Dial and hands restoration : before/after

Some pictures of my last restoration 😀
I have replaced the chrono hand, but the hour and minute hands are the same.
Next one : an Ed White that arrived today.


Before



After

The Ed White is the next one he's working on, not this one.

That looks fantastic.

If you don't mind me asking, which lume product did you use.

The dial looks like a good job. The hands could be better. In my humble opinion 😀

Pretty good lume job.
The only problem I see is that the binder you are using has a glossy touch while the Omega binder is completely matte (same problem most Rolex tritium relumes have too)

Thanks guys !
Imperfections are more visible on the macro pictures than in real 😀


I use luminova powder, binder and different pigments in order to create a vintage colour.

Thanks!

May I throw in a small 'mmmm, I am not sure'?
Although I really appreciate the work, to my humble taste, the finished product is too much a 'redone' or 'touched up' dial to be attractive ... Too yellow and too 'matched' all together. I actually like the original one better.

But that is my 2 C for it.

It is important as the individual offering to apply new lume,to inform the customer that by doing so, the value of the watch will be affected in a negative way.

That is not a reflection on the quality of the work being carried out (as clearly you did an excellent job) but under no circumstances does applying Super Luminova in place of Tritium (or Radium) ever increase the value. If I am asked to apply new lume, even in a vintage look to match the original, I must tell the customer of the negative effect on value and get sign off from the customer before I do the work. In many cases, I simply refuse the work all together, because for sure in the future a customer will go to sell the watch, loose money because the dial and hands are Super Luminova and end up blaming me for the financial loss...

Regarding the "matte" lume finish, RC Tritec sells matte finish binder, but the other variable is to what ratio the binder to powder to reducer was mixed up, that also affects the end look. To much binder and reducer and it can end up looking wet not matte.

There's several good threads on this topic with an array of opinions and perspectives.

It seems that one case for reluming that's acceptable is where the lume has already been removed but otherwise, dials are best left alone.

In the end, it's a matter of choice.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/to-relume-or-leave-be.27193/

http://www.google.ca/search?q=to+relume+or+not+site:omegaforums.net

Because I am a British Horological Institute Professional watchmaker, I am bound to follow the BHI Code of Practice where the act of Conservation takes precedence over everything else. Applying Super Luminova is not Conservation. Another example, many watchmakers and service centres have and still do, scratch their servicing notes on the inside of the caseback, I don't, it is not considered Conservation.

Another driving factor is a fellow BHI member who business is selling vintage watches in London UK. He has clearly stated that any watch that is "relumed" will be worth less money that if it had been left alone, even if the original lume has been removed, applying Super Luminova devalues the watch, in all cases. That is his professional experience and I trust his judgement.

So being bound to a professional Code of Practice and listening to someone who's business is selling vintage watches, I can't find any case where it is acceptable. As I said earlier, the person doing the work owes it to their customers to inform them of the consequences of applying lume to dials and hands.

Dear fellow horologist, I must confess that, after over thirty years in the field I have never thought that reluming a largely produced wristwatch to its original specifications could not be considered a conservative act.
Could you be so kind to address me to the document where this is explicitly pointed out?
With my best regards,
Maurice

Hello Maurice,

To relume a Tritium dial to it's original specifications you would have to replace "Tritium" with "Tritium" and as far as I know Tritium in most counties is now a restricted and controlled substance. I don't know of anyone who has access to and uses genuine Tritium. If you are replacing "Tritium" with "Super Luminova" I would suggest that this isn't in keeping with the original design. If you had a Luminova dial and applied Super Luminova on top, I would suggest that that is an acceptable practice.

There are a few documents that the BHI produces that talk about conservation.

First up, www.bhi.co.uk, main page, click on "Repairs and Servicing", then click on "Code of Practice" which states in part:

Conservation and restoration principles
Respect the original character and property of all artefacts, especially those of historic, rarity or quality value, and advise the customer accordingly. If your customer requests work that, in your opinion, will unduly jeopardise this character, refuse the work politely but firmly and explain to your customer your reasons for doing so.

Also you may want to buy the book from BHI entitled "Conservation of Clocks and Watches", it contains a lot of guidance and details.

For example under the "Principles and Objectives" it states in part:

"...it is innapropriate that the new part should be made and treated in such a way that it becomes indistinguishable from the original..."

"...it is not necessary to match exactly the original materiall or it's colour, and wrong to attempt to give an aged appearance as this would constitute faking..."

There is a lot more in the book that addresses these principles, it's a good reference to have on hand as a horologist.

Thank you for the question, I hope these refences are helpful.
Rob