This 1930s Benrus illustrates what a careful restoration can do for a watch. A friend of mine spotted this watch in a pile of parts watches and materials and asked if I would restore it for him. The dial was in poor condition in large part because there was no crystal. The case was dirty and tarnished and the crown was also worn out, although the 15-jewel movement was in working order. My friend asked to have the dial refinished in gloss black with gold print. While my refinisher was not able to exactly reproduce the original sub-seconds track, the black dial and new faceted plastic crystal transformed this ugly duckling into a timepiece that is now entirely suitable for dress occasions.