Of course. It really needs a specialist to do the works though as Rolex don’t have the parts for it unfortunately.
I wonder where you could get that restored sympathetically. It will look fabulous, if done properly. I found a very good watch restorer in Brighton when I first moved here, but he has retired, sadly.
Your best bet may well be to walk along Hatton Garden in London, a street full of jewellers, antique dealers and watchsmiths.
Or it might be a challenge for one of the experts on TV’s The Repair Shop.
Not my watch. ![]()
You might want to contact Ocean Jewellers in Brighton’s Lanes District (01273 727754). They did a fantastic job for me recently on my IWC 1920s pocket watch (shown earlier in this thread).
Thanks. You have a very nice collection
Try Martin’s Of Glasgow.
They recase and recondition Rolex iwc omega and many more.
He serviced a Vintage Accurist manual wind and a Bulova automatic for me.
Just Google the name. ![]()
Years ago I remember reading somewhere that Wilsdorf moved the company to Switzerland due to anti German feeling in the UK with the breakout of WW1. I do not know how true this is but it seems plausible.
This Vertex watch was given to my paternal grandfather for 25 years of service at a company called Small & Parkes in Manchester. The company made brake and clutch linings and he died of an asbestos related illness when I was about 5 or 6 years old.
I had a sympathetic restoration done as the dial and hands had water damage. You could see the postion of where the hands had been.
It’s engraved on the back as many of these watches were when given for service in work but at least it my name on the back. Of which i am proud. ![]()
Classic Swiss watch. I haven’t heard of Vertex, so I assume that they have been subsumed into a larger company.
PS My apologies - Vertex is apparently a British company, who must subcontract the manufacture of their watches to somewhere in Switzerland.
Ancient Citizen I’ve had since a teenager. Original quartz movement dead and gone - replaced with an ETA by me a couple of years ago. New sapphire crystal and full gasket set at the same time, but not waterproof by any means. Keeps excellent time - maybe runs fast 1 second/ month.
Do you ever think that you might use that Frankie Howerd picture a little too often?
Well done, was it hard to size up, then get it aligned?
Only when required.
Ooer ![]()
Thanks! And yes there were a few problems that needed some ‘work arounds’ -
This particular ETA movement is a little smaller than the original but has the all important day/ date in the exact same place as the original movement, so I figured everything else was doable. I made up a copper ring with some small lugs soldered on that the new movement could be attached by, then epoxy glued the ring to the inside of the face.
Next problem was misalignment of the crown shaft to the movement, which needed another copper ring ‘spacer’ between the face outer surface and inner bezel surface to correct.
Finally the ETA drive shafts are slightly shorter than the original, so the minute and second hands had to be cranked slightly to clear the face markers. Enjoyed the process though!
Phew - hope you’re not sorry you asked now ![]()









