your opinions on the 5513 PCG underline please ?

[Robbyvm]

hello,

could i have your input on this 5513 Gilt please ? I could go see it in person this week as it is sold (by a reputable dealer) not far from my home but i would like the experts to give their honest and critical opinion
thanks !

[Vincent65]

looks like re-lume on hands and dial

[Beaumont Miller II]

It's not a relume. The tritium on the hour plots has been scratched or is flaking off. Hands are a poor match to the remnants of tritium still present. That would be enough for me to keep looking.

[Robbyvm]

2 bigger pictures...

[Beelzy]

It looks to me that the dial has had some of the Original lume dusted off and the hands were changed out to match the dial as close as possible.

The reason I say the hands were changed at some point is the deterioration on them doesn't seem to match the age of the watch. All of this is my opinion of course.

[Rikki]

Dial lume has been washed it's a process that's being used alot these days been seeing many of these lately. Rikki

[RC2]

What does washed mean? I always thought it described water damage.

[Kiwinz]

Originally Posted by RC2

What does washed mean?

x2

Could someone please explain, Thanks.

[mdw3]

The lume on this particular dial has not been "washed." I have purchased several dials of this type (5513 underline from 1963) loose out of old watchmakers' and parts-house stock, and in most cases the lume had similarly disintegrated and fled the dial. For some reason, the lume compound used in this very specific period is extraordinarily prone to becoming powdery and loose, and leaving only a thin coating of luminous matter adhered to the white plots beneath. Also interesting to note-- this particular watch has the more unusual underline at 6 o'clock, not above the center post, as is more typically seen on the 5513. Watch looks fine, it will be a matter of whether it speaks to you personally when you view it. An unusual variant, to be sure.

Michael

[Robbyvm]

so to you there it seems all original Michael ?
the seller states that the dial and hands are untouched, case seems in good condition as the bracelet (is the riveted bracelet correct for this period '63)
your opinions on the bezel, insert and pearl ?

[Beaumont Miller II]

Rob a word of caution if I may. If I asked a dealer if the hands were original to the watch, and his reply was that they are untouched, I would think he was being evasive. To me untouched means unaltered from new...not original. For example on a 5513 Milsub you could have the original sword hand sealed from the back to help protect the lume. This is a great idea...original and altered.

[mdw3]

It is really impossible to say whether the hands are original to any vintage watch, unless you have owned it from new and never serviced it. The hands look fine, I wouldn't hazard a guess as to whether they are original to this particular watch or not. Gilt watches from this period are often seen without gilt hands, and this can be normal and acceptable for watches in this serial range (i.e., 1.0-1.3M). So, in this case, I would say only that the hands are of the correct type and do not appear to be brand new. Hands can always be changed to a more pleasing set, if you desire, and for a modest additional cost, so I wouldn't allow that to drive your ultimate decision-making on an otherwise fairly scarce model.

The bezel is of the correct type, and the pearl seems to have a color shade similar to that on the hands. So, all together, I would say the watch appears fairly correct. I would note, however, that the case seems only average, and the whole impression I get (at least from the photos), is not one of any particular "magic" in terms of the overall appearance. it does tick all of the boxes, and doesn't seem to be a watch recently "lashed-up" for sale, and the dial is actually pretty pleasing, as compared to what I have seen and owned previously in an underline 5513. You will have to make your decision when you actually see the watch in person, but I would just say that the single most important factor I think about when evaluating a vintage watch, beyond whether the lume, pearl, hands or crown are correct and/or original, is whether it is pretty.

Michael

[Kingair]

I really enjoyed it again reading the comments !

Great job you are all doing on this forum !

So Robby . . . if the price is right . . . ;-)

Call me and we'll drink a beer together to celebrate the new one in your collection !

Good luck

HAGOne

[mrarchiegoodwin]

Originally Posted by Kingair

I really enjoyed it again reading the comments !

Great job you are all doing on this forum !

Good luck

HAGOne

Indeed! Thanks to everybody for this.

[Robbyvm]

Great feedback from a lot of people... Opinions are different that's for sure !
I'll try to check it out this weekend and we'll see if i'm charmed when it's on the wrist and i see it in day/sunlight
Thx to all of you !

[Warnsboy]

Originally Posted by Beaumont Miller II

Rob a word of caution if I may. If I asked a dealer if the hands were original to the watch, and his reply was that they are untouched, I would think he was being evasive. To me untouched means unaltered from new...not original. For example on a 5513 Milsub you could have the original sword hand sealed from the back to help protect the lume. This is a great idea...original and altered.

Beau....Does sealing from the back of hands affect value?