Re dial 97 tritium sub? Bad idea?

[javd007]

My 97 sub dial looks great. no patina. However it's lume is dying. Should I re dial and hand it? Is that a bad idea if I decide to sell later? I mean it's not a vintage piece. I want some lume!!! Rolex keeps the old dials as you know.

[Eric88]

Maybe sell or trade it to buy a newer one?

[77T]

You have some choices - and can try them in sequence to achieve your best result.

1) relume (risky if it's botched, but saves the original dial. If botched, get a refund and go to #2)

2) replace dial
-2a. Go to RSC and lose the original (not what you want)
-2b. Trusted TRF source and keep the original.

[ecsub44]

I've got a 97 Sub also. No patina. The lume is weak...but I prefer having the original tritium dial to having fresh, new lume. I guess I just don't NEED the lume badly enough to want to change out the dial.

My bezel pearl was replaced with a luminova pearl...and I'm looking for a tritium one.

Show some pics of your watch!

[Tools]

While I don't think that a 97 Sub will ever become as valuable as one a decade or two earlier, it is still a fine watch.. One of the charms of one in this era is that it is the last of the tritium dials and that makes it more desirable to collectors..

A functioning watch is a fine idea, and there is likely no real harm in replacing the dial with a proper service dial. I would no relume, that always affects the value..

Personally, I would rather that you sold this watch to somebody who prefers the tritium original dial regardless of it's ability to glow; then go out an get yourself a newer Sub with the lume you want...