Lume dial face

[Rooster13]

Hi, I'm a Noob to watch repair, I've always loved watches especially pocket watches. I recently bought a couple Elgins, one pocket, one wrist and i want to apply glow in the dark lume to the dials themselves, but don't want to obscure the face. everything i've seen for sale is opaque and for hands. can anyone point me to a translucent product i can use on the watch face itself. I know factory watches that come this way, though the areas are slightly discolored, i can live with that, any help would be greatly appreciated 

[Ishima]

Not my particular area of expertise but I'm not aware of the use of translucent lume being used on dials, I think the same opaque lume is used on dials as is hands. Why exactly would you need to see through the lume? is the lume not applied to the hour markers? Unless we're talking about lumbrite dials, in which case I'm fairly sure that it's not a coating that's applied but the material of the dial itself being glow in the dark plastic.

[noirrac1j]

38 minutes ago, Rooster13 said:

Hi, I'm a Noob to watch repair, I've always loved watches especially pocket watches. I recently bought a couple Elgins, one pocket, one wrist and i want to apply glow in the dark lume to the dials themselves, but don't want to obscure the face. everything i've seen for sale is opaque and for hands. can anyone point me to a translucent product i can use on the watch face itself. I know factory watches that come this way, though the areas are slightly discolored, i can live with that, any help would be greatly appreciated 

Hey Rooster! Welcome to the WRT buddy. What do you want to lume on the dial? Hour marker or numbers? Or is it you want the entire dial to glow? If the last question is what you're aiming for, that will not be possible by painting it on. Like Ishma said, that type of luminescence is either embedded in the dial material or a layered decal that is applied beforehand.

JC

Edited January 4, 2017 by noirrac1j
typo

[Rooster13]

31 minutes ago, noirrac1j said:

Hey Rooster! Welcome to the WRT buddy. What do you want to lume on the dial? Hour marker or numbers? Or is it you want the entire dial to glow? If the last question is what you're aiming for, that will not be possible by painting it on. Like Ishma said, that type of luminescence is either embedded in the dial material or a layered decal that is applied beforehand.

JC

Hi, i wanted to do the whole dial as all the numbers and hands are gold plated and raised, I thought maybe if i could find something i could spray on in an even coat with my airbrush. I love old watches and am just getting into the hobby, but i would like them to be a little more functional at night. tested some stuff i bought on a test dial on just the gold number and it completely destroyed the gold. so i figured that if i did the face of the dial like the watches i had seen then i would get the night functionality, and not marr the classic beauty.

[noirrac1j]

1 hour ago, Rooster13 said:

Hi, i wanted to do the whole dial as all the numbers and hands are gold plated and raised, I thought maybe if i could find something i could spray on in an even coat with my airbrush. I love old watches and am just getting into the hobby, but i would like them to be a little more functional at night. tested some stuff i bought on a test dial on just the gold number and it completely destroyed the gold. so i figured that if i did the face of the dial like the watches i had seen then i would get the night functionality, and not marr the classic beauty.

Most important in a vintage watch is the dial. This directly determines the value, and to an extent, its collectability.  The effect you want is probably sort of like an indiglo effect where the dial and all its features are still visible.

But I don't think that will be obtainable in a wrist or pocket--even with an airbrush.

I would suggest you try your ideas on a few junker dials to see the effect. The problem will be that you will have to clean off the dial of all lettering and markers! On a wrist watch this is very difficult because you'd have to somehow replace the markers and even if you get the dial to glow, the result would probably be mediocre and not aesthetically pleasing....plus you've ruined the watch. A clock might be easier. The picture I've included is of a clock in my living room. I did not make this clock.

 

JC

 

Edited January 4, 2017 by noirrac1j

[clockboy]

There are purists who advocate don,t touch as this devalues some vintage watches. I did see a few years ago a article showing a specialist who restores clock & watch dials and he was hand painting them. A very skilful guy who and incredibly steady hands. There are watch dial restore companies to be found in the resources section of this site.

[Rooster13]

1 hour ago, noirrac1j said:

Most important in a vintage watch is the dial. This directly determines the value, and to an extent, its collectability.  The effect you want is probably sort of like an indiglo effect where the dial and all its features are still visible.

But I don't think that will be obtainable in a wrist or pocket--even with an airbrush.

I would suggest you try your ideas on a few junker dials to see the effect. The problem will be that you will have to clean off the dial of all lettering and markers! On a wrist watch this is very difficult because you'd have to somehow replace the markers and even if you get the dial to glow, the result would probably be mediocre and not aesthetically pleasing....plus you've ruined the watch. A clock might be easier. The picture I've included is of a clock in my living room. I did not make this clock.

 

JC

 

Yeah, i'm not worried about the values, they are entry level, not working and were cheaper then the new chinese stuff. but i like them, they are not high dollar collectables by any means-but like i said i like them, they make me happy. and like customizing a car you'll always have the purists and the modifiers. both are valid. I'll change some stuff on them, a little self expression, after practicing on the collection of cheap watches i have, not too much, that's the reason i love older stuff, it has character and soul-i know it's a lot of work and a steep learning curve-but in the end, i'll smile and be happy knowing i've given them a new life-that they make me happy, that's what matters. So no offense to anyone.

[szbalogh]

Put a picture here, i can show You alternatives to lume the watches.

 

[noirrac1j]

10 hours ago, Rooster13 said:

Yeah, i'm not worried about the values, they are entry level, not working and were cheaper then the new chinese stuff. but i like them, they are not high dollar collectables by any means-but like i said i like them, they make me happy. and like customizing a car you'll always have the purists and the modifiers. both are valid. I'll change some stuff on them, a little self expression, after practicing on the collection of cheap watches i have, not too much, that's the reason i love older stuff, it has character and soul-i know it's a lot of work and a steep learning curve-but in the end, i'll smile and be happy knowing i've given them a new life-that they make me happy, that's what matters. So no offense to anyone.

Yes, vintage stuff has character and soul, and much more pleasing than lifeless plastic and capacitance touch screens. Do your thing and let us know how it goes.

JC

[Rooster13]

11 hours ago, szbalogh said:

Put a picture here, i can show You alternatives to lume the watches.

 

Hi, this is the face of my pocket watch, my others haven't come in yet. This one is special, it was the first Christmas together for me and my wife- to me it's priceless. this Elgin pocket watch is relatively new, about 14 years old. the other 2 are 1950 and 1943, they need lots of work. but this is my first priority. I was thinking in the cover there is enough room for a small battery like a 371, and a small low light LED, and a simple switch when it opens. i was going to put a picture of my wife in that side any way so that could cover the mech. just a thought. this is the face though

[Rooster13]

6 hours ago, Rooster13 said:

Hi, this is the face of my pocket watch, my others haven't come in yet. This one is special, it was the first Christmas together for me and my wife- to me it's priceless. this Elgin pocket watch is relatively new, about 14 years old. the other 2 are 1950 and 1943, they need lots of work. but this is my first priority. I was thinking in the cover there is enough room for a small battery like a 371, and a small low light LED, and a simple switch when it opens. i was going to put a picture of my wife in that side any way so that could cover the mech. just a thought. this is the face though

[noirrac1j]

2 hours ago, Rooster13 said:

Hello  there,

Its a small picture, but from what I can see it looks clean and rather elegant with the Arabic numerals and silver dial face. The case of a pocket watch has very little clearance, and I would think any sort of battery or switch would be difficult without modification to the case. Is it a Hunter-style pocket watch?

J

[Rooster13]

1 hour ago, noirrac1j said:

Hello  there,

Its a small picture, but from what I can see it looks clean and rather elegant with the Arabic numerals and silver dial face. The case of a pocket watch has very little clearance, and I would think any sort of battery or switch would be difficult without modification to the case. Is it a Hunter-style pocket watch?

J

No it's the Elgin executive, and it is elegant, i don't want to do anything to marr it's face, and for some reason the web site wouldn't let me upload a larger photo. I just don't see any way of adding lume without screwing it up. maybe carry a really small flashlight? i was hoping some one would have an idea about this.

[noirrac1j]

6 minutes ago, Rooster13 said:

No it's the Elgin executive, and it is elegant, i don't want to do anything to marr it's face, and for some reason the web site wouldn't let me upload a larger photo. I just don't see any way of adding lume without screwing it up. maybe carry a really small flashlight? i was hoping some one would have an idea about this.

Yeah there really is no way of doing that without messing the watch up. Maybe the indices (hour markers) can be lumed, but even this can result in a ruined dial if you don't have a good steady hand. Hands can be lumed, but I would suggest you just leave it as is.

 

J

Edited January 5, 2017 by noirrac1j

[Rooster13]

9 hours ago, noirrac1j said:

Yeah there really is no way of doing that without messing the watch up. Maybe the indices (hour markers) can be lumed, but even this can result in a ruined dial if you don't have a good steady hand. Hands can be lumed, but I would suggest you just leave it as is.

 

J

actually there is, between the crystal and the face is a fairly large spacer ring. the lume i have glows really bright. so the idea is to cast the spacer ring in clear epoxy and impregnate it with the lume, thereby creating a 360 degree ring around the circumference of the watch face that will nearly be invisible. i'm doing the first test tonight. i'll let you know how it turns out.

[noirrac1j]

44 minutes ago, Rooster13 said:

actually there is, between the crystal and the face is a fairly large spacer ring. the lume i have glows really bright. so the idea is to cast the spacer ring in clear epoxy and impregnate it with the lume, thereby creating a 360 degree ring around the circumference of the watch face that will nearly be invisible. i'm doing the first test tonight. i'll let you know how it turns out.

That sounds innovative....I definitely want to see the results.

J

[Rooster13]

On 1/5/2017 at 0:32 PM, noirrac1j said:

That sounds innovative....I definitely want to see the results.

J

Haven't gotten around to that too busy, my other watches have come in. but things are hectic. Does any one know a repair or disassembly guide for an Elgin 674 17 jewel movement, and being a noob,  the best and safest  way to remove a watches hands?