OPinion on 16700 hands: Are they original?

[springer]

Originally Posted by swish77

I guess I’m one of those purists. Lume on a dial was never meant to last forever either, but a relumed dial is often shunned. Not sure why hands would be considered any different. They’re a big part of the watch, intrinsically and visually.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with restored vintage watches, including dials and hands. I’m just talking about the types of vintage watches I prefer and would buy.

Nothing wrong with being a purist, I consider myself one also. But as a realist too, I prefer a nice matching set of hands, with a preference for original lume of course, but that isn't always the case on these 50-60-70-year-old models.

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by west8720

The hands are original.

To that watch? Or, original Rolex hands? If you're claiming the former, care to explain how you're certain of that?

[Tricolore66]

Here’s my original dial/hand 5513, also from early 80’s, and the hands and dial have the same patina. This watch has lived most of the last 20 years in a safe, so the markers are still fairly white. I’ve only noticed in the last couple of years that they’ve started to yellow just slightly.

[TuRo]

[QUOTE=Tricolore66;13543285]Here’s my original dial/hand 5513, also from early 80’s, and the hands and dial have the same patina. This watch has lived most of the last 20 years in a safe, so the markers are still fairly white. I’ve only noticed in the last couple of years that they’ve started to yellow just slightly.

[/QUO

Yes this is very much as my D/B is showing alongside the dark hour marker and Spidering ones - some early 80s stay quite white and the lumen plots have a pinprick, and hour markers and hands get a bit dark and smudgy too. Rgds P

[Tubeguy]

Which brings up the age-old question on Tritium patina. I've read sun bleaches and then not.

This is my 16610, and it's a T serial number, making it 1996 production, and I bought it new. I'm in California and never wear long-sleeved shirts. It was worn every day at the beach, in the water, you name it.

While my face and arms got a patina, the watch has very little. I don't know if there is a consistent answer to this.

[TuRo]

If looking for that possible likelihood of patination 70/80/90s tritty pieces I've found brown up if left in safe for decades ..., it no certainty mind - and if browning nicely they actually get slightly lighter if pulled out the vault and worn for a summer!

[springer]

I've owned several GMTs and Submariners from the early to late 1990s that did not develop patina - occasionally one would develop patina but most did not. For me, my view is rather simply, some dials/hands develop patina and some don't - especially when considering models from the 1990s. I can't explain it and try not "over-think" it. It is what it is!

Below are several models from the 1990s with tritium dials and hands that have passed through my hands the past several years.

The order of appearance:
1990 Sub 5513
1991 Sub 14060
1991 Sub 16610
1992 GMT 16700
1992 GMT II
1994 GMT II
1996 GMT II
1996 GMT 16700
1996 GMT II
1996 GMT II
1996 GMT 16700
1996 GMT II
1995 GMT II

[west8720]

Originally Posted by swish77

Would you care to elaborate?



Yes, Phillip does great work, but color-matching hands is taboo for a lot of collectors (or maybe it’s just me). Sure, in some cases the hands are so far gone you might as well try to restore them, but otherwise I view it close to refinishing a dial, and I avoid all watches that have had dial/hand work done.

This has been discussed many times, with no real conclusion. However, if you look at the market place (watches for sale) most 89/90’s GMT’s you find the hands being whiter than the markers. You will also see hands matching perfectly with heavy patina, I say they have been color matched. You will also see hands/markers that are very close, and many times the dial is a service dial that matches whiter hands. I own a 1984 that looks very similar to the OP’s watch, and hands are whiter than markers… from what I know my watch has all “ original” parts. My .02