Hands on a 1998 Doppelchronograph

Hi folks

I recently sent my aged Doppel in for a service. I have now received an estimate for the service.

"Optional" items are a new crystal and a new dial - no way am I letting either of those happen.

The "essential" items are a full service (fair enough, that was the plan) and new hands. I'm puzzled by the "essential" hands. I could almost understand if the lume was tritium that had corroded, but I think the hands are luminova - they looked fine to me when the watch was sent off.

So, any opinions on why replacing the hands might be essential? Have I got it wrong regarding the lume? Or maybe some other reason? It's not a question of cost, rather I'd just like to leave the watch as intact as possible.

Sorry, I don't have the reference to hand, but it's the very first Doppel in steel, with the significantly "fat" bowed crystal, almost like a magnifying glass. Bought in early 1998 (and worn very frequently ever since, never serviced, oops!).

Thanks in advance for any expertise or experience.

Guy

To whom did you send the watch to be serviced Guy. It's your prerogative to keep the watch as intact as you would desire. The internals,well!That's a different matter.
Kenneth.

Sorry Kenneth, I should have said - it's back home in Schaffhausen. The estimate is from IWC themselves.

Dear Guy.I can understand you wanting to keep the dial and hands intact,although,I'd have to say that your watch as yet,doesn't fall into the category of vintage.The crystal,which isn't an item of significant historical value,if damaged,should be replaced.But this is my view only.
Regards.
Kenneth.

If your Doppel is a 3711 with a T Swiss T dial, I would leave the hands as is, if possible. Sometimes the hands must be replaced if they are not suited for reinstallation on the arbor driving the minutes and hours hand. The hole in the hand may be damaged or too large to fit snugly when pressed back on.

If it is not a T Swiss T dial, the hands are luminnova and I would be okay with a replacement.

The crystall on the 3711 is unique. It's a domed crystal unlike the flat one on the 3713. I don't know if Schaffhausen has domed replacement crystals. I would not replace the domed one with a flat on a 3711. A flat crystal replacement on the 3713 would be okay with me.

All of this is a personal opinion, btw.

Hi Bill.

Now I'm at home with the docs and photos, the watch is indeed a 3711 with that funky crystal. The dial is "T SWISS MADE T". I will be asking for both to be kept, even though the service report says the dial is scratched. I can't see any scratches - maybe with a loupe it's a different story.

Anyway, reading the service report on a full screen instead of a phone I can see the techs say the hands have to be replaced because they are oxidised. I have asked for them to be left if it's only a cosmetic issue, but to replace them if this is required for the correct functioning of the watch.

I'll keep you guys posted, thank you for your input.

Guy

Here are the hands on my 3711 which I don't describe as oxidized. They just have a great patina of a Tritium coating that comes as the half life expires. The markers show more patina than the hands, but the hands are a bit yellow in any case. There is one spec of coating missing on the hours hand and on one of the seconds hands. The hands have no lume, but I will not touch them. I am a bit of a purist in this regard.

For others, here is a picture of the domed crystal. It is a unique to the 3711 vs the 3713,

Great post guys - we learn something new everyday!

Sorry for the minor thread-necro, but the 3711 came back from Schaffhausen today.

I'll try to put together some photos next week. However I have to say that, as ever, IWC have pulled off a fantastic job. The whole watch looks brand new and perfect, apart from the (to my eyes) beautifully patina-ed dial, which was kept intact as per my request.

As far as I'm concerned IWC Schaffhausen are now on 3-for-3 in terms of perfect servicing (3711, AT 2000, and my wife's 35mm Inge).

Bravo!

Great to hear it has come back like new and you are happy with it - did you end up having the crystal replaced and if so did they replace it with the domed one (which I would imagine they would have)?

Cheers,

Ben

9 to go...

Looking forward to the pictures.

A bit more than a week, but I've been somewhat busy, and then I decided to wait for the macro arm light for my camera to arrive - it saves trying to stand on my head to get reasonable natural lighting.

Anyhoos - not bad for a 15-year-old daily wearer, in my opinion of course ...

Hi Guy,

good to see you were able to keep the "T" dial. What about the Fishcrown?
And congratulations, you have a "new" watch now with patina. Great stuff.
Here's a friend on leather:

Good question. To be honest I have no clear recollection what kind of crown the watch had, I have a feeling it was a fish, but it definitely isn't now :-(