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2374 Bumper Question

1972Steve
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Hello OF Friends,

Can you help me with this one? I purchased this lovely watch and have a question about the golden colored sub-second hand. Should I replace it with a silver sub-second hand? My watch maker believes the sub second hand is original and the hour and minute hands to be replacements. If you look at the watch face the even numerals are a golden leaf color and the odd number markers are a silver.

I appreciate your expertise. Thank you

Steve
131B4060-6AF5-489B-8F34-3E352EE0411B.png BAA2574C-9BF2-4D43-9E73-B54FF62C84C2.png 69AE2C6B-EFC1-4212-91AD-E4E1490E6E1D.jpeg 79718713-70B2-4042-912B-71596BCA90A7.jpeg 7E9EC35F-7116-43B9-A765-71C1E0C928F0.jpeg 72CE0637-3197-47B2-B47C-37B32CE9966E.jpeg CADD8A7D-18BD-4FCD-99DF-D96CB53F5674.jpeg
 
Tony C.
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The hour and minute hands would likely have been silver originally, to match the "mirror" indexes. They would definitely not have been gold.

If the sub-second hand is truly gold colored, as opposed to the original plating having worn off, then it would not be original. An original may have been black, blue, or silver, but not gold with that dial.

Correction - you say that the indexes are gold colored (they look silver on your photos)? Then the hour and minute hands should also be that color, and would have been from the factory.
 
1972Steve
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Tony C. Tony C.
The hour and minute hands would likely have been silver originally, to match the "mirror" indexes. They would definitely not have been gold.

If the sub-second hand is truly gold colored, as opposed to the original plating having worn off, then it would not be original. An original may have been black, blue, or silver, but not gold with that dial.

Correction - you say that the indexes are gold colored (they look silver on your photos)? Then the hour and minute hands should also be that color, and would have been from the factory.

Hey Tony -

Thank you for the reply. The even number numerals are gold leaf colored, the odd indexes (hope I’m saying this right) look silver. They may have been touched up with silver..maybe not...I’m not an expert but an enthusiast. I assume you would replace the sub second hand with a silver one? Thank you
 
BenBagbag
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I'm really not sure. This isn't a reference I have seen many of. But it's the correct length so it doesn't stand out as totally wrong. But colorwise I have no clue. The theory about colors of different indices sounds fair to me. 👍
 
X350 XJR
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Perhaps the lacquer has aged tinting the gilt numerals slightly yellow. The hour and minute hands looks correct for this dial. BTW it all looks silver on my color corrected iMac, except for the second hand.
 
Tony C.
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1972Steve 1972Steve
Hey Tony -

Thank you for the reply. The even number numerals are gold leaf colored, the odd indexes (hope I’m saying this right) look silver. They may have been touched up with silver..maybe not...I’m not an expert but an enthusiast. I assume you would replace the sub second hand with a silver one? Thank you

Well, the indexes were either silver or gold when the dial left the factory. I am quite sure that they were never combined. So, I would suggest using a loupe, or magnifying glass, in natural light, and see if you can discern which were the original. From your photos, it seems more likely to me that they were silver.

Here is a chronometre that I own with silver mirror indexes:

OMRgM2.jpg
 
BenBagbag
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I have owned this watch previously and believed the Gilt numerals to be silver in color FWIW.
 
1972Steve
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X350 XJR X350 XJR
Perhaps the lacquer has aged tinting the gilt numerals slightly yellow. The hour and minute hands looks correct for this dial. BTW it all looks silver on my color corrected iMac, except for the second hand.

Always appreciate your input/advice Howard.
 
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