Rolex Datejust 16030 Relume or not?

[Dijkma44]

Hi all,

First off thanks for taking the time to review my first vintage Rolex purchase. I bought a vintage 16030. I'm pretty sure it's relumed, wanted to see if some of you experts doubt this since it looks like a pretty decent job and I read a lot of stories that must relume jobs look terrible. Thanks for your help!

Best,

Cris

[330ci]

Looks fine to me. There’s so much variation with these dots it’s really hard to tell though unless you look with a loop around the area. Generally you will see some remnants on the previous dot was removed

[vintagewaferthin]

I am by no means an expert, but to my eye, I almost wanna say it looks original, but not totally sure. If it is relumed, it was a good job, as they look even in size, and dont have that nasty green color that some relume jobs seem to have. Do the plots and hands glow?

[Dijkma44]

Thanks for your replies. The dots and the hands do glow for a little bit when exposed to light and then to dark, that's my concern.

[Dan S]

Looks like a pie-pan dial, are you sure it's a 16030?

[offrdmania]

Yeah, looks like a 1603 to me

[Dijkma44]

Sorry! 1603 ofcourse.

[Dijkma44]

Here is another picture with some daylight...

[Dijkma44]

I can post more pictures if needed. Thank you for helping out!

[330ci]

Originally Posted by Dijkma44

I can post more pictures if needed. Thank you for helping out!

it's fine if it glows briefly, just shouldn't be super bright for more than a few minutes. I can see a faint glow as long as my eyes are adjusted most any time of the night though if I really try to focus

[Dijkma44]

Originally Posted by 330ci

it's fine if it glows briefly, just shouldn't be super bright for more than a few minutes. I can see a faint glow as long as my eyes are adjusted most any time of the night though if I really try to focus

Yes. It only lights up if I shine the flashlight of my phone on it for instance. Just checking to see if everything about this dial is authentic. Seems super neat for a 50 year old dial. I am really happy with it being so crisp.

[Dan S]

It seems to me that many of these silver dials have held up really well.

[Dijkma44]

Thank you Dan. Any one else has an opinion on this?

[Highpolish]

I'd say it looks good given the dial itself doesn't seem to have any signs of oxidation.


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[Dijkma44]

Thanks! I guess it’s really well preserved then. It keeps track of time perfect also!

[Yachtbuoy]

Yeah, looks good to me. As an earlier poster said, these silver sunburst dials have aged extremely well, my 1603 has an silver sunburst dial and it's similarly survived the years in immaculate condition.

[swish77]

Get yourself a $10 UV flashlight and shine it on the dial. That could give you your answer.

Under UV, if the look of the tritium is white-ish, uniform and matches the look of the hands, AND the glow fades quickly, I'd guess the DJ has not been re-lumed.

For comparison, here's a UV shot of my 6263 with original tritium.

[Dijkma44]

Thanks, this is when I light the dial with my phone flaslight, it only lasts a second or so.

[Model12]

Looks and acts a lot like my 1979 5500.

[Dijkma44]

Thanks!