That comfortable vintage feel

[catkicker]

Nothing better for a vintage feeling then a beautiful soft GL 831 wrapped around your wrist. the H558-5000 is the topper.
Spencer did a superb job resurrecting this Arnie from the ashes and battery acid.




Spencer's efforts to get this watch in to this superb condition was over the top. Even better the GL831 looks great, it really adds to this watches presence.
As always I so much appreciate Spencer's skills and obsession for these classic Seiko's. 7dfe79adc2f0 

[catkicker]

A couple of before shots

[Deleted]

WOW!  It's really almost impossible to see any remains of the dial damage in your pics.
Spencer does magic!

[mikeyt]

That looks great, now.  Pretty bad, before. 

[sdoocms]

Congrats on a great outcome.

[solex]

Wow watch looks great. Would like to know a bit more details on the restoration. Was the movement saved if so how? Also how was the dial restored?

[seikoholic]

Nov 28, 2014 19:35:46 GMT -8 solex said:

Wow watch looks great. Would like to know a bit more details on the restoration. Was the movement saved if so how? Also how was the dial restored?

Parts of the movement were saved.  The acid got everywhere.  Partial list from memory of dead bits:

• Spacer block
• circuit
• LCD
• Light block
• battery connection
• and a bunch of other little things that were slow-cooked in acid. 
  

Most of the movement was replaced, essentially. I went through multiple permutations of parts to try to save as much as possible of the original movement. Yes, I could have simply found a complete movement and done a swap, but I really wanted to try to save something of the original movement.

The dial was tough.  The acid took off the entire :20 marker and was working on the dial paint around it.  I neutralized the acid, figured out what was salvageable and what wasn't.  Thankfully the dial paint that came off was all under the chapter ring.  I replaced it with BMW black fine-grain enamel as the color / shade match is perfect.  The paint pulled under the loose dial paint edges and locked it back down as it dried, hopefully stopping any further peeling.  The marker was tougher.  The whole marker came off, leaving a tiny edge.  I used a Humbrol enamel that I color-matched to the original marker paint, and filled in the marker.  When that was cured, I replaced the lume using old original Seiko lume that I'd collected from old dials.  I ground it up back to powder, and reliquified it in binder, and reapplied.  

The case got the full treatment.  Deep cleaning after washing the acid away.  It was really something.

And yes, there's nothing like an original GL831.  Love to see these with their original straps.  Mine has one, and so does Stephen's.  Very nice.

[Adrian-VTA]

Nice save on the lume!, and the rest of it!

I did that trick as well on Mark's CITIZEN diver, it was one of those shades that's really hard to match. Works a treat!

Nov 28, 2014 21:48:56 GMT -8 seikoholic said:

Nov 28, 2014 19:35:46 GMT -8 solex said:

Wow watch looks great. Would like to know a bit more details on the restoration. Was the movement saved if so how? Also how was the dial restored?

Parts of the movement were saved.  The acid got everywhere.  Partial list from memory of dead bits:

• Spacer block
• circuit
• LCD
• Light block
• battery connection
• and a bunch of other little things that were slow-cooked in acid. 
  

Most of the movement was replaced, essentially. I went through multiple permutations of parts to try to save as much as possible of the original movement. Yes, I could have simply found a complete movement and done a swap, but I really wanted to try to save something of the original movement.

The dial was tough.  The acid took off the entire :20 marker and was working on the dial paint around it.  I neutralized the acid, figured out what was salvageable and what wasn't.  Thankfully the dial paint that came off was all under the chapter ring.  I replaced it with BMW black fine-grain enamel as the color / shade match is perfect.  The paint pulled under the loose dial paint edges and locked it back down as it dried, hopefully stopping any further peeling.  The marker was tougher.  The whole marker came off, leaving a tiny edge.  I used a Humbrol enamel that I color-matched to the original marker paint, and filled in the marker.  When that was cured, I replaced the lume using old original Seiko lume that I'd collected from old dials.  I ground it up back to powder, and reliquified it in binder, and reapplied.  

The case got the full treatment.  Deep cleaning after washing the acid away.  It was really something.

And yes, there's nothing like an original GL831.  Love to see these with their original straps.  Mine has one, and so does Stephen's.  Very nice.

[cobrajet25]

Great work, Spencer.  You are very nearly a magician!  I'll agree that original GL-831s are the bee's knees.  They are the only dive strap I really find comfortable.  It's a shame they were replaced with something that is not only longer, but not nearly as pliant. Z22s feel like manacles to me

I actually have a slight preference for the H601 version of this watch, merely for reasons of ease-of-service.  While the H601 may not be quite as good of a movement as the H558, whole replacement movements are much easier to find.  The H601 was used in many dress models, while the H558 was only found in relatively expensive divers.  I know an H556 will mostly work, but even those are getting hard to find.

[Deleted]

Excellent watch and restoration work by Spencer. Congratulations to you both!

[69ChevelleSS]

Congrats cat man and great work Spencer . . . . great transformation.

[Groundhog66]

That certainly turned out well, nicely done! One of these days, I'll own one...one of these days. 

[solex]

Nov 28, 2014 21:48:56 GMT -8 seikoholic said:

Parts of the movement were saved.  The acid got everywhere.  Partial list from memory of dead bits:

• Spacer block
• circuit
• LCD
• Light block
• battery connection
• and a bunch of other little things that were slow-cooked in acid. 
  

Most of the movement was replaced, essentially. I went through multiple permutations of parts to try to save as much as possible of the original movement. Yes, I could have simply found a complete movement and done a swap, but I really wanted to try to save something of the original movement.

The dial was tough.  The acid took off the entire :20 marker and was working on the dial paint around it.  I neutralized the acid, figured out what was salvageable and what wasn't.  Thankfully the dial paint that came off was all under the chapter ring.  I replaced it with BMW black fine-grain enamel as the color / shade match is perfect.  The paint pulled under the loose dial paint edges and locked it back down as it dried, hopefully stopping any further peeling.  The marker was tougher.  The whole marker came off, leaving a tiny edge.  I used a Humbrol enamel that I color-matched to the original marker paint, and filled in the marker.  When that was cured, I replaced the lume using old original Seiko lume that I'd collected from old dials.  I ground it up back to powder, and reliquified it in binder, and reapplied.  

The case got the full treatment.  Deep cleaning after washing the acid away.  It was really something.

And yes, there's nothing like an original GL831.  Love to see these with their original straps.  Mine has one, and so does Stephen's.  Very nice.

That is incredible, I'm in awe of your skill and attention to detail. Thank you for sharing the details.

[undertheradar]

Love seeing old busted up Arnie's coming back to life.  I've done two.  Of course my restorations are total hack jobs compared to that above, but it makes the wearable again.  Sold the first one, but had to get another.  Before and after:

[timewatcher]

Nov 29, 2014 8:50:58 GMT -8 Groundhog66 said:

That certainly turned out well, nicely done! One of these days, I'll own one...one of these days. 

You should have bought mine when I had it up for sale!