This entire thread is horrifying! Not because the results aren't good, but because the results are good.

From the guys who have experimented with this, are there any "tells" that you could share? For example, when I'm authenticating a piece, I always take the hands and dial off and look at the underside of the dial. Old engravings, stray paint, etc can all help me deduce a redial.

 

True, if it's unmodified. It doesn't take much to scrape off the lume and re-do it with vintage looking lume (holding the phosphorescent bit of the mix).

 

What do you call the patina on your microwave when your wife walks in?

 

G-shocks are like unbreakable. It must be brutal there...

 

What's the betting we're going to see a whole lot of tropical chocolate Speedmasters showing up for sale over the next few months?

 

Good expose on creating fake patina on dials.
This is nothing new, people have been baking
dials and bleaching bezels for a long time in the
Rolex world.
But here is the caveat. With Rolex 1680 Submariner
for example, collectors know that only a small serial
range's dials turned brown "naturally". It is said to happen
because of a dial paint batch that was mixed improperly
or a coating that was defective. But it only occurred on
serials 2.2-2.3 million. Same with the 16520 Zenith powered
Daytona's, if I remember it's like only the S and T serials.
Those watches command ~100% premium or more.
The 2.5 million 1680 and a V series 16520 will not turn
brown "naturally" and collectors won't pay 100% premium
for one that is brown.
That said, are there collectors that will pay a premium for
dial or bezel patina? There sure are.
Here's a little tip on the plots. Buy yourself a pure UV
LED flashlight or a magnifier with one. The tritium plots
look completely different under this light. It's another
tool in the quiver of the collector. The Rolex guys have been using
them for years.

 

Oooh, juicy tip. Any reccs on these flashlights? Bonus points for a link where one can be purchased.

 

This is the one I have and it is satisfactory.
There are others brighter and more expensive.
I understand Jewelers also use these to see
imperfections in diamonds
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GemOro-Smar...721?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4620513951Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

Watch looks great. I'd see a doctor about that hand, though. Unless your name is Zoidberg.

 

Good work guys

 

The luminova only gives a very soft glow after being held under strong light, it is not noticable unless you are in a dark room, very much like old radium/tritium.

 

Fantastic.

And a pocket version here: http://www.ottofrei.com/Eclipse-Light-Loupe.html

 

And yet another priceless Amazon review of a similar UV loupe: http://www.amazon.com/review/RFR22Q6B8GE9D/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

I'm sure the neighbors were amused

 

I have not had a go at trying to create a brown/tropical dial on a watch yet, I have only played with changing the colour of the luminova on this one, I think trying to make the black paint on the dial go brown could end in tears. I would love to see if anyone else has had a go with a Speedmaster, how do the Rolex guys do it? Any links?
Cheers Mick

 

I can see a lot of oven beeing misused and a lot of trouble with your missus (wifes)

 

Pitpro's post should be made into a "sticky".

as pitpro knows, Rolexland is a snake pit. I'm sure a lot of the experienced guys here know all about the nonsense. Seems like that singing steal-your-girfriend guy found out too. That big ego got bruised!!

good pro tips, pitpro !!

I have a theory going waaaaaay back that the original way they discovered dial and lume burn was by sticking their submariners and SD's in the dishwasher to "prove" how well they were engineered. For some reason, it seems like Scandinavians started it and then Italians picked up on it on the intertubes and,,,,,,,the rest is "tropical" history.

 

Lmao !!!

good research, woodwkr!