A rare recent purchase. I was surprised to win this, but I did.
Curious to know what people think about potential dial improvement.
My decision is to not touch it, because I prefer original.
However more than one person has said they would try to improve it.
What does anyone think?
(I am referring to the spotting on the upper dial, the white splodge between 7 and 8 oclock is a light artifact that I just noticed).

 

I recall someone successfully mitigating these, but that presumes it/they were spotting of a similar variety. Killer example as it is, but if I had someone good to work with, I would chance a gentle effort on one of the smaller spots and see how it flew.

 

what are the possible methods for a fix/retouch? I tend to be a bit risk averse but the way it looks now also makes me say leave as is... as MBob says, a killer example it is

 

I'd like to see the before and after detail pictures of the improvements by those who suggested it.

 

Actually, as I look more closely, those spots could be more in the surface than on the surface. A high-powered loupe would help.

 

I have heard, though haven't tried myself, that small makeup sponges dampened with a tiny bit of water can remove some of those splotches by dabbing gently on the dial...

Very nice.

What's the deal with the wobbly lume? Any idea what causes it to spread or smush like that?

 

As you magnify it you can see there are many spots, so it would be a lot of touching up. I agree with your inital gut
to leave it alone. I think it looks great!

 

It's more likely like M'Bob observed, those spots are where the top paint layer has degraded and/or flaked away. I can't imagine how that can be improved.

Most likely the same cause as those dial spots - moisture and oxygen.

 

Have you looked at the movement yet? Any signs of water damage there? If not, then I would be dubious that the dial spotting is mineral deposit remnants, that might be amenable to dabbing with distilled water. More likely simple degradation.

 

It is an FAP, so it has had a hard life.
Movement is pristine.
Wobbly lume - is it becoming more desirable than the cookie cutter relume jobs?
I see this wobble on 003's and now on 002.
It could be "natural" or perhaps early attempts at making the watch serviceable.
I dont really care in this case.

 

I thought that the switch to tritium happened around 2998-6 and these would not be radium. Was it more of a slow transition so the late 2998s could be either?

 

You're a have humidity problem with this watch,mould is everywhere,bleach IT.

 

I agree. I have not seen a 105.002 with a radium dial. If the dial is radium, it might not be the original dial.

 

It does look like flaking of the most superficial paint layer. Seen this in the grey dialled 105.002 that I posted here some months ago, but doesn't detract from the overall attractiveness of what is a stunning find - particularly in these lean times. Well done.

 

Up close does it look like the stain is on top of the dial? From you picture I'd agree with one of the posters above, thst it looks more like the paint has worn thin, possible due to someone in the past trying to remove some of the water staining?

I'd almost certainly leave as is.

Lovely looking watch.

 

This is the type of watch that you either leave it as it is (for the time being, at least) or you have it fully reconditioned by a professional. I like it just the way it is. It has personality.

 

FAP? Let it be.

 

I'll save you the dilemma
Sell it to me with a 15% profit so I can leave it in it natural beauty.