metaljesus Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 Hi folks. I've recently bought a used gen 16610. Its quite old, 19 years infact, and so has zero lume left. Rolex will only re-lume it with a full service. It has been recently serviced, but not by rolex, and is currently +/- 3 secs a day, so I dont feel like paying for a full Rolex service. Does anyone know any avenues for having a gen re-lumed appart from the modders on here? I dont want to send it to the US (I'm in the UK) but I guess I'd be happy to send it to Domi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 For a tritium dial, I'd keep it original (i.e. no relume); that is, if you want the watch to retain it's actual value. If you want lume on your dial, I'd suggest that you purchase a genuine current model/service replacement lumi dial off of eBay; swap it out and save the original dial in a safe place. That way, if you ever sold the watch, you have the original parts to go with it (thus holding it's resale value). An RSC would likely also swap out the dial for a service replacement anyways, but you would not receive your original dial in return from Rolex Service... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaljesus Posted March 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 Thanks for the insightful reply Ubi. To be honest I hadnt even done any reading about the lume used by rolex. I had assumed its all superluminova, but thats only since 2000. Tritium was 1984-2000 and has a life span of about 12 years. Interesting. I guess it makes sence to keep it original then. Anyone around that would re-lume with tritium? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 L serial places this watch between 1988 and 1990; that would most certainly be a tritium dial (you should see SWISS - T < 25 at 6:00). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaljesus Posted March 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 Sorry I edited my last reply that said is 'is L serial tritium?' as I did some quick research and wanted to delete the silly question before you replied. Guess you replied while i was editing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaljesus Posted March 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 Holy crap. Just reading about Tritium and thats some scary stuff. It glows without light because its midly radioactive. So may be hard to find someone to touch it up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 A gen Lumi dial shouldn't be too much- Couple hundred depending. Or, just keep the watch as-is and enjoy it in it's all original state... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaljesus Posted March 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 I'd have to grab gen hands too ... Guess ill live with it. The more I'm reading about it and understanding it the more I like it how it is anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 Most collectors would prefer original/untampered. Plus, tritium will tend to develop a nice patina with age and condition; this is preferred as well as it's viewed as character and vintage charm. My vote goes to keeping the watch as-is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaljesus Posted March 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 Yes the nice patina was one of the things I liked about this one, a follow up question was going to be if there is a lume that doesnt affect colour too much, or recommendations on a vintage lume. Thanks Ubi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 Luminova/SuperLuminova doesn't change color or age like tritium, nor does it degrade over time. So if you're looking for something that will maintain the same color/tone over it's lifetime, that would be the way to go. Zig does a fantastic vintage tone that he mixes with SL to achieve a vintage look, but one that never ages and glows like a torch... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 agree with ubi here. first off, congrats on the watch. personally I would keep the t dial too, if the glow really bothers you, then yes, get a replacement dial. otherwise, wear it with no glow and pride! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shundi Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 Most collectors would prefer original/untampered. Plus, tritium will tend to develop a nice patina with age and condition; this is preferred as well as it's viewed as character and vintage charm. My vote goes to keeping the watch as-is. Agreed... I was able to negotiate a few hundred off the asking price of one of the vintages watches I purchased last week as the original owner had the tritium hands swapped out with SL hands at a service last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 When I got my 6536 it had REALLY nasty green lume glopped on the dial. I sent it to Ziggy for a much needed servicing, and asked if he could make the dial look original again. So here are some photos, "before" and "after". It can be done but there are very few people I would consider letting try. Before After Closeup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 Agree; Zig is one of the few that I would trust this to... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jkay Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 As for Gen tritium ... there are modders who purchase tritium EXIT (for office buildings) signs ... which are openly available, then grind them up and lume watches with the tritium sign powder. As for the danger ... there is none. Tritium is so weakly radioactive that standing in the sun is much more harmful to you than wearing the watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 True, dat. Radium is the (banned) bad stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
By-Tor Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 @Nanuq: You could have sent your gen Bond Sub to me for fixing. I have delicate hands and I would have fixed the dial marker with this: @Metaljesus: Don't make the mistake and touch the original dial. Enjoy that vintage patina!! Posting pics of that beauty isn't forbidden, either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted March 3, 2010 Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 What was I thinking?! By-Tor does AMAZING work with his Tube-O-Goo lume jobs. *smacks self in forehead* Next time, my friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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