Servicing a Tissot Moonphase 1853 Valjoux 7734 from 1983 - Overcoming a botch-arama

Continuing with the moonphase theme, I recently serviced this Tissot moonphase chronograph with an elaborated grade Valjoux 7734 from 1983 for a ClockSavant customer. This is a commemorative watch celebrating their 130th anniversary and is fashioned after a Tissot moonphase from the 1950’s. Of particular note is that during this era, quartz had won and few Swiss mechanical watches were made other than by a few stalwarts such as Rolex. It was an important statement by Tissot to use a mechanical movement as they had not yet made their come-back. Here are hiighlights of the botch work perpetrated on this beautiful watch: (1) hideously painted and abused original hands (2) hacked-up minute jumper and (3) the case of a missing dial marker. Apparently the botch lost a dial marker, it having fell out for some reason. So they glued-in a close match. Where was it? Under the dial of course. Also shown is a seconds hand that blew apart with little force and corrosion that only full and complete disassembly will reveal. I had my hands full with this watch but it is now attractive once again and performing very nicely. The watch is a fighter— after servicing, it displays unusually robust amplitude throughout its power reserve— a very strong running example.

Servicing a Tissot 1853 Moonphase chronograph from 1983 caliber 7734 - overcoming the botch

Servicing a Tissot 1853 Moonphase chronograph from 1983 caliber 7734 - overcoming the botch

Servicing a Tissot 1853 Moonphase chronograph from 1983 caliber 7734 - overcoming the botch

Servicing a Tissot 1853 Moonphase chronograph from 1983 caliber 7734 - overcoming the botch

Servicing a Tissot 1853 Moonphase chronograph from 1983 caliber 7734 - overcoming the botch

Servicing a Tissot 1853 Moonphase chronograph from 1983 caliber 7734 - overcoming the botch

Servicing a Tissot 1853 Moonphase chronograph from 1983 caliber 7734 - overcoming the botch

Servicing a Tissot 1853 Moonphase chronograph from 1983 caliber 7734 - overcoming the botch

Servicing a Tissot 1853 Moonphase chronograph from 1983 caliber 7734 - overcoming the botch

Servicing a Tissot 1853 Moonphase chronograph from 1983 caliber 7734 - overcoming the botch