What can you check on dial/hands with a UV Lamp?

Lonestar · Jun 29, 2018

oddboy
Based on my limited experience, lume like this, where the bits that glow are uneven and scattered is often a sign of a relume. Original lume is more uniform and evenly distributed. You can really see it under uv with a loupe.

Thanks - my thoughts, too. Unless there is a "concentration" of phosphorescent material that was not mixed properly at the time of application 50+ years ago, I guess. We had a loupe with us and we carefully examined it, for quite a while as this was a very desirable timepiece anyway... and this led to nothing conclusive re. relume 😒

oddboy · Jun 29, 2018

It's easy to become obsessed.. And as other more prolific collectors have said, if the job is so good you can't tell (read: can't be sure), is there a difference?

Deafboy · Jun 29, 2018

Couldn't resist... UV on hands...

Lonestar · Jun 29, 2018

oddboy
is there a difference?

Yes: about $15k 😉

ndgal · Jul 4, 2018

I was asked by the OP to add this here
(I originally posted this as a response to a recent Rolex GMT FS post where the watch's lume came into question).

When it comes to late 60's-early 80's "Non glow" Rolex Tritium on Matte dials; when using a Blacklight, on original Lume you will notice tiny little "Sparkletts" that still glow when exposed to UV light (I believe these "Sparkletts" are the Zinc element in the Tritium).
They usually appear light green/light pinkish in color and scattered within the lume plots and on the hands.
The quantity of "Sparkletts" may very from watch to watch, and even from plot to plot. One may have dozens, while others only a couple.
All depends on the "Mix of the day" I guess.

As seen here on a 2.4 Mil Red Sub with the "Waffle" looking lume plots:

And here on a 5.6 Mil 5513 "Maxi". Notice the "Sparkletts" are still there. Much fewer, but present.

I have yet to see a re-lume job (and I've seen some very good ones, but have definitely not seen them all) that was able to accuretly replicate this.