6202 with black radium markers - opinions?

[tuonor]

I'm looking at a Turn-O-Graph 6202 which has lume markers which have aged to a greenish-black instead of the usual yellow. Having not looked at a watch with this type of patina previously, I wanted to get some opinions...

The lume is glossy and looks a bit like toothpaste squeezed from a tube -- is this correct? The lozenge shape on the 3 / 6 / 9 markers contrasts with the more rectangular lume typically seen on yellow-patina'd radium markers.

Also, would love to hear any background on this variation and whether its been found on other references -- presumably this aging pattern is specific to a certain batch of lume from the early 50s but haven't been able to find much written about it.

As usual, many thanks!

[Michael M.]

Love old 6202's! IMO a very undervalued watch! The lume looks to be original, but has severly aged to almost a blackish color. I've seen other rolexes of the period have lume become this sort of color, and shape of markers. Also, I'm pretty sure the insert may be a aftermarket replacement.

[kyle L]

+1, the black lume looks cool though! The insert doesn't look like it fits perfectly in the bezel though.

[Paul]

Probably a similar production era too - late '50s

[tomchicago]

i think all of these are gorgeous!

[Keeperoftime]

Originally Posted by tomchicago

i think all of these are gorgeous!

+1

I really love that 6542. Some call it decay, I call it Patina!!

[tuonor]

Originally Posted by Michael M.

I've seen other rolexes of the period have lume become this sort of color, and shape of markers.

Thanks, that is comforting!

I guess my concern is that the radium lume I've seen has a fairly rough texture and squares off against the gilt printing on the dial (ie fills the corners), while this example is glossy / smooth and lozenge shaped. While I actually prefer it this way, I also want to verify if it is "correct".

Here is a closeup of the dark radium dial, followed by a few 6202 examples from the VRF dial archive:

[marcello pisani]

Originally Posted by tuonor

I'm looking at a Turn-O-Graph 6202 which has lume markers which have aged to a greenish-black instead of the usual yellow. Having not looked at a watch with this type of patina previously, I wanted to get some opinions...

The lume is glossy and looks a bit like toothpaste squeezed from a tube -- is this correct? The lozenge shape on the 3 / 6 / 9 markers contrasts with the more rectangular lume typically seen on yellow-patina'd radium markers.

Also, would love to hear any background on this variation and whether its been found on other references -- presumably this aging pattern is specific to a certain batch of lume from the early 50s but haven't been able to find much written about it.

As usual, many thanks!

many old dials from the first half of the '50 have arrived to the present days with this kind of "black-darkgreen" indexes : I have seen them also in 6150.
if you "wash" the indexes they turn back to a dark-cream shade.