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highcotton · 2 September 2013, 03:41 AM

Pulled one of my Tudors out of the safe today and noticed the tritium is starting to crack on the minute hand. I am positive it was not like this when it was put in the safe.

If I sent this to Bob Ridley to stabilize what would be a rough estimate of the price. I have seen a lot of people on this board talk about doing it but have never heard of a ballpark figure for getting it done. THANKS

joe100 · 2 September 2013, 04:01 AM

That appears to me to be more than "starting to crack". I'd say that is in the full-deterioration phase now sadly.

Clay · 2 September 2013, 04:07 AM

That's a bummer...!!!

highcotton · 2 September 2013, 04:29 AM

I don't know why I used the term crack. It is clearly falling out of the hands. There are small pieces floating around on the dial. What would you guys recommend? Paid $1000 for it a few years ago came with box and original sales receipt. Would hate to put a lot of money in it. Would be easy to have more in it than it is worth.

andromeda160 · 2 September 2013, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highcotton

I don't know why I used the term crack. It is clearly falling out of the hands. There are small pieces floating around on the dial. What would you guys recommend? Paid $1000 for it a few years ago came with box and original sales receipt. Would hate to put a lot of money in it. Would be easy to have more in it than it is worth.

I'd just get some new hands, can't imagine they'd be much more expensive than stabilizing them

GeoGio Greece · 2 September 2013, 06:27 AM

If you keep it in the safe, why worry ?

highcotton · 2 September 2013, 07:21 AM

It is in the safe until my son heads off to college.

onkyo · 2 September 2013, 08:08 AM

I would get a new set of hands. Alternatively, the hands can be relumed (if you are ok with that). Either way I would not wear the watch until the loose lume is removed.

powerfunk · 2 September 2013, 08:18 AM

I have come to terms with the tritium loss on my 1675. It's unfortunate but it doesn't make the watch an invalid leper in my book. However I'd definitely get it serviced if there's stuff floating around in there. Can always buy different hands later when you're sure what you want.

MAJSmith · 2 September 2013, 08:47 AM

I'm tossing in a link to a thread I started a while back about this, just FYI. I know if anything said on there will help or not. I took some extreme macro pictures of my cracking and flaking tritium.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=310678

swish77 · 2 September 2013, 08:49 AM

You could also get new luminous installed in the existing hand(s) and have it color matched to the tritium on the dial. Mr. Ridley, among others, do great work with those types of projects too. I'd rather do that than using the stabilizing method, especially in this case. Stabilizing can sometimes change the color of the tritium. Good luck!

Old Expat Beast · 2 September 2013, 09:42 AM

This is why I avoid the lovely patina of tritium; once it starts to go, you have all kinds of choices with matching hands, new hands, re-luming hands, and then if the hour markers start to go, it all starts again. As yours has a date window, just be sure to pull out the crown and stop the mechanism so bits don't fall inside and get chomped up in the works. Good luck.

scottb2 · 2 September 2013, 12:16 PM

new hands would be in order but alternatively i know bob at watchmakers international has a method he used on my hands - its some kind of fortification that strengthens the lime and protects against degradation

good luck!

flybooey · 3 September 2013, 11:25 AM

Sent mine to Bob and here are the results

vintagewaferthin · 8 October 2013, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flybooey

Sent mine to Bob and here are the results

Wow! He did a great job!

Paul · 8 October 2013, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flybooey

Sent mine to Bob and here are the results

Vincent65 · 8 October 2013, 05:24 AM

I'd get another set of hands - personally not keen on the 'fixed' ones.

greekbum · 8 October 2013, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincent65

I'd get another set of hands - personally not keen on the 'fixed' ones.

This is an easy 10 minute fix for anybody who has done this. Most use paint and a mixture of things to get the right texture. Some use old tritium or radium they had laying around etc. Ive seen hands re lumed so good I could not tell under a microscope and then i have seen nail polish or some other paint and it looks like..........

watchdawg · 8 October 2013, 07:14 AM

I would not be so worried about getting the hands right as I would be or the trit finding its way into the movement.

MAJSmith · 8 October 2013, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincent65

I'd get another set of hands - personally not keen on the 'fixed' ones.

I have the same issue. Where can you find a set of Tritium hands these days?

Alcan · 8 October 2013, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watchdawg

I would not be so worried about getting the hands right as I would be or the trit finding its way into the movement.

Vic just put the situation into the proper perspective. Any guesses where all the missing tritium went?

watchdawg · 8 October 2013, 12:17 PM

If you don't see the trit under the crystal floating around then it has found its way under the dial and probably into the movement.

highcotton · 8 October 2013, 12:40 PM

The watch was stored on its side with the crown up so the pieces fell to the side opposite the date window.

vintagewaferthin · 10 October 2013, 01:13 AM

I would just source some luminova hands. Its going to be harder to find trit hands.

azguy · 10 October 2013, 03:51 AM

Send it to Bob and have him make the recommendation on what to do, at least you'll know it will be done right...

2 September 2013, 03:41 AM	#1
highcotton "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: alabama Watch: 1972 Red Sub Posts: 208	Lume starting to crack Pulled one of my Tudors out of the safe today and noticed the tritium is starting to crack on the minute hand. I am positive it was not like this when it was put in the safe. If I sent this to Bob Ridley to stabilize what would be a rough estimate of the price. I have seen a lot of people on this board talk about doing it but have never heard of a ballpark figure for getting it done. THANKS

2 September 2013, 04:01 AM	#2
joe100 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Real Name: Joe Location: New Mexico Watch: Explorer Posts: 12,838	That appears to me to be more than "starting to crack". I'd say that is in the full-deterioration phase now sadly. __________________ It's Espresso, not Expresso. Coffee is not a train in Italy. -TRF Member 6982-

2 September 2013, 06:27 AM	#6
GeoGio Greece "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Real Name: George Location: Athens, Greece Watch: es --> A lot ! Posts: 2,327	If you keep it in the safe, why worry ? __________________ Rolex owner since 1971. 5513 and 16700 the loved ones. DJ WG Jubilee 16170 for wife - U series Oyster Perpetual WG 177234 for daughter V-series

2 September 2013, 09:42 AM	#12
Old Expat Beast TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: Jul 2013 Real Name: Adam Location: Far East Watch: Golden Tuna Posts: 28,794	This is why I avoid the lovely patina of tritium; once it starts to go, you have all kinds of choices with matching hands, new hands, re-luming hands, and then if the hour markers start to go, it all starts again. As yours has a date window, just be sure to pull out the crown and stop the mechanism so bits don't fall inside and get chomped up in the works. Good luck. __________________ _______________________

2 September 2013, 04:07 AM	#3
Clay Banned Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Up a tree Posts: 4,001	That's a bummer...!!!

2 September 2013, 04:29 AM	#4
highcotton "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: alabama Watch: 1972 Red Sub Posts: 208	I don't know why I used the term crack. It is clearly falling out of the hands. There are small pieces floating around on the dial. What would you guys recommend? Paid $1000 for it a few years ago came with box and original sales receipt. Would hate to put a lot of money in it. Would be easy to have more in it than it is worth.

2 September 2013, 07:21 AM	#7
highcotton "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: alabama Watch: 1972 Red Sub Posts: 208	It is in the safe until my son heads off to college.

2 September 2013, 08:08 AM	#8
onkyo Banned Join Date: Apr 2008 Real Name: Pav Location: Manhattan Posts: 11,495	I would get a new set of hands. Alternatively, the hands can be relumed (if you are ok with that). Either way I would not wear the watch until the loose lume is removed.

2 September 2013, 08:18 AM	#9
powerfunk "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Real Name: Rob Location: Boston, MA Watch: 1530 Posts: 3,799	I have come to terms with the tritium loss on my 1675. It's unfortunate but it doesn't make the watch an invalid leper in my book. However I'd definitely get it serviced if there's stuff floating around in there. Can always buy different hands later when you're sure what you want.

2 September 2013, 08:47 AM	#10
MAJSmith "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Virginia Posts: 154	I'm tossing in a link to a thread I started a while back about this, just FYI. I know if anything said on there will help or not. I took some extreme macro pictures of my cracking and flaking tritium. https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=310678

2 September 2013, 08:49 AM	#11
swish77 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Real Name: Aaron Location: CT/NYC Watch: ing the time! Posts: 6,985	You could also get new luminous installed in the existing hand(s) and have it color matched to the tritium on the dial. Mr. Ridley, among others, do great work with those types of projects too. I'd rather do that than using the stabilizing method, especially in this case. Stabilizing can sometimes change the color of the tritium. Good luck!

2 September 2013, 12:16 PM	#13
scottb2 Banned Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: USA Posts: 651	new hands would be in order but alternatively i know bob at watchmakers international has a method he used on my hands - its some kind of fortification that strengthens the lime and protects against degradation good luck!

8 October 2013, 05:24 AM	#17
Vincent65 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Switzerland Posts: 14,298	I'd get another set of hands - personally not keen on the 'fixed' ones.

8 October 2013, 07:14 AM	#19
watchdawg "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Real Name: Vic Location: Colorado/UAE Watch: GMT 1675 Posts: 494	I would not be so worried about getting the hands right as I would be or the trit finding its way into the movement.

8 October 2013, 12:17 PM	#22
watchdawg "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Real Name: Vic Location: Colorado/UAE Watch: GMT 1675 Posts: 494	If you don't see the trit under the crystal floating around then it has found its way under the dial and probably into the movement.

8 October 2013, 12:40 PM	#23
highcotton "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: alabama Watch: 1972 Red Sub Posts: 208	The watch was stored on its side with the crown up so the pieces fell to the side opposite the date window.

10 October 2013, 01:13 AM	#24
vintagewaferthin "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Earth Watch: Air-King 5500 Posts: 2,620	I would just source some luminova hands. Its going to be harder to find trit hands.

10 October 2013, 03:51 AM	#25
azguy Banned Join Date: Sep 2011 Real Name: ------- Location: ------- Watch: --------- Posts: 12,609	Send it to Bob and have him make the recommendation on what to do, at least you'll know it will be done right...

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