Tag Heuer Monaco watch repair
I repair all kinds of Tag Heuer watches here in my Adelaide workshop. This Automatic Tag Monaco recently came in for a service and a polish and as you can see in the photos below, it was pretty beat up. The watch was barely running when it came in, probably due to it’s hard life. The case had multiple dings and scratches on it, and required a lot of work to get back into good condition.
When polishing a watch case, everything has to come apart. This helps to ensure there is no unnecessary damage to case components such as the glass and crown. The steps for polishing a refinishing a Tag Heuer are as follows:
Remove band, movement, glass, seals, or any pushers
Pre-clean the watch and band in an ultrasonic machine, this removes any dirt and grime that will affect the efficiency and finish of the components.
Do an initial assessment of the case and band to identify what needs polishing and what will need a laser welder to build back up.
Remove any scratches and marks in the cutting stage (pre-polish), with care taken to ensure edges and corners are kept sharp and that brand marking are not polished off. Care is also taken not to avoid any drag marks. If possible it is recommended to shift the angle and direction of which you are polishing from which will leave a more uniform finish.
Clean components in the Ultrasonic machine to remove cutting compound. It’s important to make sure all cutting compound has been removed, as any left over compound will affect the next polishing stage.
Begin polishing. Look to move the watch around to polish in different directions, again make sure to avoid drag marks. Once I’m happy with the finish, I begin taping it up to protect the surfaces before applying the brush finish.
The brushed finish can be applied in many different fashions. It can be done 1) onthe bench polishing machine with a scotchbrite mop, 2) using a flexi shaft, or 3) using abrasive or sanding pads/emery sticks. Any of these methods will give a similar finish, its all down to personal choice.
After a final check, do another clean either in the Ultrasonic machine or steam clean and then set to dry under heater.
Reassemble and… voila! A very shiny, good as new looking watch!
While polishing may look really simple, it actually takes years of skill and practice to do a good job and not leave any marks or scratches.
The high gloss surface of this Tag Heuer Monaco came up really nice, as did the brushed surfaces. There are still has some minor dings and scratches, but I felt it wasn’t necessary to remove all that metal just to get to them.
After a service and polish it now looks like a new watch! Remember your watch should be serviced every 5 years (give or take) to ensure it’s longevity. repairs@obrhorology.com.au 0423451991
