Conundrum - too valuable to work upon?

[Boz]

I've been passed a watch by a friend. It's a bit damaged having been in a car crash. They think it's junk but I think it's rather nice, with (probably) a diamond set platinum case. It's hard to know how to approach this. 

I'd rather not work on it unless I can get spares for the movement...but I can't see a movement number to research. So it's a chicken egg situation..do I dismantle it so see if there is a calibre number somewhere, or just leave it or hand it back for now. Do any of you recognise the movement? How would you approach this situation. I'm not a professional, but friends and family are starting to trust my work.

 

learnen

Thanks again,

Jules

Edited August 2, 2022 by Boz

[Nucejoe]

Gives us the diameter and a pic of the keyless.

 

[mbwatch]

Looks very similar to an AS 969 but without a cap jewel on the escape wheel. I am not an expert at identifying these, but I was pretty sure it was an AS and just opened up all the images on 17jewels to find the similar image.

https://17jewels.info/movements/a/as/as-969/

 

If you search for "AS" on https://ranfft.de and just click through all the movements of the right size (there are a lot of them) you will probably find the exact one.

[Boz]

Thanks @mbwatchand @Nucejoe. It's just over 15mm so 6 3/4 ligne, and 18,000bph so the AS969 looks like the best match of that family. The keyless works is a perfect match to the photos on Ranfft. Apologies for the blurry picture but it's getting dark:

I'm now confident I can find spares and it's a simple movement so I'll crack on I think. Many many thanks!

[Shane]

I had the exact same situation happen to me recently so I understand your reluctance and apprehension.  I am writing it all up for the accomplishments section of the forum but I needed to give you some encouragement here and now.

Try not to have the value of the case in your head while working and remember the rest of the job is only a standard watch movement.  The fact it's already not working and your just trying to help really helped me and everything turned out great.  Everyone was happy.

 

The best of luck.

Shane 

[Boz]

Thanks @ShaneI look forward to seeing your write up