Will this old Bovet chronograph be wearable again?

Today we have a 1940's Bovet chronograph on the bench and boy is this watch in need to some love. The case is very badly beaten up and will need a lot of work. But what about the dial?
Join me for a full service of the watch and a discussion on both Bovet as a brand, how chronographs work and why eskimos need a lot of words for snow!
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[@Thecompanioncrate]

Good decision leaving the dial, at first I thought it was somewhat unfortunate the level of staining, but in the restored case it looks quite attractive, especially since the staining is on the edges and not the center. Also even if you reprinted the dial it would be more likely than not they could "cheap out" and use a similar enough looking font that didn't match perfectly.

[@davidkelsey2864]

I love the dial like that. It looks like an old manuscript and the refinished case and new strap make a feature of it. Nice!

[@MrLukealbanese]

For some reason that heavy patina really seems to work with those 40s and 50s Chronographs IMO. Great work Stian.

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks Luke! I'd say that attributing the look of this dial entirely to patina would be like reading a real estate ad saying an apartment is "cozy". You know it's a bit worse than that 😂 But I still think the dial is better kept than refinished.

[@MrLukealbanese]

@@VintageWatchServices 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@slashdotism]

This is definitively a cool little Chronograph. I recently came across a Bovet from the late 40s in the same style but with a vertical chronograph arrangement. I believe it had a Venus 170 movement and not the Landeron.

[@denvernow7294]

I can't believe I fell for your picture. I tried to flick it off my phone screen 🧐🤣

[@moboei]

Absolutely perfect. Love the contrast with the newly plated case and the authentic face. Stunning

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks so much!

[@tazmaniachill]

Thanks for another upload, just love your narration and skill… super Sunday, a beer and video 👍

[@VintageWatchServices]

😁👍

[@adrianbirkett594]

That was great Stian, thanks. Dials are a thing for me, meaning I love old dials but some dials have just crossed a line and are too bad to use. Consider how many times you look at the dial, for me it must look pleasing to the eye. Lovely watch and well done. 👍

[@john-paulsilke893]

This dial for me is borderline. If it was swapped for new or kept as is I’d be equally happy.

[@dreamvisionary]

I really like the aged look of the dial. I would be happy to wear that watch.

[@sergiorio4075]

Thanks for another adventure into the watchmaking history. Servicing the movement, restoring the case and keeping the dial intact helped this watch to tell a story, its own story. Heritage most of the time is not about nobility or wealth, it's about temperance and inevitable signs of time passing by.

[@wiredone2]

Beautiful little watch, am currently hunting for a 48 or 51 to try my first chronograph restoration, I definitely feel safe knowing I have your brilliant videos to help me through. Inspirational as always. :)

[@VintageWatchServices]

That's very nice to hear Neil, and good luck :)

[@clivesouthafrica2086]

Although the dial is quite damaged it is still legible. Some will find it has its own appeal as is. Doing much else to it would be very difficult, almost certainly noticeable and look "artificial". The strap you selected suited very well and the end result was quite wearable, notwithstanding the dial condition. Great job.

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks a lot, Clive! Still a couple of matters I need to address before being comfortable selling the watch, but we'll get there :)

[@autodidact537]

@@VintageWatchServices Do you clean the watch face at all?

[@RobbyB-Poppin]

My grandmother was a Sandvik from Tromso Norway. I quite enjoy your narration and accent my friend.

[@VintageWatchServices]

😊👍

[@alexanderschmandin402]

Hi Stian, I'm sure to say I've seen this video before as I remembered the shortening of the crown stem. Having some experience with Antique restorations, before I became a cabinet maker and joiner, reminds me, the essence in a restoration is to keep the item as original as possible, and in addition to that, anything altered or replaced to be treated so it looks and feels as it was as original. Now, this is exactly what you've done. I'm impressed. Ps. I didn't think for one moment that you would have done any different. Also, in every one of your commentaries, you never fail to convey your research results of the watch you're working on. Till next time, Best regards, Alexander

[@tedblack2415]

I'll be honest i was expecting the dial to have a bit of a swab but looking at the finished product i can see why it was left with its aged charm . As for the " easy chronograph to work on " statement i found that as amusing as the short snow conversation😁( which caught me off guard ),great education , entertainment & end results Stian , a credit to your trade .

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks so much, Ted, that's very nice to hear :) I did actually use my normal approach of water and a q-tip to try and clean the dial, but it had no effect so I chose not to include the footage. Perhaps I should have, as quite a few commenters seem to think the dial is dirty while it is in fact simply worn over 80 odd years and a few sets of variably skilled hands. To me the main question of a dial like this is the lettering; if the lettering is largely intact, I would in most cases opt to keep the dial as is, and especially when you have these beautiful big numerals the choice for me here wasn't very difficult.

[@bubarowe]

I've just re-homed an orphan 51 movement after a service in a modern case bought, and I'm currently restoring a 48 in a case (without a back dammit!) that I have re-plated in nickel in much the same way as the gold plate was completely gone down to copper everywhere. So it's been nice to see your take on the same thing and get some tips, and also be reassured that some of the more laborious bit are inevitable whoever you are!

[@timjames3200]

I enjoy your humor. You add just enough to make these otherwise plan videos very enjoyable. Thanks!

[@IMakeWatches]

Beautiful Stian! I agree that the case refinishing helps a lot. So much work though! Thanks for showing how it's done!

[@pippomai9559]

Ciao Stian, I agree with you, leave the dial as it is. Looks perfect with the rest of the watch. Ciao

[@robertjordan7323]

I like the dial just as it is. Gives it character.

[@davidcrandall4958]

Yes absolutely! patina proves the watch has lived

[@pablofierros3312]

I was hoping for a light swab and water, but the end result is fabulous. This is the limit on what i like in my watches because the print was still legible. Thanks for the video.

[@VintageWatchServices]

Hello Pablo, thanks for your comment! I did use my normal approach of water and a q-tip to try and clean the dial, but it had no effect so I chose not to include the footage. Perhaps I should have, as quite a few commenters seem to think the dial is dirty while it is in fact simply worn over 80 odd years and a few sets of variably skilled hands. To me the main question of a dial like this is the lettering; if the lettering is largely intact, I would in most cases opt to keep the dial as is, and especially when you have these beautiful big numerals the choice for me here wasn't very difficult.

[@milliefried5326]

You do amazing work. The narration is succinct and just perfect. Will always be a fan of this channel :)

[@-triumphgt667]

Completely agree - superb as usual.

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks so much :)

[@VintageWatchServices]

😊

[@jimmy2boats]

easily the best commentary on any horology channel

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks, Jimmy! 😊

[@franka9760]

You took a watch that was a broken-down beater and made it respectable again. One of the best watch restorations I have seen!

[@VintageWatchServices]

Wow, thanks so much for that, Frank :)

[@petercampbell3828]

I think that I would keep the dial as is. As long as it is still legible I'm fine with it. Your finger speed during the case work is spectacular!

[@VintageWatchServices]

😂 Don't work harder, work faster!

[@ygrbooks]

Great video: thank you Stian. Leaving the dial as is, gives the watch much more character and is greatly appreciated. She is a beauty. The only thing I do not like are the unpolished fittings/tubes for the pushers. Since you spent so much time on the case, I would give them a cleaning/polishing, too.

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks! I will actually replace the pushers and the crown before selling the watch. The crown is a bit big but it was the only one I had in that outlandishly wide stem thread size :)

[@jonnyrotten8095]

... "never eat the yellow snow" Nanouk the eskimo ;) Very nice episode, with a lot of informations. Thank you !

[@milanchristi7939]

Another great horological history lesson accompanied by terrific skill and craftsmanship. Leaving the dial "as-is" gets my vote. Every watch has a story spelled out in the dings, scratches and patina. Thank you, Sir!!

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks Milan!

[@foxwhiskey]

Hi Stian. The "used" look of the dial fits perfectly to the real age of the watch. I won't change it. Greetings !

[@sitandfish]

The big attraction of a chronograph for me is the idea (or appearance) that I an wearing an instrument that can precisely measure an occurrence that depends on a certified piece of equipment. I would never be asked to officiate any such event but... if I was asked! The coffee ageing technique is one that I was show in my design classes. If you wanted to do a drawing in the vein of a Michelangelo sketch then a wash with mild coffee worked best. Its the imperfection (gradation) of the staining that has the greatest appeal.

[@VintageWatchServices]

That's very interesting to hear, thanks for that! And yes, chronographs are mostly bought for their let's say "ability" to time events rather than their actual usage in timing said events 😂

[@zs1dfr]

If you haven't read it yet, read Simon Winchester's book called "Exactly", all about the history of precision. Fascinating! Thank you for this video - your standards of videography and horology never sag!

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks for the tip, I'll check it out!

[@Bamaman14k]

Seems I am a little late for the party, but yes, you did the right thing, if you can’t clean the dial, without removing the patina, then leave it alone. At least that’s my motto. I don’t agree with altering anything that may affect the watches authenticity or leave it less than original. Just found your channel, I am pretty sure I’ll enjoy it. Enjoy this video very much. Jimmy.

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks Jimmy and fully agree :)

[@cgnicolis]

Thank you for the teaching moment on installing the new mainspring: 'the key is to make sure the bridle end goes in first.' Sure wish I'd seen this video a few days sooner... I ended going on a painful journey of self education culminating with the ordering of a second, replacement mainspring.

[@VintageWatchServices]

We've all been there! 😁

[@johnhull2941]

great video again oh how i would love to go back in time to see that watch brand new it is beautiful

[@ydnartitcomb1]

Thank you for sharing, dial looks fine as it is.

[@chuckburroughs6427]

I love the dial the way it is. I don't even attempt to fix cracked or chipped dials in older(pre 1925) pocket watches I repair, unless the dial is pretty much non-existent, then I'll replace it. To me, replacing a dial like you have there would take all it's character away. It has history the way it is. That watch earned all of it's character, restoring too much just means it's "just another watch", and holds no interest.

[@umbertosartori]

Thank you for sharing so much in detail the marvels of your Craft, an experience otherwise denied to most persons, who do not dispose of your skill patience passion and tools. I find very appropriate the choice about the dial. Mechanisms and their case in perfect efficiency and shape while the artistic part maintains its patina inside that frame shining of care. Good marriage between philology and aesthetics, IMHO. Your conversation is also very pleasant, I appreciated the image of the people in the small mountain villages and the watchmaking as their winter work...

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks Umberto!

[@demmertp]

"...much better than that yellow snow." Truer words were never spoken.

[@VintageWatchServices]

😂

[@RocRizzo]

Don't eat the yellow snow

[@petemorgan1019]

Regards. I think these videos are some of the best of thier kind. Very enjoyable.

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks so much, Pete, that's very nice to hear :)

[@RalonsoF1]

A very beautiful vintage watch!

[@haping1]

Great video. So informative. Thank you. I love the 3 minutes markerrs for the telephone quarter on the subdial ;)

[@UnholiestJedi]

Dial makes it look well-used and more vintage than if you restored it & Makes it unique. Well chosen!

[@angrybill]

I very much like the character of the dial. Well done sir. Love your videos. Tata!

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thank you very much!

[@grahamhall2662]

Brilliant as usual. Very enjoyable, thank you.

[@johnsrabe]

Good choice to leave the face as is. It’s still very legible and useable. And as you said, there’s no way to fix it “a little.” Nice watch!

[@VintageWatchServices]

Very true!

[@frohnnielsen]

What a beautiful watch! I agree with leaving the face as is.

[@angelherrera6820]

What a beautiful watch! The dial amazing! Great restoration! Cheers!

[@ralphferrara5152]

Very nice job. Very intricate movement. I love the fact of the knowledge you have when explaining the history and parts of the movement. I enjoy watching your videos. Till the next one, have a great day. Oh, by the way, I enjoy your joking around with your funny comments. 👍😁

[@dr.s.p.]

Great presentation! Funny too. And yup; don’t eat yellow snow.

[@bullnose01]

Another masterful job, Stian. I'm surprised that given the age of the watch and the lack of lubrication that you didn't detect any significant shake in any of the pivots. As for the dial, I think that you made the right call. So long as there is no loose debris that could impact the movement and the markings generally are intact and readable, refinishing needlessly would destroy the watch's unique character. Since the watch apparently was made in the 1940s and wouldn't have been marked as containing radioactive material, I assume that before reluming the hands you checked to see if there was radium in the old lume.

[@VintageWatchServices]

Most of the pivots are actually fine although there is for sure a bit of wear. The biggest issue is that the end shake of the center wheel is much more than I would like, but given that the hole is not jeweled it isn't easily remedied and the watch still runs fine. There are always a few trade-offs in old watches like this between one's urge for perfection and how much time and effort one can justify putting in... And yes, I did check the lume with my geiger counter and there wasn't any impact. I was honestly surprised myself!

[@mubarakmubarak902]

Excellent work with complicated watch 👍🏼

[@brucebarlow6604]

Very nice little watch Stian and great to see no trouble in paradise I hope you replace the missing coffee before it's noticed missing from the pantry. Keep well from NZ.

[@VintageWatchServices]

😂

[@ivanahumpalot7346]

that is a watch I would love to wear, so much character.

[@parveezahmed4176]

Beautiful and antique machine

[@omegaseamaster1550]

I'm thinking thats a watch for a Doctor who sees his patients and takes their pulse etc.... Thank You for sharing your skills with us.

[@medea27]

A beautiful watch! 👌 Love that you left the dial untouched as all that fine original detail would be lost with too much cleaning (and I'm not one for reprinting dials unless they are too far gone)... plus patina always looks gorgeous against a silver/steel/palladium case. Personal preference - I would have re-blued (if that's a word?!) the hands before putting the espresso-darkened lume in. I'm sure it's brighter to look at in real life (video colouration is never quite accurate!), but I always find deep blue hands look stunning on these vintage watches & give them that subtle, eye-catching element again.

[@bfx8185]

Excellent ! This is right amount of work on that watch. Dial even those wear and tear looks great! I like you save it like it is. At the end it looks so nice!

[@TheGreatTimSheridan]

Wow crazy beautiful watch. But I think you should just mail out a big circle on the case back and put a sapphire window. It's got a beautiful movement

[@OriginalAlessa]

I really love how the old dial look compared to the new look of the watch! Looks pretty in my opinion! Thank you for the video! It was fun watching!

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks for watching!

[@PrometheusZandski]

The end product was fantastic. I'm glad you didn't touch the dial. That could go sideways really quick.

[@VintageWatchServices]

Absolutely!

[@coldpizzawatchreviews]

Yes I love the dial!!

[@joshuareinoehl924]

What a wonderful old chronograph! I believe you made the right choice in keeping the dial unrestored,bravo onan amazing job 👏

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks so much, Joshua :)

[@user-ne3gz5jh1f]

​@@VintageWatchServicesIO NE POSSIEDO UNO UGUALE

[@jayammons3834]

I really enjoy the commentary, the history, and the jokes!

[@io_metre]

Beautiful job and excellent explanation. Thank you 👌🏻

[@VintageWatchServices]

Glad you liked it!

[@KathrynLiz1]

I do admire the almost loving way you disassemble these ailing watches and make them like new again. Your deft touch and knowledge of the subject are amazing. I have never pulled a time piece apart smaller than an alarm clock, which are very simple to work with. I have an ailing Seiko 5 lady's watch in my odds and ends box, which isn't very old but keeps stopping. I do not have the expertise, or the equipment to find out what the problem is, and a professional's services would cost more than the watch did (about $130) so there it sits. The works are so tiny that I cannot contemplate messing with it, but I suppose I have nothing to lose.... I might look into getting some basic tools.... but really I would need to start on something much larger I think!

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks so much for that, Kathryn :) It's a fun hobby so go for it! And yes, starting with something a bit bigger is certainly a good idea, but Seiko 5's are among the best watches to start with, as they are affordable but yet great quality and spare parts are generally easy to find.

[@cajetano2011]

Excellent Watch/Work Sir!

[@johnwhite6899]

🙋‍♂️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Hi Stian, another great video. At first I didn't like the uncleaned dial, but as soon as I saw the finished watch with that great brown strap I got what you mean by not touching the face of the dial.

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks John! It's complicated for sure...

[@walther9161]

Love the way it looks! Another fine history lesson on the many watch brands from way back when. Thanks!!

[@pclayton5063]

I love a little patina, within reason, as it's the history of the watch.

[@jacobgreenmanedlion1863]

Beautiful watch.

[@Blacksheepmylegacy]

I think I full restoration would be my preference, great video beautiful watch

[@VintageWatchServices]

👍

[@Karl-by6ub]

I agree 💯, looks great ‼️👍🏻

[@maangamandai]

Thanks for explaining the Timegrapher..

[@VintageWatchServices]

👍

[@DaveMGmovies]

Lovely job again Stian and I think you made absolutely the right choice. I suppose it becomes a difficult call when the dial is really illegible or the rest of the case needs so much work that you might as well do a full restoration. Every watch on its merits I guess.

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks Dave, and yes, it's complicated... this dial is still a clear choice for me but if it were a bit more damaged, say if the logo was half gone or a couple of the large numerals were gone, I'd have it refinished.

[@alanpreston3111]

Beautiful job , I think it was wise to leave the dial as it was as it is set off by the newly plated case .. love it 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@montres1]

I love the old Norwegian conversation !!! :D "That day when it snowed hard... Yep..." LOL

[@kens2328]

That dial actually made me gasp. I would love to have a watch like that.

[@chrisjohnson4165]

Excellent tweezerage, as usual. Also, nice tweezers, man.

[@VintageWatchServices]

😂👍

[@alpetterson9452]

Great video. Yes. The dial looks much better this way. It would have been a total mess if you'd tried to clean it.

[@wpbjim]

I was suspicious of not doing at least something to the dial, but it looks fantastic with that shade of band.

[@dianeswift]

Beautiful watch!

[@ericfg806]

Agree with the wish for exhibition casebacks for these movements

[@eduardoperez7797]

Great videos just got into it as a hobby of course but definitely get a lot from your videos thanks.

[@BarnOwl61]

First of all, great job and a beautiful movement. About the dial, this one could use some mild, low impact cleaning with water imo. But hey, I'am a watch tinkerer and not a watch maker. Thanks!

[@VintageWatchServices]

Hello Joop, thanks for your comment! I did use my normal approach fo water and a q-tip to try and clean the dial, but it had no effect so I chose not to include the footage. Perhaps I should have, as quite a few commenters seem to think the dial is dirty while it is in fact simply worn over 80 odd years and a few sets of variably skilled hands. To me the main question of a dial like this is the lettering; if the lettering is largely intact, I would in most cases opt to keep the dial as is, and especially when you have these beautiful big numerals the choice for me here wasn't very difficult.

[@davidhiggs5589]

Great video as allways , and a yellow snow reference to boot..😆😆

[@VintageWatchServices]

😁

[@Kairosdex]

Incredible restoration again. I bet this watch looked gorgeous when it was brand new, I like aged dials but for me this one is quite far gone, I wonder how it would have looked day 1 from the manufacturer.

[@supermenthol5531]

Beautiful watch , excellent skills 👍

[@HansMeijner]

Great video as usual Stian! And I totally agree with you to leave the dial as it is. Let the world know that it's been around for a while. An old watch should look old. If you want a watch that looks new, buy a new one. On a side note, I just got a watch sent to me with a Landeron 47 that needs a service. This is going to be an interesting project since it was only made for about a year and got that three button function going for operating the Chonograph. It's in the same state as your was. The watch is running but the chronograph doesn't work. I'm hoping that a service will do the job.

[@HAL-xy3om]

Yes, I would keep the dial as is too!

[@tiberiuvincze8288]

Looks very nice at the end ! and a very nice movement! Some interesting history of the Bovet ! Nice again!

[@ditzydoo4378]

I believe it looks stunning in it naturally aged appearance with the minimum finish natural leather strap. Bravo, bravo. ^~^

[@martinlouden9005]

A very beautiful watch Stian and a stunning end result with the strap perfectly complementing the dial.

[@VintageWatchServices]

Many thanks!

[@al-knows-nothing]

Stunning!

[@supergamerbros.1718]

Just excellent. Great work and gorgeous watch.

[@peterdegelaen]

I agree most watches should have a transparent caseback but I also think they should have a solid caseback option available; it would allow one to put some message engraved on the back of the watch.

[@VintageWatchServices]

👍Great comment!

[@mordeth1964]

Man, that watch is absolutely beautiful. You did a cracking job🤩👍

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks so much, Morgan :)

[@jimstanton8179]

That watch is fantastic! I love the aged dial. Great job, Stian!

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks so much, Jim :)

[@TheFfernandez]

Great job!!!

[@danielmccarthy1982]

Outstanding work, and it wears its age well!

[@Ecoat65]

Always enjoy your videos 😊