Seconds hands are often casualties when breaking down a watch for the first time in 40 years... but the Hack thing is just being careless.. strangely I am restoring an Airman right now and need a 'bezel clamp crown' so will remember to be careful... my condolences... A

: 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.