As many of you remember I had purchased a 1898 large plate Hamilton 968 in order to restore it. Well I am finished for now. I will keep my eyes open for a replacement dial like the on that is on it but for now I have attempted to repair this dial.

I have a little less than $250 in the watch as it sits. I don't think that is too bad for this watch. It was in a little rougher shape than I had originally thought.

The case had a lot of brass showing. It was also missing the crystal and had some bad gouges in the case. I polished the case down pretty well and had the case electro-plated. I will not be able to carry it so as not to wear off the very thin layer of gold but I think it is a vast improvement over what I started with. The gouges were in bad placed so I had to live with them.

The dial was very dirty and had a large chip near the #4 and four hairlines. I repaired the chip (not perfect but you can hardly notice it with the bezel on). I replaced the 21 and 22 minute marks and I got the hairlines as clean as I could but I could not get them clean. The hour hand was broken off and I replaced that.

The movement was ok at first glance but later I found out a few other problems. It was missing the micro-regulator so I replaced that. The setting clutch was broke so I replaced that. The mainspring was set so I replaced that. You could not see any rust but the plate screws were rusted a little so it was soaked in Kroil until it came loose.

I noticed taking the pictures that a piece of lint got inside so I will have to open it up and get that out.

I have taken some before and after pictures. The darker after pictures are an attempt to show the hairlines, chips and faults of the restoration. It looks GREAT to my naked eye.

Comment, criticism, and suggestions are eagerly accepted.

Harry

Before

Before Front again

Before Brass showing

Before Movement

After Front

After: Trying to show Hairlines and repair

After dial repair

After; trying to show repair

After; Front again

After again, the previous photo is a little over exposed, sorry!

After; Movement

After; case and last photo.

Quite impressive transformation.

Harry,I for one would like to congratulate you on a job well done.Looks really nice! Roger

Thank you Paul and Roger.

Great job Harry...Watch looks awesome...

She's a looker Harry! Great job. Brad

Nice Harry. How does it run? Where did you get the case plated? Cost?

Thank you Gary, Brad and Mike. It runs great and is keeping excellent time.

Mike I am sorry I can say where I had the case done. Someone did it as a favor to me and he did not want me to tell anyone who did it as he does not want the business. Sorry. He did a great job though.

Really nice job Harry! A rare beauty and something to be proud of.

John III

Thank you very much John III.

Great Job Harry. Is'nt it great to be part of a bunch of watchaholics like us!

Ooowee what a beautiful job. Great restoration Harry

Yes it is David. Words can not discribe the feeling you get when you take a watch that is on the brink of disaster and put it back into working order for the next hundred years.

Thank you very much Ray my friend.

Great job Harry. Its a good feeling to see them spring back to life after so many years of non-operation. Looks like you did a great job.

Thank you very much Joseph.