TAG MicroTimer replacement case?

[Danesgate]

Evening

Is there anywhere I can get a replacement case for my TAG MicroTimer?

It has some scratches which I am loath to polish out, do I have to go to TAG or is there somewhere/someone else I should try first?

Thanks!!

[Riff Raff]

I can't help, other than to say the cases on these are really, really, really prone to picking up marks.

The replacement case, if you can get one, will I expect be exactly the same, in terms of marking easily.

[Dominic H]

The only place you'll get a case is TAG UK. The price compared to getting the case refurbished will be very expemsive, and as suggested will mark just as easily as the original.

[Riff Raff]

I did think about having mine blasted. never got beyond the 'thinking about' phase though..........

[Danesgate]

Dominic H said:

The only place you'll get a case is TAG UK. The price compared to getting the case refurbished will be very expemsive, and as suggested will mark just as easily as the original.

OK, thanks - as I thought.....

Should I be looking to Europe for a supplier with a lower rate of tax?

PS - Don't you ever sleep?! 04.59?!!!

Thanks

[Dominic H]

Danesgate said:

Dominic H said:

The only place you'll get a case is TAG UK. The price compared to getting the case refurbished will be very expensive, and as suggested will mark just as easily as the original.

OK, thanks - as I thought.....

Should I be looking to Europe for a supplier with a lower rate of tax?

PS - Don't you ever sleep?! 04.59?!!!

Thanks

Hi DG, I don't think tax is the issue. How bad are the scratches, can you post an image of the watch? Bear in mind that TAG will charge you a the rate of a full service to strip down the watch and re-case it. I wouldn't be surprised at a bill of over £500. Pretty sure that they won't supply you the part anyway.

I recently had an AP Offshore 'Rubberclad' which had a cut to the rubber bezel. A new bezel from AP was over £500 plus vat, but they would only fit the bezel (a 10 min job) if they carried out a full service. Arguing that if the bezel was cut, then the watch had been knocked and the movememt required attention. To correct a cosmetic blemish to the bezel was going to cost just under £2000.....

Unless the case has been damaged by dropping or abrasion, then most light surface scratches would easily polish out. I've bought and sold 100's of pre-owned watches and never had to re-case one. I would assume, unless damaged, a good watchmaker should be able to get a very good finish on your case, quickly and relatively cheaply.

Dom H

I'm in Turkey, we're 2 hrs ahead....

[Riff Raff]

Dominic H said:

Hi DG, I don't think tax is the issue. How bad are the scratches, can you post an image of the watch? Bear in mind that TAG will charge you a the rate of a full service to strip down the watch and re-case it. I wouldn't be surprised at a bill of over £500. Pretty sure that they won't supply you the part anyway.

I recently had an AP Offshore 'Rubberclad' which had a cut to the rubber bezel. A new bezel from AP was over £500 plus vat, but they would only fit the bezel (a 10 min job) if they carried out a full service. Arguing that if the bezel was cut, then the watch had been knocked and the movememt required attention. To correct a cosmetic blemish to the bezel was going to cost just under £2000.....

Unless the case has been damaged by dropping or abrasion, then most light surface scratches would easily polish out. I've bought and sold 100's of pre-owned watches and never had to re-case one. I would assume, unless damaged, a good watchmaker should be able to get a very good finish on your case, quickly and relatively cheaply.

Dom H

I'm in Turkey, we're 2 hrs ahead....

Hi Dom, hope you are having a good time in the Land of the Kebabs.

The watch has a battery in it, so I'd hope it didn't cost £500 to service.

The case, I read somewhere is actually some sort of liquid metal - whether that's true or not I don't know.

What is certainly true is that the case marks up very easily, and I'm careful with my watches - you have handled some of them. Green Sub? To tell you the truth the marks on mine drove me to distraction. They would just appear from nowhere. I got so fed up that mine has been in the safe for a couple of years, the battery has gone, and I don't know whether I will bother having it changed.

You know my views on polishing - even so, I had mine polished and a fortnight later the marks were back.

That's why a re-case just wouldn't be worth it in my view. Tag did a matt version late in the watch's production run - whether that wore any better I have no idea, but as I said, I toyed with the idea of having mine blasted, or talking to Bry on here about having it surface treated. But if it is liquid metal, God knows if it would work.

[Danesgate]

I'd be tempted to have the case blasted - how much and where?

Alternatively, what are average condition MicroTimers fetching?

[Dominic H]

Danesgate said:

I'd be tempted to have the case blasted - how much and where?

Alternatively, what are average condition MicroTimers fetching?

Here's one on ebay starting at £575....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TAG-Heuer-MicroTimer-CS1...

[Danesgate]

As an alternative, how much to get the cae blasted?

And should I expect the TAG Heuer lettering to disappear as part of the process?

Cheers

[Dominic H]

Danesgate said:

As an alternative, how much to get the cae blasted?

And should I expect the TAG Heuer lettering to disappear as part of the process?

Cheers

With regard to costs PH member 'Bry 1975' is the man to speak to, he re-finishes watches. A straight forward 'sand blasting' should leave the case edges straight and should not impact the lettering in the slightest. If it were me, I'd leave the recessed lettering polished then matt the case, the contrast would be quite nice...