RWG Technical Posted April 1, 2006 Report Posted April 1, 2006 (edited) Fixing watches is a lonely world, I sit alone and do my work, and once the case back goes on, the craftsmanship and attention to detail is hidden from view... When I relume a watch, the situation is different, the owner gets to see my work everytime he checks the time. So as I do with the stuff you can't see (but I can see it and that does matter) I take great pride and think I can do a good job for my customers when it comes to lume work. I have never had the chance to compare my lume work to anyone else's, until tonight. It so happens I just finished an OEM dial in vinatge look, and got a vinatge one in for other work (not relume as it's already been done...ahhhem...). So except for one other time when a detailed picture was posted about lume, this is my first experience. Well I can say I am quite proud of my workmanship and skills, no words are need from now on, you can see for yourself... I have no idea who did the lume on this one... Other LUME job My Lume job Other LUME job My Lume job Other LUME job My Lume job Other LUME job My Lume job Other LUME job My Lume job I know I have mistakes and imperfections on the one I did, but I think I can say that I do a pretty good job overall... RG Edited April 1, 2006 by ziggyzumba
chris5264 Posted April 1, 2006 Report Posted April 1, 2006 From my work with dials, I would guess that the top dial was my attempt at relum. Great job, I have messed up with dials just enough to know that I can't imagine doing a dial like yours. I will probably try the re luming some day. The more I work with watches the more I appreciate the skill and years behind those that do it well...great pics,,,,,,,,,thanks for the inspiration..
pitimany Posted April 1, 2006 Report Posted April 1, 2006 (edited) From my work with dials, I would guess that the top dial was my attempt at relum. Great job, I have messed up with dials just enough to know that I can't imagine doing a dial like yours. I will probably try the re luming some day. The more I work with watches the more I appreciate the skill and years behind those that do it well...great pics,,,,,,,,,thanks for the inspiration.. I agree with you 100%. But, I think "Other LUME job" was my last attempt to relum. Very nice work. Edited April 1, 2006 by pitimany
Faber Posted April 1, 2006 Report Posted April 1, 2006 your lume job looks like oem specs and quality...fantastic
KenMc Posted April 1, 2006 Report Posted April 1, 2006 I bet I can name the other lumer in less than 3 guesses !!! Excellent work, I still marvel at the relume you did on my TAG Heuer and EL YM.
Craytonic Posted April 1, 2006 Report Posted April 1, 2006 Very impressive, can't wait to get my fiddy back from The Zigmeister.
XRT Posted April 1, 2006 Report Posted April 1, 2006 Fantastic lume work on that dial. Looks remarkably smooth and even...and not too puffy.
TomBombadil Posted April 1, 2006 Report Posted April 1, 2006 Don't know how you do it Zig. You are the man!
Guest TTK Posted April 1, 2006 Report Posted April 1, 2006 (edited) OK....OK.....OK....so you're really really good at re-luming.......( seriously good )......great work Rob....and good pics... ..! Edited April 1, 2006 by TTK
jsph Posted April 1, 2006 Report Posted April 1, 2006 The Zigmeister, there is no doubt you are incredible at what you do. and very rare. i just hope one day i'll have a deserving watch, and the funds, to get the The Zigmeister treatment! maybe someday soon if i'm lucky. frankly, i can't even picture how you do what you do, in the lume department. how?! have someone take pictures of your godly hands at work or something. holy smokes. jsph
pitimany Posted April 1, 2006 Report Posted April 1, 2006 "incredible" is been cheap . TTK said "really really good at re-luming.......( seriously good )......"
Highflyingclive Posted April 1, 2006 Report Posted April 1, 2006 impressive That's an understatement. I'm gobsmacked!
Sherrington Posted April 1, 2006 Report Posted April 1, 2006 Is there a difference? Only kidding. Absolutley fantastic work Rob
RWG Technical Posted April 1, 2006 Author Report Posted April 1, 2006 Thanks for the comments... Seriously I have no idea who did the work on the other dial, and it really doesn't matter to me. It is nice to be able to have something to compare yourself against, as I tend to be a bit anal (ok a lot anal) and am disapointed when I see the small imperfections on my dial...but from now on, I think I will be a bit easier on myself... Have a great weekend, I wont' be back till sunday night... RG
jraines87 Posted April 1, 2006 Report Posted April 1, 2006 Excellent comparison Rob.... Can't imagine how hard that is to do...
Finepics Posted April 1, 2006 Report Posted April 1, 2006 I had a similar experience with another member who sent me a watch that he had tried to re-lume as well with even worse results - luckily it was a sandwich dial and I was just about able to rescue it (it really was a mess). For anyone thinking of doing this take note - it is not easy at all, even though it does not look like there is much to it. Tritec makes at least 5 different binders/varnishes to suit different techniques and styles so it's not just a case of mixing it and painting it on. When you have done a 196 (as The Zigmeister has also done many of) you begin to see how really hard this is work is when you are dealing in .5 mm You would not believe the intense concentration needed (I sometimes get muscle spasms as a result), I think I remember Paplatine once saying he would never do another 196, and it certainly separates the men from the boys - so to speak!!
KenMc Posted April 1, 2006 Report Posted April 1, 2006 It may be helpful to remind / or inform members that ZZ's other hobby is highly detailed oil paintings, usually of airplanes. ZZ's skills come from years of holding a brush, and more recently applying those same fine motor skills to watches. Lots of people have the skills to do fine detail work, fewer still are capable of such artwork. I have a lot of respect for ZZ and also fully respect the other talented people that willingly admit that reluming is not for them.
8o8 Posted April 2, 2006 Report Posted April 2, 2006 gobsmacked! yes, thats the word I was looking for.
cwai02 Posted April 2, 2006 Report Posted April 2, 2006 I am sure you are doing it for hobby instead of money. What a fantastic work, The Zigmeister. Be very proud of your work.
Guest Carl Posted April 6, 2006 Report Posted April 6, 2006 That's an understatement. I'm gobsmacked! Gobsmacked! I haven't heard that since I worked with a retired RSM of the Royal Engineers... Carl
Finepics Posted April 6, 2006 Report Posted April 6, 2006 RSM = Regimental Sergeant Major, A title for a senior Warrant Officer Class 1 and is the highest non commissioned rank for a soldier (A fully Comissioned Officer is the next step) just in case anyone was wondering.
Guest Carl Posted April 9, 2006 Report Posted April 9, 2006 RSM = Regimental Sergeant Major, A title for a senior Warrant Officer Class 1 and is the highest non commissioned rank for a soldier (A fully Comissioned Officer is the next step) just in case anyone was wondering. Yes of course. Just watched a fascinating program on the telly about Windsor Castle and HM The Queen. The chief butt-kicker in the whole operation at Windsor Castle was the RSM of the Welsh Guards who was very professional and very impressive in every way. The RSM's are far more rare than comissioned officers and far more valuable to the Army than most other officers.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now