Seiko panda refresh

[straps68]

So a guy I know, Chris, has told me that he wants to restore this watch. He's had it from new and I doubt that it has ever had a service. Then there's the scratch on the crystal - I don't think it's a crack.

Chris thinks that it would be nice to repolish the case; I told him that IMO we need to find someone with the skills and tools to do it right and this may be tricky.

If this was my watch, I'd replace the crystal (there seem to be original ones on ebay) and do a service and leave it. The crown and pushers look unused. There are replacement bezels on ebay, too. What you guys think?

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[tafari]

clean everything well up, do a movement service and a new crystal. that’s all I would do.

[Tanukjaju]

Try a bit of poly watch polish. Scratches on plexi sometimes seems worse on photos. If it mineral glass, it’s a bit more work…sand paper working up to 5000-7000 grit. All that said, how much is the replacement lens?

Be prepared to replace the caseback o-ring

Beyond that, I would just polish the metal parts

Let me see if I can find a restoration Post I did on a vintage watch with a Dremel, polishing pad and 2 different compounds. I don’t remember which forum I posted this on…..old or new

[straps68]

Try a bit of poly watch polish. Scratches on plexi sometimes seems worse on photos. If it mineral glass, it’s a bit more work…sand paper working up to 5000-7000 grit. All that said, how much is the replacement lens?

Be prepared to replace the caseback o-ring

Beyond that, I would just polish the metal parts

Let me see if I can find a restoration Post I did on a vintage watch with a Dremel, polishing pad and 2 different compounds. I don’t remember which forum I posted this on…..old or new

It's plexi, so it might rub out. I didn't notice that scratch when I once held the watch last year.

Good point about the o-ring

[kilowattore]

I wouldn't polish the watch either. A good clean up, fixing the crystal issue (either poly watch or replace) and a service is all that is needed.

[straps68]

I wouldn't polish the watch either. A good clean up, fixing the crystal issue (either poly watch or replace) and a service is all that is needed.

Thanks for your input

Update: it has been decided by the owner to refinish the case and the watch is in the shop already. Apparently, the movement needs a part replaced (possibly due to the lack of servicing for 44 years?), I can't figure out what part it is exactly (but it sounded like the pallet fork) because Chris was really bad at describing what the watchmaker told him