This is terrible to hear. Yes, we know that it's just a watch, but all of us know that we can get attached to certain special watches.

This seems to be another example in support of the idea that we do best if we can communicate directly with our watchmakers, rather than using a middleman or jewelry store. Of course, even then, the watchmaker has to be skilled and honest, and appreciate the fact that originality is important to collectors. It's a reminder of this posting, Communicate Well with Your Watchmaker (or be Prepared to Suffer the Consequences), illustrated below.

Watchmakers sometimes seem to have the mindset that newer parts are better than older parts, even if the newer parts are not correct / not original.

Sorry to hear about this, and thanks for the reminder about communicating well with anyone working on our watches.

Jeff

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

: Forgive me, as this isn't about a Heuer, but about a silly watch
: that I picked up and came to love: A Vietnam era Glycine Airman.
: It was a great little watch, 24 hr dial, working hack, all
: original and just fun to wear. Then it started to run slow, so
: it was time for a service. I brought it into my regular guys, a
: mom & pop jewelry store who sent their watches for service
: to an old-timer in Brooklyn.

: I cautioned them in advance to be careful of the hack, as I had
: heard the stories of how watchmakers who were unfamiliary with
: the watch would break it, and it was unfixable. They called me
: with the cost for service, and I reminded them again of the hack
: and told them to do it.

: The watch came back. Hack broken, dial damaged (most of the
: luminous dots on the face gone and scratches to dial) and,
: beyond belief, the original minute hand gone and replaced with
: something else. I have no clue where it came from, but aside
: from having some lume on it, it's nothing like the original.

: I am heartbroken. I argued with the guys, who informed me that the
: watchmaker said there was no such thing as a hack on that watch
: and why would he switch out the minute hand. It was absurd, but
: they were just defensive and denying everything.

: I'm not looking for advice. Just so utterly frustrated by what
: happened and heartbroken that they ruined a 50 year old watch.
: No, it's not very valuable, though I was very fond of it. Yes, I
: could sue them if I was so inclined (I'm not). But they killed
: an old soldier, and denied it. I'm just heartbroken that any
: watchmaker would be so cavalier about an old watch.