16750 hands tend to corrode early?

[clock]

Hello,

Do they corrode faster than hands on a 1675?
If yes, did Rolex change the material on the hands?

[watchcrank]

I've had more than of few of those and original hands are almost always corroded and pitted. I think whatever they were using at the time was defective. Kind of like the early Nissan Z car I had :-) It would rust as you washed it! LOL And as to 1675 hands hold up well. If moisture gets in any will pit of course. M

[waspy1]

Late 70s 1675 and early 16750 seemed to have this problem from what I've seen


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[clock]

Originally Posted by waspy1

Late 70s 1675 and early 16750 seemed to have this problem from what I've seen


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Is a serial of 8.1 mil considered early for a 16750?

[JustinK]

Originally Posted by clock

Is a serial of 8.1 mil considered early for a 16750?

I think they were introduced in 1979 or 1980 so no.

[JerimiahLee]

The 16750s are notorious for corroding early. This is why you will find most examples with replacement luminova hands.

I will dig up a few examples I have had in the past with the typical corrosion and share them here.

[springer]

Originally Posted by JustinK

I think they were introduced in 1979 or 1980 so no.

Yes they do. Not all, but 1980 is in the time frame with corrosion issues.

[clock]

Is it likely my hands will corrode?
Concerned.

[clock]

My hands are getting old, I meant the hands on the watch

[springer]

Originally Posted by clock

Is it likely my hands will corrode?
Concerned.

Yes Richard, they will, and when it starts it will take over like a plague, First the hands, then the dial then the case turns orange from rust. You'll realize the corrosion has taken over about the time the bracelet falls off your wrist!!! The only cure is to buy a vintage Heuer which is what I did. No rust, no fuss!!! Enjoy your watch, and don't worry, everything looks just fine with your watch.

[nycpassat]

Originally Posted by springer

Yes Richard, they will, and when it starts it will take over like a plague, First the hands, then the dial then the case turns orange from rust. You'll realize the corrosion has taken over about the time the bracelet falls off your wrist!!! The only cure is to buy a vintage Heuer which is what I did. No rust, no fuss!!! Enjoy your watch, and don't worry, everything looks just fine with your watch.

Been waiting to have you show off your Monaco. Nice touch!

[waspy1]

Originally Posted by clock

Is it likely my hands will corrode?

Concerned.

I don't see a problem with yours. If they have lasted 30 years then I think they'll be fine. A lot of the problem hands must have shown up early and been changed out since so many from this time have replacements. Especially the gold / two tone models from what I can tell.


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[clock]

Originally Posted by springer

Yes Richard, they will, and when it starts it will take over like a plague, First the hands, then the dial then the case turns orange from rust. You'll realize the corrosion has taken over about the time the bracelet falls off your wrist!!! The only cure is to buy a vintage Heuer which is what I did. No rust, no fuss!!! Enjoy your watch, and don't worry, everything looks just fine with your watch.

I actually laughed out loud!
Thank you for that.

[RC2]

Holy crap really! Lucky I changed out my vintage dial and hands with service luminova. Much safer!

[Dalton]

Originally Posted by springer

Yes Richard, they will, and when it starts it will take over like a plague, First the hands, then the dial then the case turns orange from rust. You'll realize the corrosion has taken over about the time the bracelet falls off your wrist!!! The only cure is to buy a vintage Heuer which is what I did. No rust, no fuss!!! Enjoy your watch, and don't worry, everything looks just fine with your watch.

Nice move John!

[jyan212]

Originally Posted by JerimiahLee

The 16750s are notorious for corroding early. This is why you will find most examples with replacement luminova hands.

I will dig up a few examples I have had in the past with the typical corrosion and share them here.

Some examples attached. Despite the corrosion, I think they add a nice character to the watch.

[Andad]

IMO this is not corrosion.

Tritium is incorporated in a luminescent filler material which could be a Zinc Sulphate polymer.

The polymer is activated by radiation and glows for a period of time based on the 12.3 year half life of the Tritium.

This chemical reaction breaks down the polymer and is seen as 'corrosion' of the lume.

Exposure of the Tritium lume to sunlight does not increase the brightness or longevity of the lume by any significant amount.

A very simplified explaination and any corrections are welcomed.

[soundserious]

Very hard to find matching tritium replacement hands for...

[springer]

Originally Posted by Dalton

Nice move John!

Dalton, good to see you are still around the forum. I hope all is going well for you and wish you the best.

Take care.

[waspy1]

Originally Posted by directioneng

IMO this is not corrosion.



Tritium is incorporated in a luminescent filler material which could be a Zinc Sulphate polymer.



The polymer is activated by radiation and glows for a period of time based on the 12.3 year half life of the Tritium.



This chemical reaction breaks down the polymer and is seen as 'corrosion' of the lume.



Exposure of the Tritium lume to sunlight does not increase the brightness or longevity of the lume by any significant amount.



A very simplified explaination and any corrections are welcomed.

What we are referring to is the corrosion on the metal hands. This may well be due to the metal or plating reacting with the lume but it does seem that there is a period of time in the late 70s to mid eighties where the hands degraded and were subsequently changed. Earlier tritium hands and hands up to the change to luminova around 2000 seem to be better.


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[Jetkopite]

Yeah I dont know why the corrosion happened on these early 16750 but here is a classic of my 16750 (1979/80) with corroded hands.

At first they bothered me and was searching for replacement hands but thought I would leave it alone as these are the original hands and in the vintage world anything original to the watch is king!!!

[PoderEsBueno]

That is a nice one Andy ^^

[Dalton]

Originally Posted by springer

Dalton, good to see you are still around the forum. I hope all is going well for you and wish you the best.

Take care.

Thanks John! Its good to be here.

[Jetkopite]

Originally Posted by PoderEsBueno

That is a nice one Andy ^^

Thanks buddy yeah this GMT is unpolished and is my flying companion around the globe...

[watchcrank]

Originally Posted by springer

Yes Richard, they will, and when it starts it will take over like a plague, First the hands, then the dial then the case turns orange from rust. You'll realize the corrosion has taken over about the time the bracelet falls off your wrist!!! The only cure is to buy a vintage Heuer which is what I did. No rust, no fuss!!! Enjoy your watch, and don't worry, everything looks just fine with your watch.

To funny, why show that darn thing. I told the seller he sold to cheap and get it back and sell to me :-)

What JP says, wear that watch, its a beauty. Find a faded insert or two and change up if that's your bag too. M

[clock]

Originally Posted by watchcrank

To funny, why show that darn thing. I told the seller he sold to cheap and get it back and sell to me :-)

What JP says, wear that watch, its a beauty. Find a faded insert or two and change up if that's your bag too. M

A period correct fat font insert sounds good.
Thanks!

[watchcrank]

Period correct would be nice but not really a fat font like early GMT's and Subs :-)
The serifs etc. are the thing, JP and Greekbum should have some shots of correct ones for your lovely watch. M

Doesn't mean you can't put one on for fun, even black for a change.

[MILGAUSS88]

Throwing this out as a possibility.
I have had many pocket watches with rusted hands.
The culprit. A plastic crystal.
Not all, but some plastics release a gas that cause corrosion, which on a watch gets trapped. inside.
I think that Rolex using a different formula for their plastic crystals during this time, would be more likely than a different metal for the hands.

[linesiders]

Originally Posted by watchcrank

Kind of like the early Nissan Z car I had :-) It would rust as you washed it! LOL

I had one of those with so much rot it probably weighed under 2,000 pounds. And it was only 14 years old at the time. I am debating getting one and putting a fuel injected small block V8 in it

[watchcrank]

Originally Posted by linesiders

I had one of those with so much rot it probably weighed under 2,000 pounds. And it was only 14 years old at the time. I am debating getting one and putting a fuel injected small block V8 in it

But you will have to do a lot of sub frame work to allow it to hold up. Having worked on an MG conversion and Porsche 924 its expensive as you really have to just add the body to a complete sub frame with all components or you have a death trap :-)