Okay...i Give Up!

[stroppy]

I have written about a watch my father gifted to me when I was 12 here on the forum before.  It is a "Jaguar" jump time "analogue digital" from 1972.  Jaguar was the "better" brand of the Sindaco line from the Italian speaking part of Switzerland (thanks to Roberto for helping me with the ID information...something I still owe him a beer and a good meal for should he ever come to Australia).

 

I had intended to restore it myself but I am no watchmaker.  The watch works and holds a good power reserve but needs a service (the crown is very tight) and the time needs regulating.  It has a 17 jewel date-indicator manual wind EB movement but just which calibre it is I don't know.  The mineral glass crystal needs polishing and the base metal case needs chroming.

 

After realising the job was just too big for me to handle on my own I asked a "famous" watch restorer here in Australia how much he would charge me for the job.  The quote started at around $400 (AU.., about $280 USD) and then went right up to $800 !  Another jeweller suggested he could do the whole job, minus the chrome plating of the case, for around $350 but wouldn't guarantee the result.

 

Is there anyone here who could give me an idea of the cost of bringing the watch back to really good (but obviously not totally "new") condition?  Is there anyone willing to take the job on (I would pay for shipping there and back, of course)?

 

In essence the watch needs:

-Movement clean, service and regulation

-Case rechromed

-Glass crystal polished

-Fitting of a curved-end stainless steel bracelet (as was originally on the watch...the lugs are curved on the watch).  An inexpensive bracelet that is durable would suffice.

 

Here's the watch:

 

I believe the movement is similar to this one:

 

http://www.watchrepairtalk.com/topic/1625-17-jewel-ebauches-bettlach-8800-walk-through/

 

which Noirrac1j restored (a "Basis" watch probably put out by Sindaco).

 

I'm not asking for charity...just a real indication of price and, perhaps, an offer to take the job on.

Edited January 26, 2016 by stroppy

[stroppy]

Looky here!  The DID make other stuff as well!

 

http://www.swisstime.ch/en-watches-JAGUAR-DIVISOR-%28304301%29-a304301.html

 

And the parent brand (Sindaco) made an identical watch but with a one jewel EB movement.

 

The model number was 70301

[noirrac1j]

Hello Stropp,

 

1) I have a few places here in N. America that I have used for replating. Peter Wuischpard http://www.watchcaserepair.com/ inFlorida did an amazing job of soldering a broken lug and rhodium replating (^$$$) on a Girard-Perregaux , and another company in Canada http://www.replateit.com/ replated (~$) two pf my Sicura jump hours: one in Rhodium and the other in 14K. Both are good but are quite a distance from Australia. The turnaround time for me was about one month for replating.

 

The cost to replate my Sicura case, crown and caseback using Nickel/Rhodium process (5 microns) was $85.00 with replateit in Canada.

 

Peter Wuischpard in Cocoa beach, Florida is a little more specialized and cost 235.00, but included the lug repair. That replating was done using Copper as a primer and followed by Nickel and Rhodium--a real pro

 

2) The Jaguar is a nice looking watch...unusual example of a "mystery" dial and sliding-hour watch...looks like the time is read from the 6 o'clock position, Cleaning and timing the movement is relatively straightforward, so 350 is expensive in my opinion. If the movement is EB 8800 17 jewels, it is not difficult to do. I know from experience that watchmakers can respond with a mixture of snobbery and anxiety at the prospect of working on a pin-lever movement which will result in an inflated estimate for overhaul...Just my experience, and the main impetus for learning how to do it myself!  I am not a watchmaker (finishing doctorate in neuroimaging effects of chronic pain), but I have done all kinds of movements, and am especially experienced in these Bettlach pin levers. I haven't sent out a watch to get overhauled in a few years, but the last quote I had was for $180.00 complete overhaul.

 

 

Do you have any experience overhauling a watch? 

 

JC

[stroppy]

Hello Stropp,

 

1) I have a few places here in N. America that I have used for replating. Peter Wuischpard http://www.watchcaserepair.com/ inFlorida did an amazing job of soldering a broken lug and rhodium replating (^$$$) on a Girard-Perregaux , and another company in Canada http://www.replateit.com/ replated (~$) two pf my Sicura jump hours: one in Rhodium and the other in 14K. Both are good but are quite a distance from Australia. The turnaround time for me was about one month for replating.

 

The cost to replate my Sicura case, crown and caseback using Nickel/Rhodium process (5 microns) was $85.00 with replateit in Canada.

 

Peter Wuischpard in Cocoa beach, Florida is a little more specialized and cost 235.00, but included the lug repair. That replating was done using Copper as a primer and followed by Nickel and Rhodium--a real pro

 

2) The Jaguar is a nice looking watch...unusual example of a "mystery" dial and sliding-hour watch...looks like the time is read from the 6 o'clock position, Cleaning and timing the movement is relatively straightforward, so 350 is expensive in my opinion. If the movement is EB 8800 17 jewels, it is not difficult to do. I know from experience that watchmakers can respond with a mixture of snobbery and anxiety at the prospect of working on a pin-lever movement which will result in an inflated estimate for overhaul...Just my experience, and the main impetus for learning how to do it myself!  I am not a watchmaker (finishing doctorate in neuroimaging effects of chronic pain), but I have done all kinds of movements, and am especially experienced in these Bettlach pin levers. I haven't sent out a watch to get overhauled in a few years, but the last quote I had was for $180.00 complete overhaul.

 

 

Do you have any experience overhauling a watch? 

 

JC

 

 

No...I am an old fart with very fat fingers, correspondingly poor close focus sight and my main interest in watches is collecting.  I tried to learn restoration but I made a mess of the first couple of watches I took apart...despite using a cap-style magnifier and drinking a scotch before trying to use my wobbly hands!   :D

 

I'm too scared that I might destroy this watch and, for me, the sentimental value is too great.  Destroying it would destroy one of the last tangible links to my dad.

 

P.S.  You are spot on correct!  The time is read from the 6 o'clock position, as is the date (grey outer ring).  The date is not a quick-set mechanism.

 

Here is more about Sindaco from that time period, courtesy of Roberto:

 

https://70swatchesgallery.wordpress.com/category/sindaco/

 

You are specialising in chronic pain?  Good!!!  Please discover a new painkiller other than opoids (to which I am allegic), paracetamol and ibuprofen.  I will be in your service forever if you do that!  As it is my doctor is pushing me to have "robotic" surgery on my spine to repair decaying disks.  

 

As my favourite tv actor from the 60s would say (Good old Jonathan Harris...the wonderful "Dr Smith")  ...  "Oh the pain, the pain!"

Edited January 26, 2016 by stroppy

[Geo]

Please remember that the forum is for advising each other regarding watch repairs. It is not somewhere to openly advertise watch repair services. If someone offers watch repair services on the forum that involves payment, it would contravene the forum rules and will be removed.

[noirrac1j]

Please remember that the forum is for advising each other regarding watch repairs. It is not somewhere to openly advertise watch repair services. If someone offers watch repair services on the forum that involves payment, it would contravene the forum rules and will be removed.

Yes of course....Not meant to advertise watch repair or replating companies, just what I have personally used for my own watches. I don't offer services--only my experience. My apologies Geo.

 

Joe

[stroppy]

Please remember that the forum is for advising each other regarding watch repairs. It is not somewhere to openly advertise watch repair services. If someone offers watch repair services on the forum that involves payment, it would contravene the forum rules and will be removed.

 

 

Sorry...my apologies.  I did not know this was the case.  The last thing I want to do is to cause any grief for anyone.

[stroppy]

Yes of course....Not meant to advertise watch repair or replating companies, just what I have personally used for my own watches. I don't offer services--only my experience. My apologies Geo.

 

Joe

 

 

Joe...sorry for dragging you into this.  I did not wish to compromise you in any way.

[Geo]

No problem Joe, it was just a wee reminder to folk.

It was the question raised by Stroppy "Is there anyone willing to take the job on (I would pay for shipping there and back, of course)?" that could have someone inadvertently breaking the rules.

[stroppy]

No problem Joe, it was just a wee reminder to folk.

It was the question raised by Stroppy "Is there anyone willing to take the job on (I would pay for shipping there and back, of course)?" that could have someone inadvertently breaking the rules.

 

 

I am truly sorry that I compromised anyone here.  Please believe me when I say that was not my intention at all.

[Geo]

Stroppy it was only a friendly heads up, please don't worry about it. :)

[stroppy]

Stroppy it was only a friendly heads up, please don't worry about it. :)

 

 

Okay...no problem.  I hate causing grief to anyone for whatever reason.  One of my personality traits that others sometimes find "quaint".  :o  :)