Sub 16800 hands and dial to fix?

[vittoriotolo]

Hello guys,

It's a pleasure to be here.

I have received a great looking sub 16800 from my father and I couldnt love it more, I like its looks much more compared to the new huge 11 versions.

Unfortunately, due to some humidity, the hands and the dial have aged not in the most beautiful way (see attached):
- the hands kinda turned green (instead of a nice yellowish patina), and they are kind of hard to read;
- the dial now has a weird pattern to it.

What do you guys suggest? I would like to get the hands re-painted and I was thinking of getting the dial re-painted too.
I do not want to go to Rolex as I do not want pieces to be replaced.

Thanks!!
Best,
Vittorio

[Cooper33]

I would not repaint anything - would leave dial as is and source original hands to replace the green ones. Even if you want a better looking dial I would also try to source one and keep the original intact. With time, you'll get to love it!

[csfischer20]

Kind of tells a story with it being in that condition. I wouldn't mess with it. It looks great how it is.

[Glosstritium]

Leave it alone looks great the way it is with honest patina... Just my opinion but you do what makes you happy.

[Tools]

If the hands are going to degrade, and the lume fall out; you should have them stabilized.

If you find a good restoration shop, they can stabilize the hands and likely color them to match the patina of the dial.

Typically, you would not do this to sound, original, hands.

[77T]

It is very odd that the Tritium in the hands would react but none of the lume dots reacted.

Is it possible your Dad had either the hands or dial replaced?

As for your question - if the hands have been replaced once already - or refinished - maybe find era-correct replacements with lume closely matching the existing dial plots.


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[vittoriotolo]

thank you guys, it's nice to see you like it!

I am going to wait it out a bit and then just get the hands reacted to match the lume dots.
I am quite sure my dad did not change anything he only barely serviced the movement. He is suggesting leaving everything as it is, that's how he liked it..

Let's say I completely changed my mind and I went to Rolex to get new hands and dial: what kind of hands and dials would they be? Would they be the ones on the current Subs or would they be like new (when bought 40 years ago)?

Thanks!!