[nhsmitty]

I'm all over the board with lume questions and since this is Rolex related I'll slide over here. :wink:

I have a 30 year old Datejust that no longer shines. The lume lasts for about five minutes, if that, after a charge.

Will a relume affect the value? Otherwise in good/used condition for its age except for a scratch in the crystal (another story).

Can this be done by an authorized Rolex service center?

 

[mike]

Your watch used tritium as an illuminating compound. Tritium has a half-life of about 12.5 years so it's seen it's better day. I suspect the lume you're getting is coming from the phosphors in the paint matrix as it reacts to light.

Re-luming will always affect the value to a collector. How much depends on the reference, rarity, etc....

Rolex does not relume. Rather they will replace the dial with the most current, correct option. It will use super luminova as an illuminating compound.

Again, depending on the reference, a service replacement dial will have an impact, though on your watch I suspect not as much.

Good luck.

 

[bullandvodka]

nhsmitty,

Those older Rolex models never had much lume to begin with. Those little microdots at the end of the stick markers even in their prime were almost unusable.

DJs aren't especially rare. In fact, it is the most common post war Rolex out there. If you want to get a new dial with the Superluminova on it, Rolex can assist you. They can also get you a fresh crystal. If you go with Rolex, then its still genuine, but not original if they replace the dial.

Most of us have an older DJ or DD with no lume left that we keep for sentimental reasons and the occasional change of pace. We tend to leave them be and keep them as-is. Heck, I forgot mine ever had lume till I remembered again after get active on this forum. Again, the lume was never very good to begin with.

 

[nhsmitty]

Mike,

What is this "reference" that you speak of?

I've been into watches off and on most of my adult life but on a steep learning curve here since discovering WTF and not familiar with some terminology.

 

[nhsmitty]

nhsmitty,

Those older Rolex models never had much lume to begin with.
Most of us have an older DJ or DD with no lume left that we keep for sentimental reasons and the occasional change of pace. We tend to leave them be and keep them as-is.

Good points..

 

[JBHII]

Mike,

What is this "reference" that you speak of?

I've been into watches off and on most of my adult life but on a steep learning curve here since discovering WTF and not familiar with some terminology.

Reference, meaning the specific reference number of the model. Such as Submariner 16610 (modern) vs. Submariner 1680 (vintage).

 

[pauleypaul]

If it's the original dial it would be Radioluminescent Tritium and would have given up glowing many years ago. For it to be 'chargeable' even if only for a short time, it must be a service replacement dial surely, containing Luminova? :confused1:

 

[Scott D]

If you're a lume-junkie (like I am) go ahead & get the dial replaced.. Given you'll find hundreds of vintage DJ's at any given time on those sales sites, I really don't think it'll affect resale value (unless it's a very rare model or configuration). In fact, some might actually like that it's got the newer, brighter dial... All this is assuming you plan to sell it eventually.. If you're planning to keep it, it only matters which way you'll like it... :thumbup1:

 

[mike]

If it's the original dial it would be Radioluminescent Tritium and would have given up glowing many years ago. For it to be 'chargeable' even if only for a short time, it must be a service replacement dial surely, containing Luminova? :confused1:

Good point, and one that sometimes gets confusing.

While it's true older dials used tritium (real old ones used Radium), tritium is but one part of the make up of the marker.
As we know tritium is a low level radioactive substance that emits beta radiation, and has a half-life of circa 12.5 years.
Tritium, in an of itself does not glow, but rather acts as an exciting agent to stimulate the phosphors contained in the paint matrix to "glow".
These phosphors have the ability to stimulate after the tritium in the marker has diminished in strength.
Many collectors have noted a temporary glow on their tritium dials after being exposed to a light source.
Interestingly this occurs more with older tritium dials than those used during the 80s leading some collectors to feel Rolex has experimented with the mixture over the years.

The markers consist of three parts;

1. phosphors--the part that glows
2. tritium--the exciting agent
3. The bonding agent--the part that holds it all together--roughly 90% of what we see.

That's certainly not to say a given dial could not have been re-lumed at some point, but it is possible to have a bit of temporary lume on an original dial depending on the era.:thumbup1:

 

[nhsmitty]

When I had it serviced in '98 or '99 the guy told me it was a '77, (I purchased in '94), and that the case had never been opened. Or, maybe he meant it had never been serviced. I'm not sure. I took it to mean the case had never been opened but not sure if that can be evident or not.

I like the point of leaving it as-is, cheaper that way, but at the same time I'd like it to be more user friendly to me. It's strictly a dress watch these days so it really doesn't matter, I come home and strap on another watch after dress occasions anyway. Plus, my taste is case size has moved up.