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Ashton_Horologist · 12 April 2020, 12:19 AM

Hi Guys,

Hope everyone is staying safe right now. Crazy times indeed!

Just wanted to take your kind of things with the beautiful Snowflake I recently had come through the workshop. Enjoy! The bezel and dial are just beautiful.

https://ashtontracy.ca/2020/04/09/tu...wflake-9411-0/

swish77 · 12 April 2020, 12:27 AM

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

What's the thought about the dial damage? Water/moisture intrusion? And interesting about the different patina on the hands, although perhaps they were changed at some point.

Ashton_Horologist · 12 April 2020, 12:45 AM

Im honestly not sure why the dials end up like this. I’ve seen it on other snowflake dials before. I personally think it looks very cool.

I have no idea about the hands, they may have been changed. Or the difference in colour may be from the dial damage and it didn’t affect the hands.

harry in montreal · 12 April 2020, 03:13 AM

You do great work! I communicated with you over the winter for some help with bad hands on my 9411. I look forward to visiting you when all this insanity is behind us. Please be safe and best regards from Montreal.

Ashton_Horologist · 13 April 2020, 02:25 AM

I do remember Harry, and whenever you are ready, just let me know. I’m actually set up at home and won’t be going back toy old workshop. I live between Ottawa and Montreal so the drive will be a little easier for you!

SAAS · 13 April 2020, 04:30 AM

Very nice work! Beautiful piece

996marty · 13 April 2020, 08:03 AM

Lovely work is that fascinating to see the process and before and after shots

haven_seeker · 13 April 2020, 09:16 AM

I love threads like these! (well, I mean threads that contain info like the link!!)

larryccf · 13 April 2020, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashton_Horologist

Im honestly not sure why the dials end up like this. I’ve seen it on other snowflake dials before. I personally think it looks very cool.

I have no idea about the hands, they may have been changed. Or the difference in colour may be from the dial damage and it didn’t affect the hands.

One of the Snowflake experts or historians commented that the first few years (1974 & 75) the French Marine Nationale had bought the 7016s & the 9401s for their divers, and they experienced problems with their dials deteriorating early, the coating was bubbling - they commented or complained to Tudor -and Tudor changed the dial coating, i believe to a baked on matt enamel) for better durability. If i can find the notation i'll come back and post a link.

PS - found this reference to the black snowflake dial "rot" at https://magazine.bulangandsons.com/t...collaboration/ it wasn't the reference i was looking for but serves

and here's a screen capture

theflywrist · 14 April 2020, 01:00 AM

Lovely! Thanks for posting.
Just like you, I am always intrigued at how a LOT of the snowflakes (and particularly the earlier ones tend to have what is referred to as the "bubbling" dial.
Often wonder if that is due to the lacquer used in these Tudors or because these were "no bullshit utility watches". Either way, clean dials as well as ones with bubbling/patina like yours both have their charm IMO.

Wear in best health!

GADNYC · 14 April 2020, 02:05 AM

So satisfying! Thanks for posting the link.

fmc000 · 14 April 2020, 02:17 AM

I really don't like the hands, especially the minute hand. It looks too short and the lume area looks too narrow.

Inviato dal mio SM-T719 utilizzando Tapatalk

larryccf · 14 April 2020, 02:53 AM

it occurred to me, if those dial were wooden surfaces like the side of a house, the paint bubbling off or loose would be caused by water or moisture forming under the paint and then heat from the sun causing it to expand and pop the paint loose.

I wonder if it's possible the early dials were coated with lacquer, which is easily permeated by moisture or humidity and then in a heated environment it just popped up. It's doubtful they thought about high humidity environments when assembling back in the day (work environments would have been rarely airconditioned back then), but even if they did, i believe (don't know for certain) but i believe moisture ie humidity, would permeate acrylic. I know it will permeate most plastics.

Filling the watch case with argon or nitrogen (i forget which one SINN uses) would help prevent any moisture accumulation, as well as using a sapphire crystal.

But again, we're talking early 70s technology.

12 April 2020, 12:19 AM	#1
Ashton_Horologist "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Real Name: Ashton Tracy Location: Ottawa, Canada Watch: 1680 Posts: 287	Tudor Snowflake Restoration Hi Guys, Hope everyone is staying safe right now. Crazy times indeed! Just wanted to take your kind of things with the beautiful Snowflake I recently had come through the workshop. Enjoy! The bezel and dial are just beautiful. https://ashtontracy.ca/2020/04/09/tu...wflake-9411-0/ __________________ IG @ashtontracyhorologist

12 April 2020, 12:27 AM	#2
swish77 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Real Name: Aaron Location: CT/NYC Watch: ing the time! Posts: 6,825	Very cool. Thanks for sharing. What's the thought about the dial damage? Water/moisture intrusion? And interesting about the different patina on the hands, although perhaps they were changed at some point.

12 April 2020, 12:45 AM	#3
Ashton_Horologist "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Real Name: Ashton Tracy Location: Ottawa, Canada Watch: 1680 Posts: 287	Im honestly not sure why the dials end up like this. I’ve seen it on other snowflake dials before. I personally think it looks very cool. I have no idea about the hands, they may have been changed. Or the difference in colour may be from the dial damage and it didn’t affect the hands.

12 April 2020, 03:13 AM	#4
harry in montreal "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Montreal Watch: The Habs pick 1st! Posts: 3,589	You do great work! I communicated with you over the winter for some help with bad hands on my 9411. I look forward to visiting you when all this insanity is behind us. Please be safe and best regards from Montreal.

13 April 2020, 02:25 AM	#5
Ashton_Horologist "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Real Name: Ashton Tracy Location: Ottawa, Canada Watch: 1680 Posts: 287	I do remember Harry, and whenever you are ready, just let me know. I’m actually set up at home and won’t be going back toy old workshop. I live between Ottawa and Montreal so the drive will be a little easier for you!

13 April 2020, 04:30 AM	#6
SAAS "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: NYC Posts: 547	Very nice work! Beautiful piece

13 April 2020, 08:03 AM	#7
996marty "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2019 Location: Uk Watch: RolexGMT/Tudor7928 Posts: 2,921	Lovely work is that fascinating to see the process and before and after shots

13 April 2020, 09:16 AM	#8
haven_seeker "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Northern Ontario Watch: 19018N OQ Posts: 848	I love threads like these! (well, I mean threads that contain info like the link!!)

14 April 2020, 01:00 AM	#10
theflywrist "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Stratosphere Posts: 1,992	Lovely! Thanks for posting. Just like you, I am always intrigued at how a LOT of the snowflakes (and particularly the earlier ones tend to have what is referred to as the "bubbling" dial. Often wonder if that is due to the lacquer used in these Tudors or because these were "no bullshit utility watches". Either way, clean dials as well as ones with bubbling/patina like yours both have their charm IMO. Wear in best health!

14 April 2020, 02:05 AM	#11
GADNYC "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Real Name: Gerard Location: New York city Watch: sub Posts: 178	So satisfying! Thanks for posting the link.

14 April 2020, 02:17 AM	#12
fmc000 Banned Join Date: Sep 2011 Real Name: Fabio Location: Como - Italy Posts: 4,811	I really don't like the hands, especially the minute hand. It looks too short and the lume area looks too narrow. Inviato dal mio SM-T719 utilizzando Tapatalk

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

14 April 2020, 02:53 AM	#13
larryccf "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: richmond, va Posts: 541	it occurred to me, if those dial were wooden surfaces like the side of a house, the paint bubbling off or loose would be caused by water or moisture forming under the paint and then heat from the sun causing it to expand and pop the paint loose. I wonder if it's possible the early dials were coated with lacquer, which is easily permeated by moisture or humidity and then in a heated environment it just popped up. It's doubtful they thought about high humidity environments when assembling back in the day (work environments would have been rarely airconditioned back then), but even if they did, i believe (don't know for certain) but i believe moisture ie humidity, would permeate acrylic. I know it will permeate most plastics. Filling the watch case with argon or nitrogen (i forget which one SINN uses) would help prevent any moisture accumulation, as well as using a sapphire crystal. But again, we're talking early 70s technology.