Hi to all, I think Richard may have a fine point here: there are some dealers (famously some parts resellers of Australia for vintage Omega Speedmasters and Seamasters) that seem able to substitute all parts and in the end get you a NOS watch with all correct and period parts, often with the right 'ageing' of lume etc.
In the end should this qualify as NOS? The only missing part is the 'original manufacture' but I guess these guys have been servicing these watches for so long that may as well be as skilled as the original makers. It would be very hard to detect them from what, say, TH do at La Chaux de Fond or Omega st Bienne, save for the lack of the customer service invoice.
What are your thoughts on this? In terms of proper 'NOS-hood' (should we say so?) and in terms of value?
Cheers,
Fabrizio