This is a first for me.

We've all seen "moldy" or darkened lume that's turned brown from moisture, but I've never come across strands of what appears to be fungi that's grown out of some old tritium.

A couple of them originate from the same area of the lume plot, leading me to believe maybe someone had a contaminated brush as they were applying it, and that was the spot they always started or ended? But then again, it's also on little specs around the dial, like between 5 and 6.

I've seen similar fungi in dark abandoned mine shafts in Colorado, same translucent single strands emanating from the damp cracks. So that's where my mind went.

Perhaps it's something less odd. Maybe someone dumped some fiberglass in the crystal before sealing it up. But the fibers are well attached. They don't want to come out with gentle Rodico swipes.

Maybe they are tritium seedlings, and I should plant it so that vintage watches grow on trees.

Maybe I'm an idiot.

What are your thoughts?

 

Bizarre.

 

Freaky.

 

Friday.

 

Where's Lindsay Lohan when you need her.

If I lived in Australia, it would be Friday, and I would have posted this in the "not all things want to kill you" thread.

Seeing as I'll probably die from opening this. It would have been a good fit.

 

WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?!?!?

 

Try this…

See if you can pluck off a clump or two using fine tweezers.

Touch it to the very tip of your tongue.

If it tastes bitter…..




I’ll still have no idea what it is.

 

Throw it on top of a pizza, and have a nice weekend....

OH.

They are impossibly thin. Photos make them look thicker than they are. Here's how it looks through the original scratched up crystal.

 

Have you created a new life form? Did you receive a massive electric jolt wearing the watch or drop in primordial ooze by mistake. You may be able to start putting that watch in the pet thread. Well done.

 

What's the incubation period for the chest burster from Alien?

I'll answer your questions around then...

 

Sounds like the entity from Andromeda Strain.
The Tritium probably isn't feeding it enough.
You need to get the hands and indices relumed with fresh Radium.

Also, drink Sterno or be a colicky baby and you'll be fine!

 

If that was on a Rolex you could retire.

 

I KNOW!

The elusive “spider lume” dial.

Damn my luck.

 

This is making me very upset- is this the fungus that wipes out our species? Are you ground zero???? Will just reading this infect all my watches with it??? Is this watch herpes??

 

Damn you I was going to add this could make covid look like the common cold once the spores hit the air and start that invasion of the body snatchers process but I didn’t want to go overboard and freak everyone out and you just had to do it.

 

I've noticed very similar things in some watch cases where a faint track of spidery veins emanate from a single spot. I think the veins or strands may be hygroscopic as when they have been removed, there is a corrosion track where they were.

I'll see if I can find an example.

 

NOOOOOOO!!!

 

I’m really impressed by the quality of these pictures. The soon to be global scourge photographs well.

 

In all seriousness, if this is a fungus, simply leaving it in the sun for a day should wipe it out- shouldn’t it? Maybe a UV lamp like used in nail salons?

 

I’m sure it’s long dead. Whatever it was feeding on (if it’s fungus) was limited and after it was eaten up, it stopped growing.

Otherwise I think it would have filled the whole inside of the crystal. UV or whatever wouldn’t physically remove it. Just kill it

…. maybe I’ll try a UV light just in case haha

Here’s the real question: Do I leave it as an oddity? Or clean it up to have a nice watch?

These are the vintage watch crossroads