Post by dapellegrini on Aug 28, 2023 14:59:47 GMT -8
I realize this is not the best board for TAG related questions, but wondering if any of you can get me pointed in the right direction. Ultimately I am trying to do two things:
(1) confirm if the watch matches the box (if not which watch would) and
(2) fix the watch I have in hand, specifically looking for finding the P/N for the correct bezel insert, plus crystal and crystal gasket if possible.. oh and crown!
A little background.
My step mom offered a TAG 973.006 to my father sometime between 1988 and 1993. The box below is the original box, but my dad lost the watch (perhaps during a move)... Frustrated, some years ago he read the numbers off the box and bought what he thought might be the same watch off ebay. He was told it was all original, and he has worn it in a rotation for a while now.
Fast forward to this summer, I am over at his place, and the crystal fogged up on him - obvious moisture intrusion, and no access to a case opener or a watch maker. I think he threw it in a bag of rice - which didn't help. Fast forward another month, apparently the watch has dried out, and he sent it to me to see if there is anything to be done.
Here's what I received:
It was completely frozen up, though the seconds hand was twitching like it wanted to move forward... Upon closer inspection it was pretty ugly
I could not move the hands from the crown and didn't want to break anything...
Inside the case back, clearly this has been serviced before:
The movement looked ok, it's a ETA 955.112
And here is the culprit, no gasket in this old crown:
First I did some light cleaning of the crud on the dial, and was able to get the hands move a little before freezing up again - this time with an obvious stain / shadow where the hour hand had been:
So I tore the whole thing down and cleaned the bracelet and case. The bezel put up a real fight, but I got it off in the end. Speaking of the bezel - look at that terrible lume cut-out at not-quite-12-o-clock! This has me convinced the watch is at least not totally original. No way TAG made something like that!
REMINDER - Question #2, what is the P/N for the correct bezel insert for this watch... I could also use a new crystal and crystal gasket if anyone knows? Oh and the crown!
Anyways, I now have a new ETA movement ($40) and a new set of correct OEM hands that should fit ($60). While trying to clean the hands, the lume came off and I am not yet ready / interested in reluming things - so new hands it will be.
Also, I was able to clean up the dial pretty well. It took about an hour with warm water on a q-tip, w/ dawn soap, gently wiping, rinsing and drying with pressurized air, repeatedly. It's not perfect in a harsh light, but I can live with it
Finally, here is the case back and the box - that may or may not match this watch (REMINDER that is Question #1, is this the right watch for this box?)
My goal is to fix this watch up and get it running again, hopefully with OEM bezel insert and crown + new Crystal and Crystal gasket. Then if this is NOT the watch that goes in that box, source the right one, and gift it back.
I realize the model numbers match, but it seems many different looking TAGs had this model number with various dials and case backs... This Professional 2000 line seems to have run from the early 80's at least through the 90's.
(1) confirm if the watch matches the box (if not which watch would) and
(2) fix the watch I have in hand, specifically looking for finding the P/N for the correct bezel insert, plus crystal and crystal gasket if possible.. oh and crown!
A little background.
My step mom offered a TAG 973.006 to my father sometime between 1988 and 1993. The box below is the original box, but my dad lost the watch (perhaps during a move)... Frustrated, some years ago he read the numbers off the box and bought what he thought might be the same watch off ebay. He was told it was all original, and he has worn it in a rotation for a while now.
Fast forward to this summer, I am over at his place, and the crystal fogged up on him - obvious moisture intrusion, and no access to a case opener or a watch maker. I think he threw it in a bag of rice - which didn't help. Fast forward another month, apparently the watch has dried out, and he sent it to me to see if there is anything to be done.
Here's what I received:
It was completely frozen up, though the seconds hand was twitching like it wanted to move forward... Upon closer inspection it was pretty ugly
I could not move the hands from the crown and didn't want to break anything...
Inside the case back, clearly this has been serviced before:
The movement looked ok, it's a ETA 955.112
And here is the culprit, no gasket in this old crown:
First I did some light cleaning of the crud on the dial, and was able to get the hands move a little before freezing up again - this time with an obvious stain / shadow where the hour hand had been:
So I tore the whole thing down and cleaned the bracelet and case. The bezel put up a real fight, but I got it off in the end. Speaking of the bezel - look at that terrible lume cut-out at not-quite-12-o-clock! This has me convinced the watch is at least not totally original. No way TAG made something like that!
REMINDER - Question #2, what is the P/N for the correct bezel insert for this watch... I could also use a new crystal and crystal gasket if anyone knows? Oh and the crown!
Anyways, I now have a new ETA movement ($40) and a new set of correct OEM hands that should fit ($60). While trying to clean the hands, the lume came off and I am not yet ready / interested in reluming things - so new hands it will be.
Also, I was able to clean up the dial pretty well. It took about an hour with warm water on a q-tip, w/ dawn soap, gently wiping, rinsing and drying with pressurized air, repeatedly. It's not perfect in a harsh light, but I can live with it
Finally, here is the case back and the box - that may or may not match this watch (REMINDER that is Question #1, is this the right watch for this box?)
My goal is to fix this watch up and get it running again, hopefully with OEM bezel insert and crown + new Crystal and Crystal gasket. Then if this is NOT the watch that goes in that box, source the right one, and gift it back.
I realize the model numbers match, but it seems many different looking TAGs had this model number with various dials and case backs... This Professional 2000 line seems to have run from the early 80's at least through the 90's.
