Reluming a 1680 - does it kill the value?

[Keeperoftime]

Originally Posted by Jason71

I would love to see pictures of your Tudor and your 1680 in its current state. I am a fan of reluming certain watches, but for me............the circumstances need to be right. My 5513 had been relumed previously (a TERRIBLE relume job), and I didn't see that it would hurt things in any way to have it relumed. Plus, it was very cost effective at ~ $200 (cost-effective IMHO)

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Awesome Job!

[Jason71]

Originally Posted by sdwtchlvr

I say unless the dial has been damaged to some extent, leave it alone. If you would like a dial with lume, sell it and buy a modern sub. The dial is the MOST important part of a vintage piece.

Now if the dial has been damaged by water or something and it's already in poor shape, sure get it refinished.

But what would you say to the individual that wants a vintage piece with the plexi crystal and lug-holes that wants a watch with good and functional Lume? I personally just don't care for the more modern pieces with Sapphire crystals and non-drilled-through lugs.

I do like them, and own quite a number of them........I just like the vintage pieces BETTER.

[pdoukas]

Originally Posted by Jason71

But what would you say to the individual that wants a vintage piece with the plexi crystal and lug-holes that wants a watch with good and functional Lume? I personally just don't care for the more modern pieces with Sapphire crystals and non-drilled-through lugs.

I do like them, and own quite a number of them........I just like the vintage pieces BETTER.

Jason I'm in that position right now. I have a beautiful MK1 Dial and hands for my 1675 and I preach that the GMT is the ultimate tool watch for my particular lifestyle. Alternatively, however, I can't read the damn thing at night unless I turn on a light or find a light source. That being the case, I will not swap out dials as this one is gorgeous (IMO) and luminova dials are just "too white" for my tastes. As it stands, though, I do have another MK1 dial and hand set that I could relume and go the same route you went. I see nothing wrong with what you did, and as long as anyone who does this has the original dial I think it is a good alternative for those who need 100% functionality from their vintage pieces.

By the way, nice lume job.....love the vintage look to the relume.

Pete

[Jason71]

Originally Posted by pdoukas

Jason I'm in that position right now. I have a beautiful MK1 Dial and hands for my 1675 and I preach that the GMT is the ultimate tool watch for my particular lifestyle. Alternatively, however, I can't read the damn thing at night unless I turn on a light or find a light source. That being the case, I will not swap out dials as this one is gorgeous (IMO) and luminova dials are just "too white" for my tastes. As it stands, though, I do have another MK1 dial and hand set that I could relume and go the same route you went. I see nothing wrong with what you did, and as long as anyone who does this has the original dial I think it is a good alternative for those who need 100% functionality from their vintage pieces.

By the way, nice lume job.....love the vintage look to the relume.

Pete

I guess I might feel differently if my 5513 was my only vintage piece. However, I own several vintage Rolex watches and love having this one as my "beater" vintage. I would never relume my vintage original Red 1680 or either of my Tudor Subs. But, this one turned-out to be a vintage to "play" with.

[pdoukas]

Originally Posted by Jason71

I guess I might feel differently if my 5513 was my only vintage piece. However, I own several vintage Rolex watches and love having this one as my "beater" vintage. I would never relume my vintage original Red 1680 or either of my Tudor Subs. But, this one turned-out to be a vintage to "play" with.

Well let me ask you this.....if you had a spare "red" dial hanging around and the lume was crappy, but the rest of the dial looked good, would you relume it?

[Jason71]

Originally Posted by pdoukas

Well let me ask you this.....if you had a spare "red" dial hanging around and the lume was crappy, but the rest of the dial looked good, would you relume it?

I guess it depends on your definition of "crappy". If the lume was even and not flaking with a decent patina........but it just wasn't FUNCTIONAL, then no.......I would not relume it. If the lume was flaking and uneven, then I might have someone strip the lume off it.......but I would still not relume it. I guess it is a case-by-case situation with me.

The main reason that I chose to relume the 5513 is because it had recently been relumed (It had to be luminova......it glowed decently at night after high exposure to light) and I didn't feel it would hurt the value WHATSOEVER to relume a watch with more even, better lume than what had previously been applied.

[dommasters]

I'd rather that my sub worked as originally intended than be "broke" in some way but original. There is no better sight than a 1680 dial glowing brightly at night :)

[Jason71]

Originally Posted by dommasters

I'd rather that my sub worked as originally intended than be "broke" in some way but original. There is no better sight than a 1680 dial glowing brightly at night :)

I agree with you wholeheartedly. However, for me......I would try to source a service luminova dial like the one on this red 1680 of mine. I love this watch, and LOVE the fact that it glows like it was intended.

[dommasters]

TOTALLY AWESOME! Yep a service dial would be the best bet.

[Scary Hat]

Originally Posted by cruvon

Reluming a previosly normal lumed vintage watch is surely one of the fastest ways to make a vintage decrease it's collectibility, should only be done if the original lume has flaked, fallen off etc but even then is an extreme solution. Offcouse from a practicality point is good to have working lume but not from a collectibility perspective. Also a dial relume is more serious degradation in collectibility than just a hands relume.

Well said

Tom

[Robbyvm]

i'ts all a matter of taste and the type of watch... if reluming means it would lose a lot of value i would buy a cheaper one that glows in the dark.

this baby will never be relumed that's for sure

[lhanddds]

Originally Posted by Jason71

I guess I might feel differently if my 5513 was my only vintage piece. However, I own several vintage Rolex watches and love having this one as my "beater" vintage. I would never relume my vintage original Red 1680 or either of my Tudor Subs. But, this one turned-out to be a vintage to "play" with.

This is a great idea for someone that likes to dive. That is one great looking relume and on this watch, what did you have to lose.

[Shef]

Originally Posted by Jason71

I would love to see pictures of your Tudor and your 1680 in its current state. I am a fan of reluming certain watches, but for me............the circumstances need to be right. My 5513 had been relumed previously (a TERRIBLE relume job), and I didn't see that it would hurt things in any way to have it relumed. Plus, it was very cost effective at ~ $200 (cost-effective IMHO)

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wow

[RC2]

IMHO Leave it buy an ironman if you need to tell the time at night. Having said that Jason wow great work. Rich

[Goiguidoc]

I would also keep the dial untouched.
The first check I do when I'm about to buy a vintage watch is to check if the lumes still glow. I stay away if they still glow.
I know other collectors are not so picky, but relumes tend to depreciate the value of the watch.

[Lol-x]

I am not a great fan of re-luming dials only because it is very difficult to get a good result.

Having said that I do really appreciate a well patina aged dial. That gives a watch a great deal of character, and so what if you can't see it at night, it is a vintage timepiece.

On the other hand I did many years ago have a cream coloured original dial 1665. At the time I wanted a white dial, so I took out and replaced the original dial and hands. I loved the resulting look, and kept the original dial and hands for the day when it might suit me to return them to the watch.

Jason's luminova red sub replacement dial looks awesome....but so to can a nicely patina characterised original red sub dial.

Its all about how you feel in relation to the dial/hands. That feeling can change over time as ones tastes and preferences change.

At the end of the day re-luming is very risky unless you know very well the skill of the watchmaker to re-lume and you know the result will yield to you the owner a more satisfactory outcome.

Value is another issue altogether. If you want to retain value keep it as original as possible, but to me this is a secondary and not particularly relevant consideration to ones enjoyment and satisfaction.