Laser Welding a 16710

[travelergmt]

Asking for advice.

I have a 90s 16710 which has never been touched by a servicer but has shown signs of wear through scratches and a few small dings. There are also small dings in the inner edge of the lugs from the changing of the bands.

After not wearing it for over a decade, I intend to wear it again regularly and have a desire to restore it back to a better condition. The watch has sentimental value and I will likely never sell/trade it.

Looking to laser weld and a light polish but is it true that at the moment none of the global RSC offer this service, other than the independent shops?

Would it make sense to wait a few more years until laser welding becomes more prevalent (ie more acceptance and cheaper machines) ?

Thx.

[Boopie]

Absent photos, I would say don’t touch the watch. If you’re going to wear it regularly, it will acquire more dings. The 16710 is vintage so no one would expect the bracelet to be perfect.

[28mm]

I don't think anything is wrong with polishing it..probably not worry about anything else but pictures would be helpful.

[RJRJRJ]

The dings should be pretty significant to require laser welding. Pics?

LAWW or Rolliworks should be able to take care of it either way.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by travelergmt

Asking for advice.

I have a 90s 16710 which has never been touched by a servicer but has shown signs of wear through scratches and a few small dings. There are also small dings in the inner edge of the lugs from the changing of the bands.

After not wearing it for over a decade, I intend to wear it again regularly and have a desire to restore it back to a better condition. The watch has sentimental value and I will likely never sell/trade it.

Looking to laser weld and a light polish but is it true that at the moment none of the global RSC offer this service, other than the independent shops?

Would it make sense to wait a few more years until laser welding becomes more prevalent (ie more acceptance and cheaper machines) ?

Thx.

There's no such thing as Laser welding and a light polish.
Once the first blob of metal is fused onto the case, there's really no turning back.
It's in for a penny, in for a pound.

It's not the machines and their cost you need to be worried about. It's the skills base that's key to success.
But if you have the time to wait that's always good

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by RJRJRJ

LAWW or Rolliworks should be able to take care of it either way.

Agreed.
They're known and have shown to be sympathetic where possible

[Danny83]

Rolliworks

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by RJRJRJ

LAWW or Rolliworks should be able to take care of it either way.

This!


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[jimcameron]

Go to Zimmerman Watch Repair on Facebook. He is a Lititz Watch Technicum grad and now quest instructor. The facebook page has many photos of before and after work. It's the only place I go for Rolex and others.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by RJRJRJ

The dings should be pretty significant to require laser welding. Pics?

LAWW or Rolliworks should be able to take care of it either way.

Have to agree thats the last resort and the case must be in quite bad shape to even think about laser welding.

[77T]

Lots of factors when the watch is a family inheritance and holds great sentimental value. Some RSC’s do the work you want done. Bas, a Rolex watchmaker, has shown some work he did.

But here’s the thing I’d share: time will give us better technical options. The current state of the art would cause me to pause before such welding work is done.

Just me, but dings on the underside are no reason to weld unless they’re cutting into your skin.


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