Okay, let’s talk about this watch project I did.
Getting Started
So, I had this old watch just sitting in a drawer. Looked kinda tired, you know? The strap was busted, case all scuffed up. I figured, why not try and give it a new look? Wasn’t anything fancy, so no big loss if I messed it up. First thing, I grabbed it and laid out some newspaper on the kitchen table. Didn’t want to make a mess.
Taking It Apart and Cleaning
Needed some tools. Found a tiny screwdriver set and a spring bar tool I bought ages ago. Popping off the old strap was the first real step. Those spring bars can be tricky little things, but I managed to wiggle them out without scratching the lugs too badly. The old leather strap was pretty gross, straight into the bin it went.
With the strap gone, I could really see the grime on the case. Used an old toothbrush and some warm soapy water. Gave it a good scrub, especially around the bezel and where the strap used to connect. Got into all the little corners. Rinsed it off and dried it carefully with a soft cloth.
It looked better, but still dull. So, I got some metal polish – just the regular stuff. Put a tiny bit on a rag and started rubbing the case. Focused on the polished parts, avoiding any brushed areas too much. Took some elbow grease, but slowly, it started to shine a bit more. Wiped off all the residue. It wasn’t perfect, like brand new, but definitely an improvement.
Putting on the New Strap
I’d ordered a new strap online beforehand, just a simple nylon one, NATO style. Seemed easy enough. This was the fun part, seeing the change happen.
Here’s basically what I did:
- Put the spring bars back into the watch lugs. That took a bit of fiddling to get them seated right.
- Threaded the long end of the nylon strap through one spring bar, under the watch case back, and up through the other spring bar.
- Pulled it snug against the case.
- Tucked the end of the strap through the keepers.
It actually fit perfectly first time, which was nice. Felt solid.
The Final Look
And that was pretty much it. Stood back and looked at it. Honestly, felt pretty good. Took maybe an hour total? The shiny case and the new strap completely changed its vibe. Went from junk drawer fodder to something I’d actually wear again. Simple job, but satisfying to bring something old back to life just by cleaning it up and changing one part. Looks way better on the wrist now.
