stupid question

[mic6]

hi guys,
i was wondering if there is any way to fade my gmt bezel. The red has already faded to pink but the blue hasn't changed at all. Why does this happen? Is there any way to fade the blue part as well?
I love the vintage look of the 1675 faded bezels.. Thanks

[FURE6]

Originally Posted by mic6

hi guys,
i was wondering if there is any way to fade my gmt bezel. The red has already faded to pink but the blue hasn't changed at all. Why does this happen? Is there any way to fade the blue part as well?
I love the vintage look of the 1675 faded bezels.. Thanks

INTERESTING!!! I have got the same problem with mine.
I will change the colour ring of the bezel with a new one - soon.
However I think it has to do with light (sun).
Try leaving the watch on a window sill on a sunny day with a light touch of ammonia on the blue part of the bezel. It should work - or someone may steal the watch while it is on the window sill.

[C.J.]

Originally Posted by FURE6

INTERESTING!!! I have got the same problem with mine.
I will change the colour ring of the bezel with a new one - soon.
However I think it has to do with light (sun).
Try leaving the watch on a window sill on a sunny day with a light touch of ammonia on the blue part of the bezel. It should work - or someone may steal the watch while it is on the window sill.

I don't know if I'd use the ammonia

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by mic6

hi guys,
i was wondering if there is any way to fade my gmt bezel. The red has already faded to pink but the blue hasn't changed at all. Why does this happen? Is there any way to fade the blue part as well?
I love the vintage look of the 1675 faded bezels.. Thanks

Don't try any chemicals, 'cause they could completely ruin the bezel. Just let the watch take its natural "fading" course and that way, the vintage authenticity will always be maintained....without any external, artificial damaging source.

JJ

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by mic6

hi guys,
i was wondering if there is any way to fade my gmt bezel. The red has already faded to pink but the blue hasn't changed at all. Why does this happen? Is there any way to fade the blue part as well?
I love the vintage look of the 1675 faded bezels.. Thanks

Dear mic6

NO question is stupid in this forum. Only the answers might be.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Spacedweller

Dear mic6

NO question is stupid in this forum. Only the answers might be.

So where's yours (stupid answer, I mean!!)

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

So where's yours (stupid answer, I mean!!)

Swallow the thing. When it comes out at the other end, it will be nicely faded.

[Mrdi]

Yah Space
Tosser material!!

[ashu2289]

Even I would suggest you to let the bezel bezel naturally fade with its age and the best you could do to it is expose it more to sunlight but remember dont let the watch exposed consistently for a long time as it can heat the watch too much and cause harm to your watch. And also dont use any chemicals as you never know what could be the reaction.

[Andad]

If anyone out there has the answer to this question then they might be able to help me - my wife is much younger than me and I have always wondered if there was a way that I could - hell here she comes, will be bac.......

[eb641]

...The bezel on my 1967 GMT is certainly well faded..I always disliked that look and often considered replacing it with a new one..Never got around to it thank heaven..this was my first Rolex, and I haven't worn it much in years. I 've had it cleaned in Phoenix 2 or 3 times..the watch still has the gilt dial, small pointer and a rivited bracelet..All in extemely good condition since I never wore it that much..I'm getting the feeling that vintage GMTs like this may be worth a bit of a premium..Any ballpark ideas on value?

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by directioneng

If anyone out there has the answer to this question then they might be able to help me - my wife is much younger than me and I have always wondered if there was a way that I could - hell here she comes, will be bac.......

Hey, Janet.......

[Andad]

Yes jj, I saw this, good job he didn't finish the sentence.

Janet

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by mic6

hi guys,
i was wondering if there is any way to fade my gmt bezel. The red has already faded to pink but the blue hasn't changed at all. Why does this happen? Is there any way to fade the blue part as well?
I love the vintage look of the 1675 faded bezels.. Thanks

Yea. I'd let it fade naturally. As a saying goes:

"Mad dogs, Englishmen and GMT-owners go out into the mid day sun"

[Alcan]

Originally Posted by mic6

hi guys,
i was wondering if there is any way to fade my gmt bezel. The red has already faded to pink but the blue hasn't changed at all. Why does this happen? Is there any way to fade the blue part as well?
I love the vintage look of the 1675 faded bezels.. Thanks

Light has energy. While light is made up of all the different frequencies, if we split light into its different frequencies we see a spectrum - or rainbow effect.

Every photon (light particle) has one Quanta, that is one set amount of energy. This energy is split between overall light emited and frequency, so the brighter the photon the lower its frequency and vice versa. The red/orange end of the spectrum has a higher frequency (and so lower brightness) than the blue/violet end which has a lower frequency (but is brighter).

Red paint absorbes every colour except red, this means the paint absorbs more light energy, its basically being bleached as it is absorbing more "brightness". Blue paint absorbes the less "bright" colours.

Or something like that.

[Andad]

[Arturo]

I have a friend who has a cool faded GMT....he is 52 and his parents got it for him when he graduated from prep school in 1972 or thereabouts. It was purchased at Tiffany, and has the Tiffany name on the face and so he calls it his Tiffany GMT. The pepsi dial faded evenly and looks really cool.

[Woody]

Originally Posted by eb641

...The bezel on my 1967 GMT is certainly well faded..I always disliked that look and often considered replacing it with a new one..Never got around to it thank heaven..this was my first Rolex, and I haven't worn it much in years. I 've had it cleaned in Phoenix 2 or 3 times..the watch still has the gilt dial, small pointer and a rivited bracelet..All in extemely good condition since I never wore it that much..I'm getting the feeling that vintage GMTs like this may be worth a bit of a premium..Any ballpark ideas on value?

You are a lucky man - a local watch dealer here in the UK has a similar one for sale at £3500 (although not a small pointer which is more desirable). If you have boxes, papers, service receipts etc then I guess the retail price in the UK would be over £4000.

[pcarson]

Originally Posted by Alcan

Light has energy. While light is made up of all the different frequencies, if we split light into its different frequencies we see a spectrum - or rainbow effect.

Every photon (light particle) has one Quanta, that is one set amount of energy. This energy is split between overall light emited and frequency, so the brighter the photon the lower its frequency and vice versa. The red/orange end of the spectrum has a higher frequency (and so lower brightness) than the blue/violet end which has a lower frequency (but is brighter).

Red paint absorbes every colour except red, this means the paint absorbs more light energy, its basically being bleached as it is absorbing more "brightness". Blue paint absorbes the less "bright" colours.

Or something like that.

You know what, Al, you were going well until you ran into the blue bit absorbing blue colours, which is where the wheels fell off. Your finishing disclaimer made me laugh a lot.

I was going to do a post just like yours and I ran into exactly the same problem. The problem is that using absorption and reflection as the explanation gives the opposite result; blue reflects low energy photons and absobs the rest. Blues fade faster than reds if all other things are equal, so I think maybe all other things aren't equal in bezel world.

Nice to know someone else had the wontons to get it up on the forum before me; it's good to have company out on that limb!

Cheers

[davor]

so what about black bezels do they fade over time...

[Alcan]

Originally Posted by pcarson

You know what, Al, you were going well until you ran into the blue bit absorbing blue colours, which is where the wheels fell off.

I've just re-read my post and can't find any reference to blue colour absorbing blue of the spectrum. In fact, it is exactly the opposite. Blue is the only wavelength NOT absorbed, thereby reflecting what we perceive as blue colour.

Originally Posted by pcarson

Nice to know someone else had the wontons to get it up on the forum before me; it's good to have company out on that limb!

Cheers

"Out on the limb"? I'm not sure what you mean by that. Since my wheels fell off, could you please enlighten us all as to why red tends to fade first?

[nudie]

My GMT's bezel is pretty faded.

[Alcan]

Originally Posted by nudie

My GMT's bezel is pretty faded.

Yes, but that's part of what gives the watch character.

The hour indecies on my 1992 TT Sub are starting to develop a beautiful off-white patina. I wouldn't trade that dial for anything. Well, maybe for your YachtMaster, but...........

[pcarson]

Originally Posted by Alcan

I've just re-read my post and can't find any reference to blue colour absorbing blue of the spectrum. In fact, it is exactly the opposite. Blue is the only wavelength NOT absorbed, thereby reflecting what we perceive as blue colour.



"Out on the limb"? I'm not sure what you mean by that. Since my wheels fell off, could you please enlighten us all as to why red tends to fade first?

No, I can't. That's point of my post. If absorption and reflection were the explanation, then the blue should fade first like it does almost everywhere else.

As for the other, it's simple (although it doesn't explain bezels). White theoretically reflects all wavelengths and black (theoretically) reflects none.

Neither statement is true in practice but they are robust starting assumptions. Blue is closer to black in absorption characteristics, and red is closer to white. The bezel behaves counter-intuitively, and it will probably be due to pigment characteristics other than colour.

So, no, I can't explain it. You sound a little uncomfy about the limb. I got used to it years ago.

[nudie]

I'm pretty sure the faded bezel is a result of exposure to the hot tropical sun for years. Agree that it adds to the character and uniqueness of the watch.

[Solo118]

The only logical thing to do, Something I would never do though maybe take off the bezel, cover the already faded part and keep it out in the sun for a few days

[pcarson]

Originally Posted by Solo118

The only logical thing to do, Something I would never do though maybe take off the bezel, cover the already faded part and keep it out in the sun for a few days

I live in Townsville, Queensland which is tropical. The sun here is punishing and we have rain only about 20 days a year. I'm happy to accept all Pepsi bezels, pre-masked to reflect their owners' desires. I can guarantee results! "If it doesn't fade here, it won't fade anywhere" That will be the slogan for my new business "Fading Wishes". Catchy, huh?