Help with 3992B Please: Friend brought me his latest find.. a nice 3992B Master Navigation Watch. Very original(no evidence of of previous service) but broken staff and mainspring. Original crystal is quite yellow resulting in a lot of rust on the original hands. (most of the bluing gone but no problem removing). Big question is what to do about the hands. Don't want to replace them. Is there someway to stabalize them or should the be reblued. Owner is serious collector of military watches and wants it repaired but not sacrifice originality. Any and all opinions appreciated!! Thank you,
Posts: 361 | Location: Kincardine, Ontario in Canada | Registered: November 25, 2013
Thank you for the reply Billy. I have done that in the past with resonably good success however I am looking for opinions on wheither it is the "correct" thing to do as opposed to how to. I am ever reluctant to "over-restore a watch such as this in case I detract from the value. I know it is pretty subjective ...just looking for different thoughts on it.
Posts: 361 | Location: Kincardine, Ontario in Canada | Registered: November 25, 2013
I agree that it is very subjective. My thoughts are to try to keep things as original as possible and only replace parts if absolutely necessary for the functioning of the watch and then keep the replaced parts with the watch with a note of what was replaced as when so it can be reversed in the future. If there is rust then I see no issue in very gently cleaning it off and not worrying about re-bluing. Perhaps a light coat of watch oil will keep the rust from returning while keeping the original part and its patina intact.
Posts: 873 | Location: Baltimore, Maryland USA | Registered: September 20, 2004