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214270Explorer · 3 May 2021, 02:35 AM

NO problem there, maibilly. This is normal.
Deterioration of lume dots is very common (almost certain) in the older references.
My year 1987 #R150533 OPD has several dots that have done that. One dot is almost gone, and the other is half gone. (They appear as though they have been chewed by rats! Heh!) Also the lume is no good after 12 years or so as the half-life of Tritium is about 12.3 years. The lume gradually fades over the years.
(The non-Tritium Superluminova used today is not supposed to go bad, BUT it is not the greatest lume.)
The amount of "dust" is minimal and I have never heard of movement damages from it.
Any tiny amount of dust is cleaned away automatically during a service, anyway.
As it goes, you and I are both lucky to have so little deterioration of our watches.
I would not give this issue another thought.
P.S. "Vintage watches rule!"

P.P.S. Welcome to the forum.

3 May 2021, 02:35 AM	#2
214270Explorer "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: United States Watch: me buy Watches Posts: 3,955	NO problem there, maibilly. This is normal. Deterioration of lume dots is very common (almost certain) in the older references. My year 1987 #R150533 OPD has several dots that have done that. One dot is almost gone, and the other is half gone. (They appear as though they have been chewed by rats! Heh!) Also the lume is no good after 12 years or so as the half-life of Tritium is about 12.3 years. The lume gradually fades over the years. (The non-Tritium Superluminova used today is not supposed to go bad, BUT it is not the greatest lume.) The amount of "dust" is minimal and I have never heard of movement damages from it. Any tiny amount of dust is cleaned away automatically during a service, anyway. As it goes, you and I are both lucky to have so little deterioration of our watches. I would not give this issue another thought. P.S. "Vintage watches rule!" P.P.S. Welcome to the forum. __________________ “The display of actual intelligence terrifies much of mankind” Rolex "some" Tudor "some" Damasko "some" Misc Pieces "some" Marathon "some" GS Spring Drive "some" Hamilton "some" Findeisen "some"