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How to deal with old gold plated case?


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Hey guys. I just found this lovely Longines 817.

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I love the dial but the original gold plated case is a little bit oxidized (I dont know if that is the case? Anyway it does not look shine), I dont know how to gold plate a case and I certainly wont do that. Polishing the case will ruining the gold color of the case and I'm not sure it's a brass case or a steel one. Does anyone know how can I restore the case? I dont need it to be super shine and sharp. I want to keep the 'vintage' look of it but I want it to look clean without dark brown color. Thank you!

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The bezel ring and the crown looks like they been gold plated but the rest of the case looks suspiciously like an alloy, maybe brass. You probably can see what the case are made of by popping the case back off and there Longines usually have the data stamped, must say I never seen that case style on an 817 before either.
Anyhow think the polishing cloth @Rocket suggests is the way to go with softer metals.

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1 hour ago, HSL said:

The bezel ring and the crown looks like they been gold plated but the rest of the case looks suspiciously like an alloy, maybe brass. You probably can see what the case are made of by popping the case back off and there Longines usually have the data stamped, must say I never seen that case style on an 817 before either.
Anyhow think the polishing cloth @Rocket suggests is the way to go with softer metals.

Yeah will do. I just receive the item. The price is low. It only costs me $60. The movement it's real for sure, I didnt check the rest. However I dont think there's fake retro Longines. As for the case back reference number. It's 18892533. I think I will disassemble the case and deal with the bezel and the rest of the case respectively. For the brass parts I think some bushing and polishing should be OK?

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Just a good clean and polish should be OK.
Your number is the serial number and inside the back you will then see a different number which is the case style.
The numbers looks like this.

1131 817 18k Gold (L817.4) 
1132 1 817 18k Gold (L817) 
4129 817 18k Gold-Plated (L817) 
4131 817 18k Gold-Plated (L817) 
6064 817 18k Gold (L817)

Inside your case back I think you should see the Longines logo and the numbers 4131 817.

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Just a good clean and polish should be OK.
Your number is the serial number and inside the back you will then see a different number which is the case style.
The numbers looks like this.

1131 817 18k Gold (L817.4) 
1132 1 817 18k Gold (L817) 
4129 817 18k Gold-Plated (L817) 
4131 817 18k Gold-Plated (L817) 
6064 817 18k Gold (L817)
Inside your case back I think you should see the Longines logo and the numbers 4131 817.

it's 4131 3 817.


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