Unpolished, full set, 16750 with wgs. Would you relume?

[Rolessor82]

Hey guys,

A dealer in europe has found me a full set 16750 with white gold surround. However, the GMT hand is missing it's lume. Everything else is intact (see pic).

Question: should I relume the GMT hand or leave it as it is?

He only has one pic of it, he'll send me later more details. He is buying it from first owner.

Thank you,

[Rolessor82]

Forgot to attach pic

[Dan S]

Sure, relume the 24h hand. What are you going to do about the hour and minute hands?

[Rolessor82]

Hi Dan,

Thanks for the reply. Only relume the gmt hand. I'll leave the rest as it is.

I was thinking in, like, maybe leaving the gmt hand with no lume, maybe¿? It gives it character I think. Since everything else is original, to maybe have it 100% original. I don't know. Hence why I ask. Sure, will look better with all lume on.

Kind regards

[offrdmania]

It is 2021 and I still cant believe how bad pictures are. The camera on my phone can compete with professional camera equipment which was state of the art only 5-10 years ago.

[Rolessor82]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

It is 2021 and I still cant believe how bad pictures are. The camera on my phone can compete with professional camera equipment which was state of the art only 5-10 years ago.

Hahaha I agree. Horrible pic. Honestly don't know who or how they took it :)

[Chris]

What is the price 16k?

[stmoore]

Terrible pic. We have better photos of our solar system.
Do not buy that watch without better photos.

As far as the hands, why on earth would you just relume 1 hand? Relume them all to match the dial. If the 24hr hand was in tact then I’d say leave the color mismatch.

[Rolessor82]

Originally Posted by stmoore

Terrible pic. We have better photos of our solar system.
Do not buy that watch without better photos.

As far as the hands, why on earth would you just relume 1 hand? Relume them all to match the dial. If the 24hr hand was in tact then I’d say leave the color mismatch.

Agree. My thinking was, since it has 4 hands (three intact according to seller) and only one needing lume then leave three original and lume just one. It won't match, but it could be as close to original as it can be.

But if I do lume all hands to match he dial. Wouldn't I be reducing it's value?

Thank you

[Kingface66]

Are you sure everything else is original? The minute and hour hands look to be replaced, or have been relumed at some point (the GMT hand lime, or what's left of it, DOES seem to be original as it matches the markers). stmoore is right. Why relume just that one hand? The other two will still be mismatched.
But, moreover, if none of this info regarding the different hands was disclosed by the seller, what makes you trust him with the rest of the watch?

[Rolessor82]

Originally Posted by Kingface66

Are you sure everything else is original? The minute and hour hands look to be replaced, or have been relumed at some point (the GMT hand lime, or what's left of it, DOES seem to be original as it matches the markers). stmoore is right. Why relume just that one hand? The other two will still be mismatched.
But, moreover, if none of this info regarding the different hands was disclosed by the seller, what makes you trust him with the rest of the watch?

I know. Agree. Apparently it is all original, unpolished. When I do get more pics, I'll post them.

Thank you, appreciate your coop

[Dan S]

As I was implying originally (but has been more explicitly suggested by stmoore and kingsface66), the h/m hands (or at least their lume) are pretty clearly not original. You will not affect the value by re-doing them.

Sometimes you need to believe your own eyes more than the seller's words.

[Rolessor82]

Originally Posted by Dan S

As I was implying originally (but has been more explicitly suggested by stmoore and kingsface66), the h/m hands (or at least their lume) are pretty clearly not original. You will not affect the value by re-doing them.

Sometimes you need to believe your own eyes more than the seller's words.

Thank you Dan. To be honest and from someone relatively new to vintage rolex, I thought they could be since they do, sometimes tend to age differently.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Rolessor82

Thank you Dan. To be honest and from someone relatively new to vintage rolex, I thought they could be since they do, sometimes tend to age differently.

Yes, as you and @stmoore noted, the hands and dial don't necessarily age identically, and the photos are not very sharp. However, my gut feeling in this case is that the color difference is larger than I would expect for original hands and dial for a watch from this era. A UV shot might help if it's important to you.

Maybe more importantly, sometimes we can get so hung up on originality that we forget to ask ourselves if we like the look of the watch. The dramatic color mismatch is not terribly appealing to me.

[stmoore]

So I have seen many 16750s that have dark dial plots and many shades lighter hands. Very common. This could be all original or not. I can’t tell with that photograph of a yeti in the woods.

My larger point is assuming the rest is good, just match the hands - all of them. Make it look great. Get new and secure lume. If you don’t like that path then yes, just match the 24 hour to the min/hour.

As an aside, most of the dealers I know would have corrected this 24 hr hand ahead of offering it, likely during a service.

[Rolessor82]

Originally Posted by stmoore

So I have seen many 16750s that have dark dial plots and many shades lighter hands. Very common. This could be all original or not. I can’t tell with that photograph of a yeti in the woods.

My larger point is assuming the rest is good, just match the hands - all of them. Make it look great. Get new and secure lume. If you don’t like that path then yes, just match the 24 hour to the min/hour.

As an aside, most of the dealers I know would have corrected this 24 hr hand ahead of offering it, likely during a service.

Yeti in the woods hahahaha

[swish77]

Originally Posted by Rolessor82

Hey guys,

A dealer in europe has found me a full set 16750 with white gold surround. However, the GMT hand is missing it's lume. Everything else is intact (see pic).

Question: should I relume the GMT hand or leave it as it is?

He only has one pic of it, he'll send me later more details. He is buying it from first owner.

Thank you,

I'd pass. Dealing with buying/replacing/reluming hands is a big headache. Find an example that doesn't need messin' with.

BTW, OP, I've noticed many, many threads from you about your search for a vintage GMT with a ton of different examples. Have you actually bought one yet?

[stmoore]

Originally Posted by swish77

BTW, OP, I've noticed many, many threads from you about your search for a vintage GMT with a ton of different examples. Have you actually bought one yet?

Ha.

[Rolessor82]

Originally Posted by swish77

I'd pass. Dealing with buying/replacing/reluming hands is a big headache. Find an example that doesn't need messin' with.

BTW, OP, I've noticed many, many threads from you about your search for a vintage GMT with a ton of different examples. Have you actually bought one yet?

Yes I do Aaronm Just like Springer, I love GMTs. Love watches in general, have some Subs, Explorer, etc. But gmt the most :)

[stmoore]

Originally Posted by Rolessor82

Yes I do Aaronm Just like Springer, I love GMTs. Love watches in general, have some Subs, Explorer, etc. But gmt the most :)

But you have an incredible number of “I was offered this watch” threads. Possibly the most known…. Pretty sure Aaron was hinting at this …

[Rolessor82]

Originally Posted by stmoore

But you have an incredible number of “I was offered this watch” threads. Possibly the most known…. Pretty sure Aaron was hinting at this …

I know. An I appreciate your cooperation and knowledge. Thank you

[swish77]

Originally Posted by Rolessor82

I know. An I appreciate your cooperation and knowledge. Thank you

Nothing wrong with hunting for a lot of GMTs for a collection, of course. I was just curious, because I'm not sure I had seen a thread that concluded with a purchase, or a separate "incoming" thread about a purchase.

Good luck in your continued search!

[Rolessor82]

Here some:
1963 gmt gilt underline
1970 mk1 gmt
1965 gilt 5512
1978 radial dial
:)

[Rolessor82]

Radial

Did not upload

[swaini3]

I would pass as stated above due it being a headache matching hands. Its not an impossible watch to find so if i were you, I would wait for one I wouldnt have to mess with , unless you enjoy taking on a project or the price is too good.

[Rolessor82]

Originally Posted by swaini3

I would pass as stated above due it being a headache matching hands. Its not an impossible watch to find so if i were you, I would wait for one I wouldnt have to mess with , unless you enjoy taking on a project or the price is too good.

Thank you

[Nikrnic]

I wouldn't dare do that.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by stmoore

... why on earth would you just relume 1 hand? Relume them all to match the dial.

Agree.

Originally Posted by swish77

I'd pass. Dealing with buying/replacing/reluming hands is a big headache. Find an example that doesn't need messin' with.

Agree more.

[Rolessor82]

Hi guys,
Just a follow up. I did buy the watch. Since the seller was in Europe I had the watch shipped to a family member until I could get it. I lost a 5512 once that was sent from Europe, it was seized by US Customs.

Anyway, below more (and better) pics.

I'm thinking just reluming the 24hr hand. What you guys think?

Have a great weekend.

[swish77]

Originally Posted by Rolessor82

Hi guys,
Just a follow up. I did buy the watch. Since the seller was in Europe I had the watch shipped to a family member until I could get it. I lost a 5512 once that was sent from Europe, it was seized by US Customs.

Anyway, below more (and better) pics.

I'm thinking just reluming the 24hr hand. What you guys think?

Have a great weekend.

I’d relume all the hands to match the dial. That’s not ideal, but since you’re going down that road anyway, you might as well go all the way.

Another option would be to source a complete set of tritium hands with matching (or close) patina, although that is a tall order.

Congrats on your purchase!