Thoughts on a rough-looking 6217-8001

Jim W · Oct 24, 2023

Dan S
Several watchmakers who frequently work on vintage Seikos routinely improve the appearance of oxidized markers and hands. I don't know exactly how they do it, whether it is just gentle cleaning, polishing, some sort of treatment ... I'm not sure. But I have firsthand experience with some very unexpected and welcome results. It's really nice when I buy a watch thinking that the hands and markers aren't great, but I can live with them, and then the watch comes back from a service with clean markers and hands.

Regarding the moldy lume that @Jim W mentioned, Spencer Klein frequently mentions a product that he uses to restore the lume to its original color. The videos are extremely impressive, but it seems to be something proprietary because I don't really know anyone else who does it, and obviously I have no idea if it is a permanent solution.

I think it depends on the kind of lume. Patina is one thing, and can be quite nice, mould is another thing altogether. It is what it is, mould, It has no place on the dial of a watch of mine. I doubt it is an issue with modern lume.

I have owned 12 62mas over the years, and most of them have been relumed at some time. The best way to tell if a 62mas has original lume is to look for mould. if there's no mould then the lume is probably not original.

Dan S · Oct 24, 2023

Jim W
I think it depends on the kind of lume. Patina is one thing, and can be quite nice, mould is another thing altogether. It is what it is, mould, It has no place on the dial of a watch of mine. I doubt it is an issue with modern lume.

I have owned 12 62mas over the years, and most of them have been relumed at some time. The best way to tell if a 62mas has original lume is to look for mould. if there's no mould then the lume is probably not original.

As I mentioned earlier, Spencer Klein has several videos where he cleans the mold completely from 1960s Seiko diver lume plots.

I have five 62MAS examples currently and another 10-ish Seiko divers and waterproof watches from the 1960s with similar lume. They come from various sources with various degrees of historical knowledge. I am picky about the dial lume on watches I buy. In my experience, not all original Seiko diver lume is necessarily moldy, and with experience, there are other ways to tell if a watch has been re-lumed aside from the absence of mold, as I'm sure you know. Yes, it's not easy to find a vintage watch in good condition, but IMO that's what collecting is all about, and I generally prefer not to restore dials. It's not my thing. I'd prefer to hunt patiently and find that one in 100.

If you're good with re-luming, that makes it much easier to find watches you're happy with. Just a matter of taste and we can agree to take different approaches.

Jim W · Oct 24, 2023

I don't think we are far apart.. I am generalising. I sold some of my 62mas and still have 8 including 2 Daini's. Some I know have been relumed and some to be honest I am not sure... could be original. Expertly relumed it can be hard to tell.

I have a 6215-7000 that had a tear in the lume on the hour hand. The lume is all original and obviously I prefer it to stay that way. Duncan Hewitt serviced the watch for me and very delicately managed to repair the tear in that lume! I was amazed and so pleased.

vibe · Feb 15, 2024

I was finally able to snag a pretty nice looking one. I knew I was going to like it, but I really, really like it. What doesn’t really come across well in pics is the case shape. The case is has a round curve across the wrist in both directions, so it feels hefty but it still wears quite thin. Also, the dial is quite large but with the short lugs it has such great dimensions. Also, the lume is quite intense, it must have been quite the sight in the 60’s!

Jim W · Feb 16, 2024

We all like original lume if we can get it, but the lume used in those days was very susceptible to mould. Sometimes you can get away with it and other times there's no other choice but to relume (expertly please). It's OK on these models. Personally I don't want a relumed 6306 or 6309 diver, Their printed lume needs to be original for me.

I have a 6215-7000 that the lume on the hour hand had torn and was hanging loose. I sent the watch to Duncan Hewitt (The Watch Bloke). Incredibly he repaired the tear with the original lume and it looks perfect again!. Amazing skill.

Here's my 6215 all original lume....

Thoughts on a rough-looking 6217-8001

Jim W

Dan S

Jim W

vibe

Jim W

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