Jump to content

Vintage Alpina Silver Case Treatment: Yes or No?

Hoe

By Hoe
in Watch Repairs Help & Advice

 Share

Recommended Posts

Hoe Member

Hoe

Posted
Posted

Dear Watchmakers

I am planning an overhaul of this gorgeous, vintage Alpina wristwatch and I would like to hear your opinions on how to treat the case before I start doing anything.

The front section of the case has some sort of dark colour applied to give contrast to the engravings. I am worried about this colour to come off and therefore damage the appearance of the watch. In fact I am sure it will come off... There are already small sections with colour loss. I don’t think I will be able to recolour.

The case material – at least the case back – seems to be 0.800 Silver.

Options I considered (no. 1 is my favorite so far):

  1. Do nothing and let the case as it is. Clean it gently by hand with a brush.

  2. Ultrasonic cleaner treatment

  3. Silver cleaning treatment to make it shine again

What would you do? Does anybody know what this colour is?

Best wishes

20200803_145906-2.jpg

20200803_145926-2.jpg

20200803_150103-2.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites
watchweasol Distinguished Member

watchweasol

Posted
Posted

Hello and welcome to the forum Hoe,   I would approach this remembering its age and detail,  Do not polish the bezel but clean the rest of the case so that the colouration of the bezel contrasts with the rest of the case as it did when new,  but be sympathetic its a beautiful little watch so great care must be taken .

Link to comment
Share on other sites
KarlvonKoln Distinguished Member

KarlvonKoln

Posted
Posted

Welcome! That is a pretty Alpina.  I like its style.  I too would be very careful about polishing it up at all.  If you decide to though, there are silver polishing cloths you could use.  I wouldn't use anything stronger than those, if at all, and I'd use a very gentle touch with them.

You could put a polishing cloth on the rounded end of a little paintbrush handle and just sort of "spot polish" the vine patterns and border.  That might work.  But I'm still leaning toward leaving it be.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Hoe Member

Hoe

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks Marc for bringing up the term Niello, fantastic. I remember seeing pocket watches decorated like this.

There are YouTube videos about this technique. It seems to be quite tough at least when it is new.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
Hoe Member

Hoe

Posted
  • Author
Posted

To finish this topic, I used special Silver polishing cloths to clean the case parts, today. It is cheap and the result is fabulous. The contrast between Niello and Silver is stronger. Furthermore I treated the crystal with Polywatch. The watch looks much better, now.

Polishing_Silver.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Mercurial
      AS2063 - hand setting

      By Mercurial · Posted

      Have you got the pallet fork installed in the movement when you see the train move when using the setting works? As nevenbekriev said, without the pallet fork to lock the train, the behaviour you are describing is normal. If this is happening with the pallet fork installed, you have a problem in the gear train, it should be immobile when the pallet fork is locking the escape wheel.  The fit of the circlip above the pinions on that wheel is crooked in your pictures, it should sit flat up against the upper pinion as in Marc’s picture.  Hope that helps, Mark
    • Khan
      Stem broken - can it be rescued?

      By Khan · Posted

      Hi I got a Jaeger LeCoultre K911 movement, where one of the stems was broken. Part no. Should be 401.  Im based in Europe and tried Cousins but its discontinued. They except to get stem in stock for cal. K916 but will that work? Or Is there a way out to join the ends?
    • Bonefixer
      AS2063 - hand setting

      By Bonefixer · Posted

      The part was how it fell out of the movement - the train wheel bridge wasn’t screwed in.    I’ll probably dismantle the part, if I can, to work it out.    The train of wheels ran fine - it was only once the keyless works were installed I noticed the problem. 
    • mthomas828
      Balance staff sourcing?

      By mthomas828 · Posted

      Hello, I am about 5 months into watchmaking and I love it!   The attention to precise detail is what really attracts me to it. (and the tools!) I am working on a 16 jewel 43mm pocket watch movement.   There are no markings besides a serial number (122248) .  The balance staff needs replacement. The roller side pivot broke off.  I successfully removed the hairspring using Bergeon 5430's.  I successfully removed the roller using Bergeon 2810.   Did i mention I love the tools?! I removed the staff from the balance wheel using a vintage K&D staff removal tool  with my Bergeon 15285 (that's the one that comes with a micrometer adjustment so it can be used as a jewel press as well as a traditional staking tool...it's sooooo cool...sorry..  can you tell i love the tools?) No more digressing..  I measured the damaged staff in all the relevant areas but I have to estimate on some because one of the pivots is missing. A = Full length  A= 4.80mm  (that's without the one pivot...if you assume that the missing pivot is the same length as the other pivot (I'm sure it's not)  then A = 5.12 mm...(can I assume 5.00mm here?) F=  Hair spring collet seat  F=  .89mm   (safe to assume .90 here? .. I am sure that my measurement's would at least contain  .01 mm error ?) G = balance wheel seat  G = 1.23 mm  (1.20mm?) H  =  roller staff  H =  .59mm  (.60 mm?) B  = bottom of the wheel to roller pivot   B  = 2.97mm  (3.00 mm?)     here I am estimating  again because this pivot is missing. So my friends, and I thank you profusely,  can you point me in the right direction as to how to proceed? Do i buy individual staffs?  or an assortment?   Since I don't know exactly the name of the manufacturer, will that be a fatal hindrance?   Tbh, I'm not even sure what country of origin this movement is. Thank you!    
    • Neverenoughwatches
      Epilame / Fixodrop

      By Neverenoughwatches · Posted

      Thats why i asked that question earlier, what happens if lubrication is placed directly on top of epilame ?  As opposed to walled within its non epilamed area . I'm not saying its right, i have no idea , just asking questions. 
×
×
  • Create New...