Before & After - Show us your relumed watch!

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Nupero

·Apr 25, 2023

A thread dedicated to the art of reluming.

We all love old radium/tritium hue. But can a watchmaker ever truly recreate that special color? Let's find out! Show us your relumed specimens!

I'll start with a black dial Zenith circa 1964.

Before. The handset was in bad shape. There was no tritium left on the minute hand, but the original lume blibs on the dial were intact with a lovely old-tritium hue.

After. My watchmaker relumed the hands to match the dial. I'm very happy with the result! 😀

 

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Nupero

·Apr 25, 2023

Wrist shot!

And a close-up of the relumed hand & original tritium marker. Looks pretty good!

 

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Nupero

·Apr 28, 2023

Next up Camy Superautomatic!

Before: Tritium lume completely missing from the minute hand. Not a good look!

After: Handset relumed to match the original tritium dots on the dial. Watch looks so much better now.

 

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marco

·Apr 28, 2023

The second image is before. Work by LewisWatchco.
Adam did an amazing colour match.

Edited: May 27, 2023

 

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p4ul

·Apr 28, 2023

Red Devil repaint!

 

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Davidt

·Apr 29, 2023

It goes without saying that a relume should always be disclosed and before you consider having work done, really think through whether or not it’s the right course of action for a particular watch.
That said, there are obviously times when a good relume is absolutely the right approach and when done right it can improve a Watch significantly.

 

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JwRosenthal

·Apr 29, 2023

Sometimes it’s not a matter of taste

It’s one of rescue.

 

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Nupero

·Apr 29, 2023

@JwRosenthal Wise words and beautiful watches! Was that Zodiac a full reluming job or just the handset?

 

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JwRosenthal

·Apr 29, 2023

Nupero

@JwRosenthal Wise words and beautiful watches! Was that Zodiac a full reluming job or just the handset?

The hands were relumed, dial cleaned (glossy dial so it was easy to get some of the surface crap off) and the indices lightly cleaned and brushed with lume to match the hand color. They were looking a little ashy so the light brushing with the fresh lume just popped them up in color and matched them to the hands.

 

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Spruce

·Apr 29, 2023·Sunburst dial fan

I’ve never had hands relumed but I did get the hands on this watch de-lumed.

A previous owner must have thought it a good idea to add lume to the non-luminous hands.

Before

After

 

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kohster

·Apr 29, 2023

How come none of you folks are sharing before/after shots in the dark so we can see the new glow? 😀 😀 😀

 

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OllieOnTheRocks

·Apr 29, 2023

Had a rather successful relume of this Suveran.

Before:

After:

kohster

How come none of you folks are sharing before/after shots in the dark so we can see the new glow? 😀 😀 😀

In my case I actually ask for the new lume not to glow - keeping it as true to original as possible.

 

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JwRosenthal

·Apr 29, 2023

OllieOnTheRocks

Had a rather successful relume of this Suveran.

Before:

After:

In my case I actually ask for the new lume not to glow - keeping it as true to original as possible.

Ok, you need to state for the record who did that relume job- it’s spectacular! Unless you are trying to keep them all for yourself.

 

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kohster

·Apr 29, 2023

OllieOnTheRocks

In my case I actually ask for the new lume not to glow - keeping it as true to original as possible.

Oh, interesting. So the reluming in those cases is just to restore damage/degradation. Had never thought of that as an option. Neat.

 

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Omegafanman

·Apr 30, 2023

Only had it done once. The watch needed full service and repair etc and was a non-running drawer find so pleased enough with the results....
.

 

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gbesq

·Apr 30, 2023

BEFORE:

AFTER:

 

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blubarb

·Apr 30, 2023·IG: #blubarb19

OllieOnTheRocks

Had a rather successful relume of this Suveran.

Before:

After:

In my case I actually ask for the new lume not to glow - keeping it as true to original as possible.

Stunning! Who did the work?

 

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wagudc

·Apr 30, 2023

blubarb

Stunning! Who did the work?

Inquiring minds want to know @OllieOnTheRocks

 

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Davidt

·May 1, 2023

Another one that’s been away for a dial and hand relume and is now away for service + new crystal. Hopefully back in the next couple of weeks.

Before

After

 

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Nupero

·May 26, 2023

Next a 70s Tissot with somewhat utilitarian full reluming.

kohster

How come none of you folks are sharing before/after shots in the dark so we can see the new glow? 😀 😀 😀

Here you go!