How about getting in touch with Abel Court if it doesn't works out with TAG?... That man is a master/prodigy and all he needs to do is look at the watch and then work his magic, the projects and/or restoration I've seen him done are simply stunning. Many on this forum will tell you what he's capable of, just my opinion.

~George

: First of all, welcome Rick, and compliments for your purchase:
: probably the most rare execution of the Siffert Autavia,
: in good conditions, and also with same era bracelet!

: You were following the forum, we expected a much higher price for
: this watch.

: About the restoring, the general advice is always 'conservative
: restoring':
: the less parts you replace more valuable is the result.
: Unfortunately this is not philosophy of the service center of
: producers,
: their aim is to give you a fully functional watch regardless of its
: original status.

: I recently learned that Omega replaces entire movements on serviced
: watches,
: they have ready many movements (with other serial number) and fit
: into the watch.
: So it has happened that someone aske for extract of archives of his
: Speedmaster and received
: the papers saying his watch was originally a Seamaster!
: About dials, i know that, due to radioactive export regulation in
: Switzerland, Omega changes all the dials
: with luminova or relume them if not available.
: So if you want to destroy your vintage, send it to Omega...

: I hope that Tag Heuer is better, but i sent them a couple of
: watches and once received their mail
: saying what they were going to do and what i was going to pay, I
: asked for having them back immediately
: without any work...

: About the work on your watch, this is what i would do:

: Movement servicing: I hope you took a photo of the movement, it
: guess it's a very early execution, with fast date change, early
: jumpers, bimetallic pinion, spaced writing on the bridge etc.
: None of these parts have to be replaced.

: Gentle dial cleaning with no relume.

: Hands polishing with no relume.

: Replacement of crystal, bezel insert, pushers and crown. All these
: replaced parts have to be returned.

: I hope that TAG will do a nice job!

: Attached i my Siffert coming from mr. Abel:

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