Flat to dome crystal swap

Hi.

I am on a project of making a custom watch, that would resemble old/vintage pieces.
I’ve found a nice suitable case, but would really like if it had domed crystal.

There are many sapphire crystals on sale on ebay (surprisingly affordable), with options to choose the diameter and edge width. I would be happy with an acrylic one as well.

Does anyone have experience with affordable ebay sapphires and cases, whether they could be swapped? Are those crystals any good?
Any logic in…

Flat to dome crystal swap

Continue reading

Eta movement authenticity

Hi.

I am considering a second hand eta 2892 from eBay. Comes with a dial and hands and looks to be in pretty good condition.

It’s fairly decent priced at 150 euros and the seller has stated it had been removed from a watch years ago and was unused since.
The seller is from Italy and has about 40 other items, mostly watches.

What bothers me is that I found several of these movements, priced from 150 to 400 euros, all with the same exact dial. Dials are sometimes in better shape and…

Eta movement authenticity

Continue reading

Radium radioactivity concern

Hi everyone,

I recently won the auction on a local market. It’s a WW2 field watch, with unknown history and pretty much everything else.

I would love to restore the watch – disassemble everything, have it cleaned, polish the case and have it replated. Assemble the movement, adjust it ….

The issue is potential use of radium in the hands and/or the dial. I am very cautious about it, to the point of offering some money to the seller and leave it to be resold again. Or immediately resell it…

Radium radioactivity concern

Continue reading