What (if any) restoration/work can be done to a dial without hurting value?

[Eph]

I recently took a gamble on a Tudor Sub off eBay (from Japan), and had the watch delivered directly to a well-known restoration shop not far from the seller. I plan to get the jubilee bracelet tightened up and the watch serviced so this can become a daily wearer! I chose to have it shipped directly to the restorer because 1) I save on Taxes by not having it shipped directly to me, 2) the service there is about 1/3 the price of a service here, 3) This person has a stellar reputation for working miracles on stretched jubliees.

That said, I'm also wondering if the dial could have any work done too without it hurting the value. The dial/hands have yellowed quite a bit and likely don't glow. Glowing hands will be somewhat useful to me as this will be a daily wearer, but I don't want to kill the value in case I decide to sell one day. Does a re-lume hurt value? Also, will a re-lume essentially replace the patina the watch has developed over time so the hour markers/hands will now be white (or an artificial patina?). Anything else I should be considering?

Here's my original post with a photo, from before I purchased the watch!

Would love any thoughts or suggestions.

Thanks!

[roh123]

It will hurt value. Either get a model that glows correctly if that is important or get one with service parts that does the trick. Do not ruin a perfectly nice dial and hands for no good reason. Just my humble opinion of course.

[watchlovr]

Google James Hyman and check his work.
Yes it will affect the value but it would make it look somewhat better.
Personally I’d get the hands matched to the dial.
Nothing else.

[fmc000]

Please don't touch this beautiful dial and those matching hands. Please...

[linesiders]

If you are going to relume, buy another dial and hand set to have relumed. Don't ruin the existing set / value.

[Scaramanga74]

If you need lume, buy a Seiko ;)

[csfischer20]

It’s a beauty. If you swap dial and hands, keep the original for sure and don’t touch it.

[Eph]

Originally Posted by fmc000

Please don't touch this beautiful dial and those matching hands. Please...

I love the love for this aged look!! Thanks for the input. As others have suggested, I may replace the dial+hands and keep this original set... or just keep it as is and accept it won't glow in the dark!

[powerfunk]

Restoring a dial can increase value if the dial looks damaged and crappy. This looks...great. Doing anything to it would decrease the value.

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by Scaramanga74

If you need lume, buy a Seiko ;)

This. Vintage Tudor isn't the place to look for lume. Just keep it as it is and enjoy.

[Eph]

Originally Posted by zapokee

This. Vintage Tudor isn't the place to look for lume. Just keep it as it is and enjoy.

How about new Tudor.. I hear a Pelagos can light up a small room!

[CFR]

Originally Posted by Eph

I love the love for this aged look!! Thanks for the input. As others have suggested, I may replace the dial+hands and keep this original set... or just keep it as is and accept it won't glow in the dark!

Good call. FWIW, I have found that I end up needing glow-in-the-dark hands far less than I think I'll need them.

[swish77]

Originally Posted by fmc000

Please don't touch this beautiful dial and those matching hands. Please...

Hands are not matching, patina-wise anyway. They might have been replaced already.

OP, did you ever get a UV photo of that dial? In another thread, you questioned whether the tritium on the dial was original.

In general, if you want a dial/hands that glow, vintage might not be for you, or get a vintage-inspired watch with faux vintage patina that still glows. There are plenty of companies that do that nowadays, including Omega and Panerai.

[Eph]

Originally Posted by swish77

Hands are not matching, patina-wise anyway. They might have been replaced already.

OP, did you ever get a UV photo of that dial? In another thread, you questioned whether the tritium on the dial was original.

In general, if you want a dial/hands that glow, vintage might not be for you, or get a vintage-inspired watch with faux vintage patina that still glows. There are plenty of companies that do that nowadays, including Omega and Panerai.

Never got the UV photo, lost in translation with the foreign seller.
Glow is nice for a daily wearer, but reliability and durability is what matters. That's why I decided to get a sub and a fresh service/bracelet repair. Besides, I have other go-to's if glow is what I need!