezel fitted as the last job and like yours it has the original dial but new parts like hands, pushers etc. and the movement serviced by Bienne. Now I have the best of all worlds. A very nice pre-moon 861 that looks great and runs superbly.

The seller may not have been totally honest but you have the makings of a nice watch there and at that age you expect some bits to drop off now and then :-) Restore that and you'll love it....

" As the poet said, 'Only God can make a tree' -- probably because it's so hard to figure out how to get the bark on. " Woody Allen It comes down to what you paid for it. If you paid under a grand its not a big deal. That watch will be sweet once its restored. I am still kicking myself for sellling mine. I did by a later 861 Speedy Pro, but that watch was a keeper, doh. Eagle Day August 15, 1940 On Wisconsin Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges
Hi all

I was just wondering how the hands are held in place.

I have opened up the watch released the little screw that holds the winding stem pulled this out and taken the movement out – carefully with the dust cover in place.

Never done that before – so a first – but quite easy to do.

I have blown away some of the dust on the dial with a blower and then reassembled.

However if I repeat this - can I just push the old chrono hour hand back on or do you need a special tool to do this?

How easy is it to change all the hands yourself?

Can anyone point me to a tutorial on-line?

Best regards

Mark
a crystal press to install the new crystal or you'll NEVER get it in.

Chris "Why is it that every time I think I know the answers, someone goes and changes the questions?"------------------------------------------- But for a Speedmaster

www..com/Theoriehorlogerie/reassembling-mechanical-watch.html www..com/Theoriehorlogerie/reassembling-mechanical-watch.html "www..com/Theoriehorlogerie/reassembling-mechanical-watch.html" www..com/Theoriehorlogerie/reassembling-mechanical-watch.html www..com/Theoriehorlogerie/reassembling-mechanical-watch.html you need - www..com/Theoriehorlogerie/reassembling-mechanical-watch.html

it's best to use the correct tools (not expensive) for removing and installing hands.

Otto Frei

Tools
Look down the page at the hand tools.

Also consider getting some magnification:
magnifiers
A. Charles Beddoe Harvard, MA