Is there a way to relume a relumed dial?

[watchmainspring]

I'm looking at an old sub that had the original dial's lume plots replaced. It does not look bad but it also doesn't look great. Is there anyone out there that can redo relume and restore to a factory-like appearance? Thanks.

[Stan Cooper]

Originally Posted by watchmainspring

I'm looking at an old sub that had the original dial's lume plots replaced. It does not look bad but it also doesn't look great. Is there anyone out there that can redo relume and restore to a factory-like appearance? Thanks.

Kent Parks at Everest Watchworks in Flagstaff, AZ relumed my Zodiac GMT in 2015 and did a great job. I recommend him, but his quoted turnaround time was a little optimistic.

http://www.everestwatchworks.com/

[watchmainspring]

Originally Posted by Stan Cooper

Kent Parks at Everest Watchworks in Flagstaff, AZ relumed my Zodiac GMT in 2015 and did a great job. I recommend him, but his quoted turnaround time was a little optimistic.

http://www.everestwatchworks.com/

Wow looks great? What's the compound? Do you have a closer shot?

[Stan Cooper]

Originally Posted by watchmainspring

Wow looks great? What's the compound? Do you have a closer shot?

I still have the watch and can take more photos. These were taken by Kent and emailed to me for approval before returning the watch. The original factory lume was falling apart due to moisture incursion and was in really bad shape. Someone recommended Kent, so I talked to him on the phone and sent the watch off to him. I'm not sure what he used, but currently he says on his website that he has Super Luminova as an option.

http://www.everestwatchworks.com/sl_lume_colors.html

I'll post current closeup photos in a few minutes.

[watchmainspring]

Originally Posted by Stan Cooper

I still have the watch and can take more photos. These were taken by Kent and emailed to me for approval before returning the watch. The original factory lume was falling apart due to moisture incursion and was in really bad shape. Someone recommended Kent, so I talked to him on the phone and sent the watch off to him. I'm not sure what he used, but currently he says on his website that he has Super Luminova as an option.

http://www.everestwatchworks.com/sl_lume_colors.html

I'll post current closeup photos in a few minutes.

Wow thanks!

[Stan Cooper]

Please don't look at the cyclops lens; it was my first attempt at installing one and I flunked out.

These two photos were just taken. The first one is in ordinary room lighting, and the second is with the shades drawn and about a minute after I charged the lume with an ultraviolet light. Apparently there wasn't enough light for the auto-focus to work.

[watchmainspring]

Originally Posted by Stan Cooper

Please don't look at the cyclops lens; it was my first attempt at installing one and I flunked out.

These two photos were just taken. The first one is in ordinary room lighting, and the second is with the shades drawn and about a minute after I charged the lume with an ultraviolet light. Apparently there wasn't enough light for the auto-focus to work.

Thanks! Looks like a meticulous application. Very impressed.

[Stan Cooper]

Originally Posted by watchmainspring

Thanks! Looks like a meticulous application. Very impressed.

I assume you mean the lume, not the cyclops.

[watchmainspring]

Originally Posted by Stan Cooper

I assume you mean the lume, not the cyclops.

Haha. Definitely

[zapokee]

[QUOTE=Stan Cooper;11989183]Please don't look at the cyclops lens; it was my first attempt at installing one and I flunked out.

Oo, can't unsee that once you've pointed it out. Can't you remove it (with...IDK, ethanol or something) and try again?

The lume is awesome, though. My eyes!

[Stan Cooper]

Originally Posted by zapokee

Oo, can't unsee that once you've pointed it out. Can't you remove it (with...IDK, ethanol or something) and try again?

The lume is awesome, though. My eyes!

Heh heh.. Yes, I have installed several cyclops since the Zodiac and have gotten much better at it. Since it's a flat sapphire crystal on the Zodiac, removal is mechanical using a single sided razor blade. I have a new cyclops lens and the UV activated adhesive from Esslinger, but just haven't gotten around to replacing it yet.

[harry in montreal]

That is a very beautiful zodiac. Over the holidays I bought two old zodiacs and am still part hunting for my watchmaker. Their watches are like old Seikos; there is something I really dig about them

[watchmainspring]

[QUOTE=zapokee;11989503]

Originally Posted by Stan Cooper

Please don't look at the cyclops lens; it was my first attempt at installing one and I flunked out.

Oo, can't unsee that once you've pointed it out. Can't you remove it (with...IDK, ethanol or something) and try again?

The lume is awesome, though. My eyes!

I think that zodiac would look amazing without the cyclops anyways.

The lume does look bright. I can't see to find an example of that vendor's radium-style lume. I'm intrigued.

Would be curious of any other services that might be available.

[Stan Cooper]

Originally Posted by watchmainspring

I think that zodiac would look amazing without the cyclops anyways.

The lume does look bright. I can't see to find an example of that vendor's radium-style lume. I'm intrigued.

Would be curious of any other services that might be available.

The date was way too small without the cyclops, and the watch actually came with a cyclops but came back from service after the water intrusion without the cyclops. Here it is the day I bought it.



I think radium was banned for watch dials in 1968 and replaced with tritium; some watchmakers began replacing radium with tritium as early as the mid-fifties, but I'm not sure where you might have tritium relume done now. Some have recommended The Alchemist in the U.K. for "tritium look." How old is the Sub you're considering?

[mbc]

Depending on how important it is to you -- James Hyman (in my opinion) is the best out there. Check out the thealchemistrelumer on instagram.

I had a 1680 red that had an awful lume job and James worked magic on it. I ultimately sold that watch/dial and the new owner who knows the full backstory on the dial is very happy as well.

Sending to UK can be a bit of a pain, but the way I did it was during a service when watch was disassembled anyway, just sent the dial and hands.

[donfield]

Head to the Wrist Watch Revival channel on YouTube. Marshall has a bunch of restoration projects where he shows how to re-lume older dials and hands. It doesn't look super complicated, but IMHO, you need good eyes, a steady hand, a few specialized tools but more than that, a TON of courage :)

[Stan Cooper]

Originally Posted by mbc

Depending on how important it is to you -- James Hyman (in my opinion) is the best out there. Check out the thealchemistrelumer on instagram.

I had a 1680 red that had an awful lume job and James worked magic on it. I ultimately sold that watch/dial and the new owner who knows the full backstory on the dial is very happy as well.

Sending to UK can be a bit of a pain, but the way I did it was during a service when watch was disassembled anyway, just sent the dial and hands.

Yes; Dave Hyman is the U.K. "Alchemist" I linked to in post 14.

I should add that many serious collectors frown on relumed dials and hands as they believe it devalues the watch. Personally, I'd rather have dead lume or botched relumes redone properly so I can see what time it is in the dark.