Corrosion on hands but not hour indices

mangozac · Mar 2, 2021

So I was browsing on ebay and stumbled across something I'm curious about. This Seamaster has gold hands and gold numerals/hour indices. I notice however that while the hands are starting to suffer from a bit of corrosion, the other gold parts on the dial look to be still in very good condition.

Is this the sign of something untoward or are hands typically inclined to corrode first? The seller looks like someone who is simply clearing out "junk" for a family member so there's no indication they would be knowingly trying to pass off a redialled watch or anything.

As a secondary question: is there any way to find out the model/movement without opening it up?

JimInOz · Mar 2, 2021

mangozac
.........Is this the sign of something untoward or are hands typically inclined to corrode first?..............

The hands have a luminous filling, after time, this can become hygroscopic and that moisture, combined with the effects of the lume can contribute to corrosion.

mangozac
.....................As a secondary question: is there any way to find out the model/movement without opening it up?

Not really, unless someone has an identical model it would just be guessing from the picture you've shown.
Some of our members will probably have a good idea, but until the case reference and movement are visible it's "unknown".

DaveK · Mar 2, 2021

This is my 1961 14765-2 in stainless steel with cal 552 inside. Some corrosion on the hands, but not to the extent that the subject watch has suffered.

mangozac · Mar 3, 2021

Thanks guys.

DaveK
This is my 1961 14765-2 in stainless steel with cal 552 inside. Some corrosion on the hands, but not to the extent that the subject watch has suffered.

If this one had a 552 inside I'd be on to it in a heartbeat! Without the text "automatic" one can only assume it's a manual wind, correct (something like a 601)?

JimInOz
The hands have a luminous filling, after time, this can become hygroscopic and that moisture, combined with the effects of the lume can contribute to corrosion.

That seems plausible but then why would both ends of the seconds hand also be corroded?

JimInOz · Mar 3, 2021

mangozac
Thanks guys.

If this one had a 552 inside I'd be on to it in a heartbeat! Without the text "automatic" one can only assume it's a manual wind, correct (something like a 601)?

That seems plausible but then why would both ends of the seconds hand also be corroded?

Hands (on this level of watch) are stamped from a sheet of plated steel or brass or copper, the edges are not passively re-plated so they tend to be areas of early corrosion too.

mangozac · Mar 3, 2021

JimInOz
Hands (on this level of watch) are stamped from a sheet of plated steel or brass or copper, the edges are not passively re-plated so they tend to be areas of early corrosion too.

Ahh ok I figured perhaps they were etched and then plated, so your description makes sense!

DaveK · Mar 3, 2021

mangozac
If this one had a 552 inside I'd be on to it in a heartbeat! Without the text "automatic" one can only assume it's a manual wind, correct (something like a 601)?

I also assume yours is a manual wind version, but I couldn’t guess on what cal it would be. Someone else might know and chime in. I’ve only seen 4 others with the unique typeface, so I’d bet it was also from ‘61

Corrosion on hands but not hour indices

mangozac

JimInOz

DaveK

mangozac

JimInOz

mangozac

DaveK

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