Zenith Special pilot radium questions

Posts
11,865
Likes
20,635
I’m no expert on this model whatsoever but surely the ‘Special’ text is not correct and the dial has been refinished
 
Posts
85
Likes
131
Update: I have removed the paint with a toothpick and a tiny vacuum cleaner. Definitely not radium - no burn at all on surrounding area.
Edited:
 
Posts
21,455
Likes
48,713
In this case it was pretty clearly just some modern paint. But in general, if you think there might be radium, even underneath, it's best to check with a Geiger counter.
 
Posts
3,499
Likes
9,481
I'm going to go against the grain on this thread and say that the dial is original and that only the "lume" was redone. I say this because refinishing a vitreous enamel dial is nigh on impossible. Enamel dials are not simply painted. They are painted with colored powered glass enamels and then cured in an oven, creating a hard glass like surface. Yours also shows a small repair at the 11:00 mark.
 
Posts
3,499
Likes
9,481
Look at the hairline that is radiating outward from the 11:00, where there is a chip. I'm assuming that a dial foot is on the other side and it was over tightened. It's a common way for enamel dials to be damaged.
 
Posts
85
Likes
131
Look at the hairline that is radiating outward from the 11:00, where there is a chip. I'm assuming that a dial foot is on the other side and it was over tightened. It's a common way for enamel dials to be damaged.
I'm certain it is enamel now. Yes. So many of these ones in particular have the same crack forming in the same place. The same thing also tragically seems to happen with a number of lovely old trench watches I've seen online. Impossible to restore. Most are invisible to the naked eye after a good clean. I don't have any tools to loosen it. My biggest priority was finding an upper bezel (if this was indeed a model that required one).
 
Posts
27,813
Likes
70,642
Look at the hairline that is radiating outward from the 11:00, where there is a chip. I'm assuming that a dial foot is on the other side and it was over tightened. It's a common way for enamel dials to be damaged.

Just FYI, tightening the dial screw is not the root cause in these cases. It’s likely that the dial foot was bent an tightening the screw then caused a deflection of the dial. It’s the bent foot that is the problem, as dial feet screws need to be tight...I find them backed out, loose or missing quite often.
 
Posts
3,499
Likes
9,481
Just FYI, tightening the dial screw is not the root cause in these cases. It’s likely that the dial foot was bent an tightening the screw then caused a deflection of the dial. It’s the bent foot that is the problem, as dial feet screws need to be tight...I find them backed out, loose or missing
Thanks for the clarification. I've always just snugged the screws on my dial feet down because I believed that simply over tightening them would crack a dial.
 
Posts
2,362
Likes
4,686
Look at the hairline that is radiating outward from the 11:00, where there is a chip. I'm assuming that a dial foot is on the other side and it was over tightened. It's a common way for enamel dials to be damaged.
worst enamelling I have ever seen (if enameled)