Service and Reluming 1982 Oyster Perpetual 1002

[ajsmcs]

Hey, I am new to this forum, and this is my first time posting here, so forgive me for any forum faux pas.

I was recently given a 1982 Rolex 1002 Oyster Perpetual by my grandfather about a week before he unfortunately passed away. Its a beautiful watch, and I've warn it every day since I got it.

It (obviously) holds tremendous sentimental value, but I really don't care at all about "collector value" or "originality," since I don't ever plan on selling it. (though I am curious what its worth just for the sake of knowing...)

I don't think its been serviced for quite some time; definitely not within the last 5 years, and most likely not even in the last 10.

I'd really like to have it serviced. I'd also like to have it relumed.

I've been reading about a place in Herndon, VA, that has pretty glowing reviews.

First, would there be any advantages to sending it to the Rolex Service Center (RSC) over Herndon Clock and Watch (HCW)?

Ideally, I'd like to have it relumed with Tritium paint like it was when it was new, but I understand Rolex hasn't used Tritium since like 1998.

Is there anyone out there who does good Tritium reluming?

Failing that, I wouldn't mind Superluminova.

Does HCW perform reluming with SL? How about the RSC? Does anyone have experience with this process? I really don't want them to just up and replace the watch face or hands.

For the record, I believe the minute hand was either relumed or replaced some time in the past. Its the only part that will glow for any considerable period of time, and even then its for no more than a few minutes.

Any help at all is greatly appreciated. I'd love to have this watch looking and functioning like it did when my grandfather bought it new.

[Tools]

Your heirloom appears to be in excellent shape..

There is probably no benefit one way or the other who you use for a good service as long as they are reputable..

You might not be interested in originality or your watch maintaining it's value but perhaps the watch should speak up if it could, or you may want to hand it down to a future generation.. If each generation wanted to change the smile on the Mona Lisa it probably wouldn't be hanging in a museum today..

As to new lume, really, the little lume dots, no matter what you use is almost fruitless as they just aren't substantial enough to make a difference.. Almost nobody will work with radioactive lume today and the costs because of the precautions may be prohibitive. The RSC will replace the dial with a modern Luminova version; you may have to choose the new color you want.. HCW may be able to source a dial as well... In reality though, there is almost no place that you can go that you can't find a light source if you really need to look at your wristwatch..

Don't ruin the one you have, let somebody who appreciates an original dial have a shot at it..

[218225]

As said, finding someone who will relume it with tritium should be a challenge.
So next best thing would be a replacement dial. But why? The way the watch looks will change completely.

I've worn my heirloom 1655 for more than 10 year and never missed the luminous dial, BUT my new explorer II with it's SL: so cool.
Would I want it for my 1655, no. Will I change the SL on my new Explorer II in time during service? Who knows....

My advice: have a RSC or good watchmaker check the watch out, make sure it is watertight and sleep on changing the dial. It might be no big deal.
And tell them not to polish the outside of the watch!!! IMHO it ruins it, by removing all sharp edges.

Just my 0.02ct

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using Tapatalk 4

[crowncollection]

a good serivice, waterproof and new crystal, i would not touch the dial it lookls great

[joe100]

Don't touch the dial. Service the movement and wear it. Don't fiddle

[RolexPete]

I wouldn't touch the dial either.

[highcotton]

If you decide to have it relumed you should check out Kent Parks. I saw a 5513 a few weeks ago that he did with the vintage look super luminova and it looked perfect. 99.9% if the people who see it will never know. (97% of the people on this board)

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by highcotton

If you decide to have it relumed you should check out Kent Parks. I saw a 5513 a few weeks ago that he did with the vintage look super luminova and it looked perfect. 99.9% if the people who see it will never know. (97% of the people on this board)

Just checked his work . . .

Not that I would ever have it done . . .

HAGWe

[ajsmcs]

Thanks for all your responses!

I just saw the post with the Kent Parks watch, and it looked really slick.

Yeah, I definitely do NOT want to replace the face of the watch. That is definitely something on which I and the collectors will agree.

I have a weird situation with the hands, though. As I mentioned, it looks like one of them was replaced some time in the past.

The hour hand has sort of an aged yellow look to the lume and doesn't glow more than half a second or two after exposure to bright light.

However, the lume on the minute hand is a bright white color, and will glow brightly for several minutes before fading.

I really do like the functionality of the glow, but it bugs me more that the lume on the hands doesn't match.

I'm thinking maybe I'll leave the watch face alone, but look into getting both hands relumed with that sort of vintage look. How much do you think that would cost?

All in all, I'm really excited to have this watch serviced, polished, and looking like new. I've already spent a lot of time cleaning all of the dirt and grime off of the case and band, and I can't wait to see what a pro can do.

[218225]

Do not have it polished.......

Verstuurd van mijn ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T met Tapatalk

[dysondiver]

service and a crysta , wear it as it is , enjoy

[cocopeep]

It really wont be the same watch that was handed down to you if you replaced the dial.

[Jason71]

Get the hands relumed by Kent Parks since they don't match and conceivably one is a service replacement. Kent relumed my 5513. It had service replacement hands and a poorly relumed dial. Now, the dial and hands match and the it "appears" vintage with the tinted lume. No person would be deceived into thinking it is original since it glows quite brightly after exposure to UV light.

My recommendation? As stated above, relume the hands since they don't match and it is evident to you that one is service replacement. Leave the dial alone since it is original and looks great.

My 2c

(BTW, kent is very affordable IMHO. I can't remember exactly the charge for my relume job, but it was below $200 if I remember correctly)

[ajsmcs]

Once again, I have no intention of replacing the dial. It wouldn't be the same watch to me. :)

This is actually my first high end watch. I really hadn't worn a watch in 5 or 6 years. Now I where this one every day.

I really like how understated and minimalist it all is. The whole thing is just stainless steel and white. I like watches like the GMT and Submariner, but there's just something nice about a watch that's very clean and elegant looking.

He gave me the first pick between his two watches. The other was a 14k gold battery powered Cyma. Even though it was a pretty flashy looking watch, it was still surprisingly understated by flashy watch standards. Still, golds not my style, so I went with the Rolex. Plus, I love the fact that the whole thing is 100% purely mechanical, and will essentially never stop running as long as I wear it continuously.

[swish77]

Another option is to send it/take it to a Rolex Service Center for an overhaul. They'll most likely recommend switching the dial and hands, along with a polish and movement service. You could insist on leaving the dial alone (and decline the polish), but you could allow them to install new hands, which would glow. Since your current hands don't match anyway, and you want the hands to glow, that might be your best option. And you'll have a movement service, new crystal and Rolex paperwork, too. It wouldn't be cheap, but that's probably what I would do because it was your grandfather's and you want to preserve it as best you can. Good luck either way! Great watch.

[vintagewaferthin]

If you get the hands relumed, they will most definatly be relumed in non radioactive superluminova. The main reason why no watchmaker will relume with tritium is simply because it is dangerous in its raw form(removed from the dial and case). personally, i feel that you should just leave the dial the way it is. The tritium has taken on quite a nice patina.

[MUCCI416]

Im also having the same problem with the hands on my 5513...they no longer glow very long and 1 third of the hour hand lume has fallen off and is under the crystal above the 12 oclock...I asked Al of Archer watches if he could relume in luminova but said it would greatly devalue the watch, he said he could stabilize the lume but i would really like to see the hands in the dark as the tritium hour markers do not glow at all! any suggestions?

[swish77]

Originally Posted by MUCCI416

Im also having the same problem with the hands on my 5513...they no longer glow very long and 1 third of the hour hand lume has fallen off and is under the crystal above the 12 oclock...I asked Al of Archer watches if he could relume in luminova but said it would greatly devalue the watch, he said he could stabilize the lume but i would really like to see the hands in the dark as the tritium hour markers do not glow at all! any suggestions?

There are restoration guys, including Bob Ridley, who can color match modern luminous to different shades of tritium patina. So, you could actually have the hands relumed to the same color as the tritium on the dial to give a uniform look, and they would glow! That's probably what I would do because you need to fix the hands anyway, although in a perfect world you would just track down a new set of tritium hands for your Sub. (They wouldn't glow, though.) You should really take care of that soon. I wouldn't like that chunk of tritium floating around the dial face. Presumably more is on the way from the hands. Good luck!

[MitchSteel]

All sound advice above.Proper service, no polish, or very light polish.DONOT relume anything!!Wear it proudly!

[Cc1966]

Originally Posted by MitchSteel

All sound advice above.Proper service, no polish, or very light polish.DONOT relume anything!!Wear it proudly!

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