Gold Electroplating watch in Dublin

fortyplus

Ok, I can see the answers before I ask the question, but why not.
Close to 3 decades ago, before we had 2 old pennies to rub together, my now wife bought me a gold plated "dress" watch: Raymond Veil 9140. I wore it until the plating worn off It has sat in a drawer for probably 20 years.

I am well aware the watch has no value, but it has a sentimental value to me, and I would love to get it refurbished/ replated. Is there anywhere in Dublin that might look at this. I know there are some excellent chaps who replate jewellery/ gold/ rhodium, but this would require disassembly/ plating/ reassembly.

Over the decades I have been lucky to get JLC Reverso/ Omega Seamaster...& a few others, but it would nice to have this as an occasional option.

To add insult to injury, I only wear a watch a few days a month...
It would be like this:
https://watchcharts.com/listing/461528/raymond-weil-9140-geneve-midsize-gold-18k-electroplated-quartz-watch-restored

Wibbs

You could ask an outfit like watchfix.ie to see if they'd do the disassembly/reassembly part and bring the case to the guys you know who do the plating, or they may have that option themselves. Another option might be to keep an eye on ebay for the same watch in unworn condition and swap the cases?

fortyplus

Wibbs wrote: »

You could ask an outfit like watchfix.ie to see if they'd do the disassembly/reassembly part and bring the case to the guys you know who do the plating, or they may have that option themselves. Another option might be to keep an eye on ebay for the same watch in unworn condition and swap the cases?

Thanks, yes. These chaps https://www.jewelleryrepair.ie/ did excellent Rhodium plating on some jewellery for my wife, I have dropped them a mail to see if they can do the case (if stripped).
Watchfix have polished and refurbed a battered everyday Tag I used to wear, so I know that business, he did a good job.
Also found this place in the UK that will do the case:
https://www.thegoldplatingcompany.co.uk/index.php/portfolio-view/item/114-ladies-watch-gold-plated

fortyplus

As a follow on to the original.

I now have the watch case fully disassembled. It turned out to be surprisingly easy, aided by a little help from YouTube.
Pop the back, push a pin to remove the crown, remove the mechanism and I bought this on Amazon to press out the crystal.

So far the only option I can find to do gold plating is the UK one posted above.

Anyone know an Irish option?

As a separate issue, where might I get a 26mm x 0.75mm crystal. It's intact but slightly scratched, and while it's apart I might as well replace it.

Thirdfox

Counsinsuk.com stock watch crystals (and anything else you could possibly want watch related).

If the crystal is hesalite (plastic then toothpaste/polywatch will remove the scratches easily).

edit: I see it is a mineral crystal (btw you could always upgrade to a sapphire crystal at the same time as you're replacing the mineral one):

https://www.cousinsuk.com/category/mineral-watch-glasses - counsins selection of mineral crystals
https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/080mm-domed-cousins# - there's a 0.8mm x 26mm domed mineral crystal here

https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/090mm-sternkreuz-srd - and a 0.9mm x 26mm domed sapphire crystal here
https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/080mm-cousins-sapphire - flat one costs £4...

fortyplus

Thirdfox wrote: »

Counsinsuk.com stock watch crystals (and anything else you could possibly want watch related).

If the crystal is hesalite (plastic then toothpaste/polywatch will remove the scratches easily).

edit: I see it is a mineral crystal (btw you could always upgrade to a sapphire crystal at the same time as you're replacing the mineral one):

https://www.cousinsuk.com/category/mineral-watch-glasses - counsins selection of mineral crystals
https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/080mm-domed-cousins# - there's a 0.8mm x 26mm domed mineral crystal here

https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/090mm-sternkreuz-srd - and a 0.9mm x 26mm domed sapphire crystal here
https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/080mm-cousins-sapphire - flat one costs £4...

Super stuff, thanks for this! it's a totally flat crystal so while it measures 0.75mm...0.8mm should be good!