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Thread: It’s been a saga..

  1. #1
    wind-up merchant OhDark30's Avatar
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    It’s been a saga..


    .. but it’s been worth it

    My *other* Strela, bought 5 years ago as a restoration project
    Also, I’d never seen this white dial version in the metal


    It was in a sorry state
    The watch and chrono functioned, but the second hand didn’t reset to zero, and someone had painted the hands black for visibility, and bent the hour hand

    Plus, there was an odd smell of oil of wintergreen (a muscle rub), and the crystal was sticky
    Polywatch reacted with whatever this was, turning the crystal opaque :-(


    On the positive side, the serial number makes this an early watch with this dial, approx 1967
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  2. #2
    wind-up merchant OhDark30's Avatar
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    It’s been a saga..

    I sent it off to my watch guy last autumn and, long story short, it had an intermittent chrono pusher problem that involved multiple returns, disassemblies, fault-finding, and eventually a replacement pusher mechanism from Russia (part cost £33, eat your heat out Rolex

    And it’s now functioning perfectly and looks a million dollars

    My suspicion is it has spent most of its 50 odd years in a drawer, as the case is in lovely nick, and the tachy and tele scales are unfaded red and blue

    Bravo to the First Moscow Watch Factory for building it in the first place, and Steve Burridge, my watch guy, for his patience and skill for returning it to life!
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  3. #3
    Porous Membrane skywatch's Avatar
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    Your watch whisperer is a magician! That is a beautiful restoration job. Of the two watch shops I use, the only one I would trust with a job like this would charge way too much for it. It really is a labour of love. Congratulations!
    Too many watches, not enough wrists.

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  5. #4
    That’s beautiful! It’s great to see such a wonderful transformation.

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  7. #5
    That's marvellous Kath. I love seeing rough old watches restored with respect.
    Solve all your doubts through question mode.

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  9. #6
    That is awesome. The only problem is, now you have a dilemma as to which you like better.

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  11. #7
    Moderator - Central tribe125's Avatar
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    Glorious.

    Steve Burridge has a deservedly high reputation. I thought he’d retired, though. He must like you!

  12. #8
    El bot. geoffbot's Avatar
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    That is a good looking watch. Small case I'm guessing?
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  14. #9
    wind-up merchant OhDark30's Avatar
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    It’s been a saga..

    Thanks everyone!
    He’s made an amazing job!

    Quote Originally Posted by tribe125 View Post
    Glorious.

    Steve Burridge has a deservedly high reputation. I thought he’d retired, though. He must like you!
    I’m not sure he does any more
    He’s still been doing stuff for his old customers, but with all the rigmarole on this one, I bet he wished he hadn’t


    Quote Originally Posted by geoffbot View Post
    That is a good looking watch. Small case I'm guessing?
    Yeah, 36mm
    The perfect chrono size, I’d say :-)
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  15. #10
    El bot. geoffbot's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by OhDark30 View Post
    Thanks everyone!
    He’s made an amazing job!



    I’m not sure he does any more
    He’s still been doing stuff for his old customers, but with all the rigmarole on this one, I bet he wished he hadn’t




    Yeah, 36mm
    The perfect chrono size, I’d say :-)
    For a small wristed person like yourself yes! I'm jealous.
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