re-lume?

[Castor]

I have an acquaintance who's grand-father is going to gift him his old daily wear Submariner from the late 50's or early 60's, a gift to himself after getting out of the Canadian Navy; I don't know the reference number of the watch. It's been serviced every 10-15 years & the crystal has been replaced at least once. It still runs excellent (within COSC), but the lume has long since stopped luming or shining (better word please).

He hates the fact that it doesn't shine anymore (as does his grand-father). It's due for another service in the next year or two (the crystal will be replaced then as it's quite scratched), & he wants to know if the hands & the dial can be re-lumed? He plans to use it as a daily wearer in honour of his grand-father & doesn't want the hands or dial to be replaced he just wants the lume to function properly again. He saw my Rolex & asked me about re-luming. I told him I didn't know but that I would ask here.

As the watch is an heirloom he has no plans to sell it, so maintaining its monetary value is irrelevant, but having it function properly & keeping it as original as possible is important.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Dom_Rellik]

i feel you can have new dial/hands replaced at rsc when you send the watch in.
it would be replaced with whatever is with the watch and fits ie: if i sent in my chocolate daytona and said give me the black face or white face they can because it's for that watch but not the paul newman or panda that is for the 116518/519.

[REFZ]

Don't mess with (the lume of) a vintage Submariner!!

[Jason71]

Post pics. Originality is EVERYTHING with these vintage watches. DON'T allow your friend to have anything changed on the watch until you post pictures of it and receive sound advice here. Service dials, relume, service hands, etc........all adversely affect intrinsic value.

[rebel_1]

I'd keep the vintage the way it is. If he wants new Luke, he should get a newer version with SL, IMHO.

[Mystro]

Leave it as it is. Rolex lume sucks anyway.

[datejust24]

As stated...don't have the watch relumed or have the dial and or hands replaced....hell I wouldn't even replace the plexi...use a bit of Polywatch and it'll clean right up...again as stated above, originality is everything and from what your explaining about the piece and the year range...your friend potentially is about to acquire a very valuable watch....I understand he doesn't care about monetary value but rather functionality which is fine but I would recommend your friend heed the advice given here. Cheers

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Castor

. . .
As the watch is an heirloom he has no plans to sell it, so maintaining its monetary value is irrelevant, but having it function properly & keeping it as original as possible is important.

Any advice would be appreciated.

This is short sighted. It's like taking the Mona Lisa and putting on a different smile because you don't plan to sell it. Plans change, circumstances change.

Destroying the value by a re-lume is an act that cannot be undone.

It's also of very little practical value either. Watch lume is just not that good, even in the best of conditions; you can always find a light source to know the time if it's that important.

[GEORGE505]

Don't relume it. I would source new hands and dial and have it done at a good independent watch maker so you can keep the original hands and dial. Otherwise I would leave it alone but don't mess up a great dial please!

[Suboc]

If it still retains a gilt chapter-ring dial, those alone if untouched can be worth several thousand. I would absolutely keep it as is, and NOT touch the dial. HOWEVER, if he is dead set on fully functional hands and dial, find a luminova (service dial and handset) in the sales corner and have a watchmaker install it. Then he can keep the original dial(preferably) or sell it for a chunk of money easily more than what you will pay for the new dial, hands and service. Having it relumed might not matter to him now (monetarily) but it might in the future. Once it's done, it's done and can't be reversed. As others have said, the lume is overrated anyways. Please post some photos.

[Castor]

Thanks for the replies. I don't have any photos & it was a question from a distant acquaintance anyway. I will pass on your advice.

[Castor]

Originally Posted by GEORGE505

Don't relume it. I would source new hands and dial and have it done at a good independent watch maker so you can keep the original hands and dial. Otherwise I would leave it alone but don't mess up a great dial please!

This is a great piece of advice! Thanks. Will pass it on.

[dieseldragon]

tell him to join the forum and post pics!