Case refinishing

[djmusicman]

I'm thinking of getting my GMT case refinished to original specs. I've seen examples of work by LAWW in Los Angeles and laboratorio di orologeria in Italy.

My case is nice and fat but the crown guards are rounded from polishing. So I understand how they can redo the chamfers but does anyone know how they work on the crown guards. LAWW say they do not add metal....

[djmusicman]

These pictures show Laboratorio di orologeria's before and after work on a GMT. Looks like great work to me. So my question is, how do they do it if they don't add steel to the case? Thanks!

[MorningTundra]

They mill (grind) the case down and remove material.


Sent from my cracked, broken hand wound phone. IG @morning_tundra

[djmusicman]

Originally Posted by MorningTundra

They mill (grind) the case down and remove material.

Doesn't look like too much is removed. The crown guards look fuller after, maybe they move it around a little?

[swish77]

LAWW can sharpen edges without removing (much) metal. Not sure if they can do just the crown guards or if they also need to re-cut the lugs at the same time, since that same case line goes to the edge of the lugs, if that makes sense. Worth a conversation with Edvi.

OP, I'd probably leave it alone it that were my GMT. I actually think the crown guards look pretty good, and still have that ridge line that often gets polished away.

[MorningTundra]

Originally Posted by swish77

LAWW can sharpen edges without removing (much) metal. Not sure if they can do just the crown guards or if they also need to re-cut the lugs at the same time, since that same case line goes to the edge of the lugs, if that makes sense. Worth a conversation with Edvi.

OP, I'd probably leave it alone it that were my GMT. I actually think the crown guards look pretty good, and still have that ridge line that often gets polished away.

I agree. The rest of the watch looks pretty honest. Any watch that’s been serviced (even by RSC) has likely seen a polishing wheel. Any that honestly hasn’t is probably a museum piece.

Yours looks like a greatly daily wearer.


Sent from my cracked, broken hand wound phone. IG @morning_tundra

[Watchflair]

Personally for a watch that I actually wear I don't mind if it has been previously polished through routine service intervals. I would accept that rather than a case that has been re-cut or has had metal added to enhance the original look of the watch. That to me would be detrimental to the value and overall honesty of the watch.

[MorningTundra]

Now to be fair to LAWW they do also do a “vintage refinish” which just returns the satin brushed finish to the top and a high polish to the sides. I think this closer to what an RSC would do during a service. This won’t affect the overall lines of the case.


Sent from my cracked, broken hand wound phone. IG @morning_tundra

[smh223]

Looks pretty good to me. Unless you avoid polishing completely you can never retain the original factory lines in all respects


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[Wesley Crusher]

Your case looks fine to me. I would leave it alone and just enjoy the watch.

[R.W.T.]

Okay...I'm the first person to "right" a badly polished case that has rounded sides and rolled over chambers, and buttholed springbar holes...but there isn't a THING wrong with your case. I wouldn't touch that and I'm a lot more trigger happy than most of the guys around here.

That case is fine. If you want it better than that....you should probably get a new one.

That watch is fine like it is.