Heuer help please

[Sealine South]

Hi all

I recently (unfortunately!) inherited my dads Heuer. It was bought for him by my mum in 1979 when I was born.

I would like to restore it but keep some of the patina. I am struggling to find the model as there are no markings. Its looks very similar to a Pasadena or non-Pasadena but its slightly different.

I'd like to get the strap refurbished and the PVD replaced as its very badly worn (it was a daily watch until last week). I want to keep the case as is.

My questions are:

1. What model is it?
2. Where can I get the strap refurbished?
3. Can the glass be replaced without sending it to TAG and being charged through the nose?

I'd like to get it looking good again as Dad always intended to but thought he'd be around a lot longer than he was!

Thanks

[idiotgap]

I'm no watch expert, but I do have an old tag (1989 so not quite as old as your really nice heuer!). Getting 'main dealer' servicing and repairs is very expensive and I've not been convinced the quality matches up so a few years ago I sought out someone who cared about watches and wasn't ludicrously expensive. Ever since then I've been using this guy http://www.rytetimewatchrepairs.co.uk/ who I found was recommended on some watch forum.

I've no connection to him at all, but he'd be worth chatting to about your glass I'm sure. He replaced the glass in my watch for about £40 while it was in having a service - that was a while ago though so things might have moved a little since then. Hope this helps you get it how you want it, I'm sure preserving enough of the patina is going to be important but then probably so is getting it in a usable state.

My watch was bought for me new when I was in my early teens by my grandfather when he discovered his days were numbered. I've worn it pretty much every day since (I'll be 40 this year)... a great way of remembering someone special.

Edited by idiotgap on Wednesday 1st April 07:43

[ed335d]

It's a French made Heuer 13-1

[Hoofy]

I think it looks cool as it is - would be very reluctant to change anything on an old Heuer. Since you only paid $199.50, I'll give you £199.50 for it.

[nikaiyo2]

Great watch

It looks like an "incablock" (maybe Ref 12 or 131 or 13 or similar really not sure on that) it might have a name but this all I have ever known them as. Valjoux 7765 movement, French made by Le Jour or Monin or similar

Really cool 70's watches.

I would see if http://chronomatic.com/home.html can help you ID/ restore

[Sealine South]

Thanks guys. It's in perfect working order and keeps better time than my Daytona!

It's never being sold as it was Pop's but what do you think it should be insured for? It's irreplaceable to me but what do you think?

Thanks

Ben

[nikaiyo2]

They tend to sell for £1k ish in good condition, maybe upto £1500 from a dealer.

[Podie]

I had Nic Green (formerly Heuerboy) tidy up a Heuer I found - needed the case refinishing as someone had done a bad job.

Took a while, but not hideously expensive. Had the chrono hand repainted but left the rest with the faded lume. Will see if I can dig out some photos.

[Variomatic]

Replacement glass is easy enough, as is mechanical servicing on those. Any independent could help you out there and (despite any crap Yeti might come out with) will have absolutely no disadvantage, but a potential large saving, over TH dealers for this one seeing as it pre-dates the TAG buy-out.

The problem you're likely to have is the PVD coating. Off the top of my head, can't think of anywhere that will be able to help with that. It's not really a watchmaking (or even jewellery) task so you might be better off approaching it as two different jobs. Find someone to do the watchmaking side and look round Google for finishing specialists to handle the case. That way you're not going to be paying a watchmaker for finding, arranging, and adding a profit to, the plating job