2 Discussions and CommentsMember since Sept. 19, 2012
Hi there,
I have had my spitfire chrono 3717-05 for the last two years and love wearing it. Unfortunately, late last year while swimming in a lagoon in portugal, i managed to scratch the case on some rocks leaving some pretty deep gouges.
I wanted to find out whether it was possible to either get a replacement case for this, or get this polished out? I'd like to send it in for a service as well.
I live in London and wanted to find out some good contacts with whom I would be able to trust my watch with.
3,752 Discussions and CommentsMember since March 22, 2001
Just bring it into your Authorized Dealer, or local Boutique for initial consultation. It's routine for IWC Service to recommend and complete a professional case polishing. They will disassemble the watch completely and polish case parts before reassembly.
I currently have a watch in service, and getting a factory polish as part of the service. In the past, we've seen examples where damage is magically removed and looks like new again.
2,085 Discussions and CommentsMember since Jan. 7, 2005
No case replacement, IWC can provide, through laser techniques, the replenishment of the case itself (so the case won't look thinner and smaller, as polishing always takes material away).
4,760 Discussions and CommentsMember since Dec. 18, 2006
The UK Greg Wrote: Laser technique. Are there any case materials that this can not work on? plat, Coloured gold, Ti, Ceramic?
Just an educated guess: I think it won't work on Ceramic. As for Pt, I believe it is hard to polish because when too much pressure is applied, it turns grey. If this is caused by the heat of the friction, it seems quite logical that heating by laser to add material will also result in a color change.
Since IWC doesn't use plating on their colored gold watches, I think the laser technique will work well for gold.
Anybody who can confirm or correct my guesses? I am more than welcome to hear so.
2,085 Discussions and CommentsMember since Jan. 7, 2005
The UK Greg Wrote: Laser technique. Are there any case materials that this can not work on? plat, Coloured gold, Ti, Ceramic?
Hi Greg!
For what I know, it surely works on metals, can't do same technique on ceramic.
You can see few moments of the procedure here: http://www.iwc.com/it/assistenza/
The result brings the watch to look like brand new, the add-on of material can be seen only through a xenon filtered lamp (thanks to the different wave's lenght of the added material, different to the resilient one).
It's clear, after the laser treatment, the part needs to be polished.
Since this technique is quickly spreading all over, it's a key factor to me, for the mother company to take commitment (having the knowledge and expertise) to do the job; metals available in the market are not as wide as the vastity of the original materials (think steel alloys) adopted to produce watch parts. That's why the mother company should be privileged when it comes to chose the restorer, because it's (hopefully) able to guarantee an add-on respectful of the original material used to produce the part subject to restoretion.
214 Discussions and CommentsMember since Feb. 3, 2010
Switzerland
flyrobyfly36 Wrote in reply to:
The UK Greg Wrote: Laser technique. Are there any case materials that this can not work on? plat, Coloured gold, Ti, Ceramic?
Hi Greg!
For what I know, it surely works on metals, can't do same technique on ceramic.
You can see few moments of the procedure here: http://www.iwc.com/it/assistenza/
A very instructive essay – thanks for the explanation. Daniel
The result brings the watch to look like brand new, the add-on of material can be seen only through a xenon filtered lamp (thanks to the different wave's lenght of the added material, different to the resilient one).
It's clear, after the laser treatment, the part needs to be polished.
Since this technique is quickly spreading all over, it's a key factor to me, for the mother company to take commitment (having the knowledge and expertise) to do the job; metals available in the market are not as wide as the vastity of the original materials (think steel alloys) adopted to produce watch parts. That's why the mother company should be privileged when it comes to chose the restorer, because it's (hopefully) able to guarantee an add-on respectful of the original material used to produce the part subject to restoretion.
2 Discussions and CommentsMember since Sept. 19, 2012
Thanks for the comments. Will get this into an AD in order to get this looked at. Was devastated when i saw the damage :(
Have been wearing other watches for the time being and a few beater ones for when i go travelling (a casio g-shock seems to do the trick with rocks :p)
I have had my spitfire chrono 3717-05 for the last two years and love wearing it.
Unfortunately, late last year while swimming in a lagoon in portugal, i managed to scratch the case on some rocks leaving some pretty deep gouges.
I wanted to find out whether it was possible to either get a replacement case for this, or get this polished out? I'd like to send it in for a service as well.
I live in London and wanted to find out some good contacts with whom I would be able to trust my watch with.
Thanks and regards,
Neil
I currently have a watch in service, and getting a factory polish as part of the service. In the past, we've seen examples where damage is magically removed and looks like new again.
Regards,
Ardoise
It would look like new.
Regards,
Roberto
Last edited: 19 June, 2013 - 20:53
clepsydra
ad fontes...
Are there any case materials that this can not work on?
plat, Coloured gold, Ti, Ceramic?
Cheers Greg Chalk
Cvanwhite at aol dot com
Last edited: 21 February, 2013 - 13:47
Just an educated guess: I think it won't work on Ceramic. As for Pt, I believe it is hard to polish because when too much pressure is applied, it turns grey. If this is caused by the heat of the friction, it seems quite logical that heating by laser to add material will also result in a color change.
Since IWC doesn't use plating on their colored gold watches, I think the laser technique will work well for gold.
Anybody who can confirm or correct my guesses? I am more than welcome to hear so.
Kind regards,
Clemens
Hi Greg!
For what I know, it surely works on metals, can't do same technique on ceramic.
You can see few moments of the procedure here: http://www.iwc.com/it/assistenza/
The result brings the watch to look like brand new, the add-on of material can be seen only through a xenon filtered lamp (thanks to the different wave's lenght of the added material, different to the resilient one).
It's clear, after the laser treatment, the part needs to be polished.
Since this technique is quickly spreading all over, it's a key factor to me, for the mother company to take commitment (having the knowledge and expertise) to do the job; metals available in the market are not as wide as the vastity of the original materials (think steel alloys) adopted to produce watch parts. That's why the mother company should be privileged when it comes to chose the restorer, because it's (hopefully) able to guarantee an add-on respectful of the original material used to produce the part subject to restoretion.
Regards,
Roberto
Last edited: 19 June, 2013 - 20:53
Cheers Greg Chalk
Cvanwhite at aol dot com
Last edited: 21 February, 2013 - 13:47
Yes Greg, for sure. Try to search laser welding, that's just part of the job it takes to complete the task, polishing must come afterwards.
The final result is obviously given by the ability of the watchmaker, considering the preparation of the piece also, prior the metal addition process.
Regards,
Roberto
Last edited: 19 June, 2013 - 20:53
Will get this into an AD in order to get this looked at.
Was devastated when i saw the damage :(
Have been wearing other watches for the time being and a few beater ones for when i go travelling (a casio g-shock seems to do the trick with rocks :p)