Hi
I have this 1965 Speedmaster, where I have a little doubt about the dial and whether it should be relumed or it should be kept as it is now. Can you help with the pros and cons
I like that it has a patina

Thanks

 

There’s another issue I’d personally feel a more urgent need to address than the lume

 

yes the don bezel?

 

For the dial, I'd say that you should do whatever will give you the most enjoyment. If you like it, leave it alone.

 

Looks pretty cool.

you need a bezel though.

 

I really like the band. The lume should be stabilized. I dropped some watch parts on my floor, then grabbed the UV flashlight by mistake. I had the lights out (which can help finding tiny parts) There was a pile of dust that started glowing when the UV light passed over it. I think this came from my box of dust, which had some lumed hands in it. As I recall radium is only an alpha emitter, more likely the glow comes from the phosphors. I actually have quite a few things that glow in the dark after being exposed to light. I think tin is the active ingredient for that sort of paint.

I noticed that the lume on my Speedmaster seems to be spotty on the hour hand. Not something I would service myself. Although I have the same movement in a Tissot, which came as a box of loose parts. Also itching to start working on my Lemania, Lemania.

Hind-site is such a wonderful thing. I was in Switzerland in June, and took an unexpected trip to Neuchâtel. I could have dropped the speedy off in Biel/Bienne as the train went through there on the way back to Zurich.

-j

 

I also think the dial it's not a problem..but the missing bezel..i will not feel comfortable with that problem. Regards.

 

In some ways I don’t mind a missing bezel on an old Speedmaster. Particularly if it’s been missing a while and condition doesn’t warrant the money spending on a DON.

I’d be tempted to either leave it all as is (but get that pusher cap sorted), or have a sympathetic relume by someone good and if you’re going to that trouble, it would be worth finding an appropriate bezel at that point.

 

Personally I found the charme and character of this watch unique, so I would leave the dial just as it is, but it’s a personal choice!
I would rather go hunting for a correct bezel.
Good luck and enjoy it!

 

A repro bezel might be a compromise solution, but it'd need to be made in an aged look - not sure such thing exists.

 

Personally I wouldn’t even consider a repro. I’d eiether leave it a la Brando, get a meteor DON or at the most, put a genuine decimal bezel on it and batter it up a bit.

 

Your one liners repeating other posters comments are getting a bit wearisome. I do hope what you have to sell is interesting!

 

Only 50 or so to go until they'll stop, we're almost there.

 

I am assuming you have done some preliminary research already so what is your assessment and opinion?