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What do you guys think of this 5513?

KeepTheSpeed
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Hi everyone, besides just acquiring a Speedy I found this 5513.. it looks too good. The lume is almost perfect. Apologies for being sceptical..given the amount of relumed ones around. Is it actually possible to relume and have it patinaed?

IMG_4265.JPG
 
Traveler
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Yes you can soak the dial in coffee. You need better resolution pics if you haven't seen it in the metal, but from that one it looks OK/very nice to me. From that pic, I wouldn't worry about it at all. It's also nice to have the hands match that well. But these days I worry less and less about such things - if it looks nice, great, end of story....
 
Dero13
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I have seen certain sellers in HK where all of their dials are perfectly "patina'd" so I'm sure there is a way to alter the dials out there
 
erpin9
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Looks good and very original. Nice even patina. Congratulation on your acquisition.
 
erpin9
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Dero13 Dero13
I have seen certain sellers in HK where all of their dials are perfectly "patina'd" so I'm sure there is a way to alter the dials out there

I have heard of some dealers using UV lamps on their vintage Rolex dials.
 
ATWG
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hrobi hrobi
looks great!
The dial is not relumed, this is a fine example. If it were, the plots would look like globs of toothpaste and not the even tritium. A macro shot would be well worth the effort.

I would look closely at the crown tube as there seems to be some oxidization, which is not a big deal but suggests it will need to be addressed. These watches were meant for water use after all.

Enjoy the watch, they are getting harder to find.
 
KeepTheSpeed
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Dero13 Dero13
I have seen certain sellers in HK where all of their dials are perfectly "patina'd" so I'm sure there is a way to alter the dials out there

This watch did originate out of HKG hence my scepticism. I haven't acquired it yet. I'm still trying to figure out if it's unaltered.

Unfortunately I don't have an HD macro shot of it.

I did study it under a loupe and the lume is slightly raised (being a paint) but it's not a blob. It's very even in patina.

ATWG- I did notice the oxidisation on the tube and I will ask for an inspection of the movement.
 
The_Walrus
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Many a thread has been written about how this Hong Kong based seller has been able to have each watch patinaed and their respective cases unpolished.
The jury is out- there is much skeptism but no one can prove otherwise. Owners of these watches swear the watches purchased have not been altered.
There seem to be methods to enhance but no one can definitely say or reveal how- for good reason.

I would be happy with the watch you are considering above.
 
sydneywatchguy
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Looks good. I bought a perfect 1665 SD from Vintage Concept over there and was very happy with it.
 
Archer
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The_Walrus The_Walrus
Owners of these watches swear the watches purchased have not been altered.

Would you really expect owners of these watches to say anything else?
 
KeepTheSpeed
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Thanks for the advice gentlemen. That's why I shop with my eyes open and my ears close.
 
The_Walrus
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Archer Archer
Would you really expect owners of these watches to say anything else?
You are correct, but read somewhere of a buyer of a watch ( not Vintage Concept) tested whether there was any laser welding of the case under a nuclear microscope and found no evidence

This particular seller seems to only advertise nice even patinaed NOS cased examples- though his website has been down some time. .
 
T
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The_Walrus The_Walrus
Many a thread has been written about how this Hong Kong based seller has been able to have each watch patinaed and their respective cases unpolished.
The jury is out- there is much skeptism but no one can prove otherwise. Owners of these watches swear the watches purchased have not been altered.
There seem to be methods to enhance but no one can definitely say or reveal how- for good reason.

I would be happy with the watch you are considering above.

Very familiar with this issue, which was speculated because of the number (practically all) of offered pieces being so perfect.

Now as far as your comment that there seem to be methods to enhance but no one can definitely say or reveal, this is easily accessible on the net. Your best known case enhancers in the US, such as ABC and LA Watchworks (split up recently), will cut the cases to bring replicate the original beveled chamfers. They do not "advertise" spot welding the cases to add metal but will fix spots and springbar holes. However, there are other individuals on the net that will spot weld along the case to add metal and will advertise as such.
 
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