Got given an interesting watch today (Leonidas)
Discussion
Hi all,
Thought I'd share this. Was over at my parents today and my dad gave me a watch which has been sat in a box for probably the best part of 50-60 years (although may have been serviced at some point in that time). We have the papers which date it back to 1947. It still keeps time well, and the Chronograph works.
I didn't recognise the brand, but after a bit of digging, it seems that Leonidas merged with Heuer, and later became Tag Heuer - so an interesting bit of history! I never knew my grandad had it, and he must have bought it when he was a similar age to me (and scarily, I seem to have very similar taste to him!).
It's totally untouched by the looks of things, and I think it has the original strap which I have now removed.
A few things I want to find out:
- It looks like the dial is hand painted - would this have been the case back in 1947?
- Would anyone know how much approximately replacement glass would cost (the current glass is a little scratched)?
- The dial seems very slightly rotated to clockwise - would this be easy for someone to fix?
- I would like to get a new 17mm leather strap for it - but would like to stay as close to the original as possible. The stitching at the top of the straps follows the spring bar - does anyone know where I could get a similar leather one?
Would be interested to know if anyone else has one too!
Thanks,
Nick
Thought I'd share this. Was over at my parents today and my dad gave me a watch which has been sat in a box for probably the best part of 50-60 years (although may have been serviced at some point in that time). We have the papers which date it back to 1947. It still keeps time well, and the Chronograph works.
I didn't recognise the brand, but after a bit of digging, it seems that Leonidas merged with Heuer, and later became Tag Heuer - so an interesting bit of history! I never knew my grandad had it, and he must have bought it when he was a similar age to me (and scarily, I seem to have very similar taste to him!).
It's totally untouched by the looks of things, and I think it has the original strap which I have now removed.
A few things I want to find out:
- It looks like the dial is hand painted - would this have been the case back in 1947?
- Would anyone know how much approximately replacement glass would cost (the current glass is a little scratched)?
- The dial seems very slightly rotated to clockwise - would this be easy for someone to fix?
- I would like to get a new 17mm leather strap for it - but would like to stay as close to the original as possible. The stitching at the top of the straps follows the spring bar - does anyone know where I could get a similar leather one?
Would be interested to know if anyone else has one too!
Thanks,
Nick
Edited by NickXX on Saturday 14th November 16:13
Lovely watch, I nearly bought one earlier this year with a worse dial.
Re: your questions- Crystal should be no problem if it's an "unbreakable" plastic type, they arent expensive things in themselves.
The dial will have been pad printed- the text is engraved into a block, covered in ink and the raised surface cleaned. Then a baloon like thing is pressed first onto this surface and then the actual dial. This is why your scales overlap each other.
Dial squintness might be improvable but not by very much.
Re: your questions- Crystal should be no problem if it's an "unbreakable" plastic type, they arent expensive things in themselves.
The dial will have been pad printed- the text is engraved into a block, covered in ink and the raised surface cleaned. Then a baloon like thing is pressed first onto this surface and then the actual dial. This is why your scales overlap each other.
Dial squintness might be improvable but not by very much.
Thanks guys! Good to understand how the dial was made. I've just bought a cheap strap from an eBay seller in the US - was the closest match I could find, so will see how it looks. I have a feeling it is a glass face rather than plastic, so may cost a little more (also imagine that it can't be polished too). It seems to have been a design that was used in Heuers a bit later on, so hopefully I'll be able to get replacement glass. After a bit more research, it looks like the hands were once blue too, but they are tarnished now unfortunately.
Does anyone know of any good watch shops in central London who can do glass replacement or adjust the dial position?
Thanks,
Nick
Does anyone know of any good watch shops in central London who can do glass replacement or adjust the dial position?
Thanks,
Nick
If the crystal is plexiglass a dab of polywatch and elbow grease will get scratches out... given the age though, it *may* be a celluloid crystal (although that would more than likely have yellowed by now), which polywatch reacts with, so perhaps try some brasso and elbow grease on it first and see if that does the trick, and if not, then cautiously try some polywatch.
First of all that's a fantastic watch; Leonidas did some interesting ones, particularly collectable are the Leonidas AMI CP1/2s or the civilian Datora - the movement is probably a Landeron 48, a widely used but reliable calibre that first introduced cam switching to the mainstream.
The dial is in extremely good condition - I wouldn't touch it, the glass is clean and barely scratched and the few dinks/verdigris don't distract. A really good condition 1940's watch, superb.
The dial is in extremely good condition - I wouldn't touch it, the glass is clean and barely scratched and the few dinks/verdigris don't distract. A really good condition 1940's watch, superb.
The crystal looks like it has yellowed, but it is hard to tell from the angles of the photos.
If you are getting the crystal changed you may as well get it serviced as the oils would have dried up by now. Should be about £100 for a chronograph.
You are very lucky to have a watch that not only will have sentimental value, but is also very nice and wearable in its own right. Most watches of that age would be too small to wear these days.
If you are getting the crystal changed you may as well get it serviced as the oils would have dried up by now. Should be about £100 for a chronograph.
You are very lucky to have a watch that not only will have sentimental value, but is also very nice and wearable in its own right. Most watches of that age would be too small to wear these days.
Thanks for the comments guys. It is still keeping good time a day since I wound it, so all appears to be in good order. Will have a light service done as suggested as it will have been at least 20-30 years since the back has been off. Don't think I will touch it otherwise now that I have given it a very gentle clean.
Can't wait for the new strap to arrive so that I can show it the light of day again!
Can't wait for the new strap to arrive so that I can show it the light of day again!
^^^Wot he said.^^^
Take a look on ebay. There are a lot of these about. Those that you will find are pretty knackered. They either have rusty knackered water damaged dials, or pretty badly repainted dials.
Even with grotty dials, they come in at £500ish.
What you won't find is one with an original, mint condition dial. Your has this and is considerably more valuable for it.
You can't straighten the dial (much). The dial rotation is fixed to the movement by the location of the chrono subdials. The movement is fixed to the case by the location of the winder and pushers. There might be a little bit of play in the latter but not much.
The 6 and 12 o clock markers look fairly straight to me. It's probably as it's always been, which makes it all that more special.
Nice.
Watch.
Take a look on ebay. There are a lot of these about. Those that you will find are pretty knackered. They either have rusty knackered water damaged dials, or pretty badly repainted dials.
Even with grotty dials, they come in at £500ish.
What you won't find is one with an original, mint condition dial. Your has this and is considerably more valuable for it.
You can't straighten the dial (much). The dial rotation is fixed to the movement by the location of the chrono subdials. The movement is fixed to the case by the location of the winder and pushers. There might be a little bit of play in the latter but not much.
The 6 and 12 o clock markers look fairly straight to me. It's probably as it's always been, which makes it all that more special.
Nice.
Watch.
Thanks guys 
You're right - I can't seem to find any un-touched ones in a similar condition, so it seems very rare in that respect and short of a new strap, it can stay as it is. It is keeping time remarkably well, but I can't help but think that it's probably not very well lubricated inside anymore. Should I be wary of who I take it to, or should any independent watch servicer know how to give it a light service? My worst nightmare would be it if came back in bits due to someone not knowing what to do with it.
You're right - I can't seem to find any un-touched ones in a similar condition, so it seems very rare in that respect and short of a new strap, it can stay as it is. It is keeping time remarkably well, but I can't help but think that it's probably not very well lubricated inside anymore. Should I be wary of who I take it to, or should any independent watch servicer know how to give it a light service? My worst nightmare would be it if came back in bits due to someone not knowing what to do with it.
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