TeeJay

Sounds great.

Best of luck for the birthday

Thanks, it was a great day (last saturday) as I was able to spend the day with friends I don't get to see often I figure the cost is reasonable as a 'present to self'

I know what you mean, the other day, I'm sure I read someone asking 'who had the best budget sub' being directed to a WM9 Sub Sure, absolutely awesome watch, but certainly not what could be considered a 'budget piece' by any stretch of the imagination...

I paid £35 (including shipping) for the 1655, and I have to admit, I am quite tempted to keep it in 'factory condition' (other than the aging) but, given that the 24 hour sweep hand is simply an AM/PM indicator, I think using it for a hybrid ExplorerGMT would be creating something with a wider range of functionality. As you say, at the end of they day, they're just novelties. Just 'a watch', so I guess another example of 'less [cash] is more'

That's one very nice strap

I'll be doing a write up and pictorial review when it arrives I haven't decided yet wether to simply keep the watch intact (although with some suitable vintaging, of course) or, to transplant the dial and movement into my vintage Sub case, and install a GMT bezel insert, to get something unique, and more functional

No change for me,

but, here's an aspect of the strap I haven't highlighted before

TJ,

I tried both the "good" stuff and after market stuff. The AF Swizerland lume powder is supposed to be SuperLuminova. I doubt it, but that's how it's marketed.

The powder grain is superfine, and the mix it creates is very smooth and easy to apply. You can get it into the tiniest corners. I used an oiling pike as well as a sharpened toothpick. My problem was the relatively week lume.

The other Glow-in-the-dark stuff I bought is avalable in different grains. The finest stuff they offer has 10-20 micron particles, which to my untrained eye (as if I could actually see that) results in a paste that is just as smooth as the AFS product.

So give their stuff a try (get the finest grain Ultra Green V10), and work with it. I think that you'll find that the base binder (the clear paint you mix the powder in) will probably make more of a difference than the powder itself as far as consistency and ease of application.

Good luck.

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll certainly look into it

Understand completely on the cost of SL being an issue.

The real issue is that SL and what you are using now have no relationship. Even if you produce good results, you won't be able to transfer that experience to using SL.

Given that there are no lumer's in the EU, and with your artistic background...a kit of SL, along with practice, may well pay off in the end...

Is it a very different medium to work with, rather than simply being 'a smoother paint'? Did I once read that you said you used a palate knife for lume work rather than a brush, or am I thinking of something else?

Thanks again for the feedback and encouragement, it's much appreciated

That's crazy spending bro, I don't think I can compete at all

That's a really interesting effect I like how it looks, but as above, I think I would consider that time to replace the crystal when it gets to that condition

Please Admins...

This deserves to be PINNED into the "Watchmaking Resource Center"!!

lol

(sorry cant restrain)

At least nobody can or will ever be able to tell

if this particular watch is a rep or no

Even a vintage rolex would look 100% the same

after such a lume-job

In germany they say "hold your head up - even if the neck smells" *ggg

George

If anything needs pinning, it's the Dudemeister's thread, as he had a much better outcome than my attempt

Glad to see more and more members attempting mod work. Good show for your first attempt.

You would have much better success if you were using Tritec Super Lume and applying it with an oiler. If your going to practice more, you should do so with something where you can improve you skills. Paint brushes and dials don't mix, and using anything other than the real stuff makes it even that much harder.

With your artistic talent, and the correct product and tools in hand, you'll be an expert in no time.

Thanks indeed, that really means a lot coming from the Master I want to eventually 'move up' to SuperLume, my only concerns at present were the costs, and if I could actually paint accurately enough to do it. I was impressed by the luminous qualities of the Night Color that Slartibartfast used on the Tudor Snowflake dials, (not lightsaber-bright, but certainly a decent duration of visibility, and ideal for my needs) so I figured a bottle of that wouldn't break the budget for a trial run

Here's a photo of the hands I lumed at the same time as the dial, but forgot to photo yesterday. I guess a Tudor GMT will be a required project at some point

OK...

but when you are ready and "able" I will send you a Pam (sausage) that I have never worn.,.. in appreciation for all the graphics you have done for our raffles and what not..

but I'll give you some time to get to where you can handle it..

maybe around your 1 year anniversary..

AC

Lani

That would be much appreciated, bro I think I've got the basic technique figured out, it's just a case of getting fine enough control (possibly with a smaller brush/oiler/whisker ) and getting the right luming material, possibly to get a 'smoother paint'. Grinding the Night Color certainly made things easier, it'll be interesting to get round to other lume matierials in the future

Good for you TeeJay. That's something I wouldn't even attempt, and without a magnifier even.

ww

Many thanks I think I got to the point where I realized I should give it a go and see how I got on, just incase I ever needed to do it in the future

I think RG regarded that dial, in terms of 're-lume', as the one that separates 'the men from the boys' to get done well. Like a practical exam. 'Sandwich' for obvious reasons is a primer. I've seen excellent results there from first timers.

'Lanikai', your Slevin, did RG do that one? Those first ten minutes of the inner bezel. Like running through Laos 1968. In bare feet. Hazardous. Leave it to the pros.

That's definitely what I'm thinking, but it gives me a clear goal to aim for, in terms of technique I didn't take any photos (but can do so tomorrow) but I also re-lumed a set of GMT hands, one of which, being my DIY 'Lollipop' hour hand. I was actually surprised at how easily the lume suspended itself across the gap, the surface tension of the paint must be pretty good

Good job, I ain't worked up the nerve for that one, yet! Reckon we just need to start calling you "der dialmeister"! As far as the cat, she looks like she has absolutely not even a trace of a sense of humor. My Maine Coon tom gets a look like that right before he decides bits of you are a chew-toy...

Thanks amigo, but I'm no dailmeister, I wouldn't even say a 'gifted amateur', just someone who got lucky So far, the dial passes the 'two foot rule', but I won't be happy with my work until it can stand up to close scrutiny

It's funny just how snappy Rosie can be, as with me, she's like the white Persian in the Bond movies and never bites, but any time my mother in law tries to pick her up (and she is really her cat) she always gets bitten

and what wazch would it be? in your case i think a rolex right, maybe a submariner or gmt

When I first did the 'mental re-shuffle', it would have been my Omega 2531.80, which was bought with inheritance money from my gran, but as that's been sold off, I don't want to buy another, as I think I would just feel that it was a 'substitute' for that one... I think now, it would probably be a red and black GMT Master II. All the looks of a sub, but with the added bonus of the GMT function, and the color variation of the insert I think either that, or another Yacht-Master. My last one wound up in pieces, but as it had no sentimental value, I'd be quite happy to have another The 3-D bezel insert makes for a really interesting variation on the regular 'Sub theme', and the watch looks great for formal or casual dress, so actually pretty versatile Thinking about it, I'd say the Yacht-Master is definitely the 'One Watch' I would have, if I had to be limited, simply because it would go with a wider wardrobe, and the GMT function isn't truly a necessity, even when traveling

Good kitty.

She adopted me as 'her human' as soon as I met my wife. One thing's for sure, she's got character

TJ.. I have stock rep dials lying around.. maybe you can use them to practice your lume.. ???

AC

Lani

Thanks for the offer, bro, I have a few spare dials lying about already (flat vintage and 'raised' modern) so I'm okay for practice materials, but the offer is very much appreciated I figure if I keep practicing on flyers and magazine pages, that'll hone the skill for when I come to work on a dial I saw a budget IWC Twin Crown watch a while back, which I liked the look of, except for the yellow lume on the hand and bezel. If I could get my skill enough to re-lume the bezel, I'd be happy, and tempted to get one of the watches

That cat looks as if it just ate a guinea pig. And it wasn't even hungry.

I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die........

Johnny Cash

Yup, that's how she rolls My mother in law can't pick her up without getting choddled on, but she never bites me

again your right that would normaly the best decision, but as i see on me, its real hard to resist but your right, and i think for me that i would buy only that much that i can wear them all from time to time

Ultimately, it was the discussions which RobbieG started about 'if you could only have one watch' which made me 'mentally restructure' my collection, even before I realized I had to sell it to pay for my wedding and reception, so now, I'm thinking along the lines of just having one watch to represent that type of watch

No major change for me

Happy to oblige

That's absolutely fantastic

Thanks guys I don't think my cat would be very happy if I took one of her whiskers... Does this look like a cat that can take a joke?

I definitely think I'm going to keep practicing, it'll be interesting to see what kind of results I can achieve

Thanks for the feedback, amigos The lume I used, was Revell Night Color, which, in it's 'natural state', is pretty gritty in texture, so I think I'd certainly be interested to try with proper lume powder and clear nail varnish (if that's the correct mix) as I think I'd get a much smoother application. I think this is just one of those things which requires practice, practice, and more practice

[Edit to add]

Here's a quick shot showing how it looks cased up and on the wrist

Nothing to be getting excited over, but I figured I'd have a go at re-luming the dial of my vintage sub. Yes, I loved the coffee color the markers had scorched, but, their luminousity was non-existent, and as that's such a crucial aspect of a dial for me, I felt it was time to up the ante and try my hand at something new. I'll preface this, by saying that painting is probably the artistic medium I am least comfortable and practiced with. (It would be fair to say I don't paint at all, other than spray cans or abstract brushwork)

Overall, I am relatively happy with the results. I wouldn't say I re-lumed it 100% successfully, as it took me a few attempts to get the paint consistency correct, and that lead to a few smudges during removal. After two attempts, I decided to try grinding the paint pestle and mortar-style to get a smoother consistency, and that went on nicely It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm more happy that not with the results, and for a first attempt, and considering I did it without any magnification, I definitely think things could have gone worse. I'm looking at it this way: I don't feel the need to replace the dial, so feeling more than over the outcome In addition to painting the lume into place, once the paint was partially dry, I used the flat side of the screwdriver of my pocket knife to apply a very gentle, even pressure, just to help flatten out the paint, which was more 'sausage-like', than I would have liked. I'm not sure if I'd re-lume a dial again, but I wouldn't totally rule it out if I really needed to do so on a project One thing I did as preperation, and which I found very helpful, was I practiced with the printing on a promotional flyer, to get myself 'into the zone' of tiny applications, and sharp edges The glare from the flash has made the smudges appear worse than they are to the naked eye, and the dark 'sploches' on the dial are where I rubbed over it with the oils on my skin to create a little texture, which again, is nowhere near as severe to the naked eye

My 'workstation'

Steady...

Outcome:

Closeup outcome showing smudges...

thats for sure a great collection, i hope you find all the watches you want, but im sure it will so

Thanks I had several watches in my previous collection which hardly got worn, so I think the best thing to do while rebuilding my collection, is to only have a few key watches for particular occasions or situations, so there's more opportunity to wear them all (maybe not equally, but each would get its time), rather than just having a lot of unworn watches

All I need to do now, is acquire them

Absolutely fantastic The Snowflake Tudor is one of (if not) my favorite watches, and Kangaroo is my favorite meat, so a winning combo for sure

aleyk