Dot / Pearl / Pip for Vintage Sub Bezel Inserts - source?

[DrHuHill]

Does anybody know, where to source a vintage tritium like acrylic lume dot ( aka as pearl / pip) for 6538 / 5508 / .. sub bezel insert?

It is the little mushroom like one I mean, not that one with a silver or gold socket.

I found a selection on eBay, but they are 50,- GBP plus shipping per piece.

 

[kilowattore]

Athaya is out of stock atm, Helena Rou has them but not as nice.

 

[p0pperini]

Athaya is out of stock atm

Yeah, it's been the same with Athaya for an age! I hope they're going to get some back in at some point.

 

[DrHuHill]

Adrian from Athaya told me a few minutes ago:

„Yes I’m producing a new batch now should be ready soon“

 

[deadpan]

Athaya is out of stock atm, Helena Rou has them but not as nice.

Interesting. I ended up going for HR as Athaya was out of stock. I’m not keen eyed enough to really notice the difference. It seems (maybe) a little higher? Is that what you mean?

aside from those Briteling showed me one he’d made from the top of a clear LED that looked great.

 

[deadpan]

I found a selection on eBay, but they are 50,- GBP plus shipping per piece.

I bought one of those eBay ones a few years ago for something like £25 (at the time). It was nice until it self destructed whilst I was trying to pick the Lume out! I’ve seen them go up in price since.

 

[Briteling]

I know Pete from Watchlume USA is looking in to making these affordably.

Mine I made from a clear led is nice too though, and the material is quite strong. And it cost me next to nothing in terms of materials.

 

[DrHuHill]

I know Pete from Watchlume USA is looking in to making these affordably.

Mine I made from a clear led is nice too though, and the material is quite strong. And it cost me next to nothing in terms of materials.

Interesting ???? do have a picture?

 

[Briteling]

Interesting ???? do have a picture?

 

[DrHuHill]

For a direct comparison my cartel pearl:

 

[DrHuHill]

Briteling that’s my favorite...

Yours comes very near
Can you describe, please, how you did the LED thing?

 

[deadpan]

Here’s my HR pip (filled by me) and my 1680 pip as supplied by tripdog when he modded it


(HR pip on left) that 6538 you’ve posted above is also my inspo for mine (currently being assembled)

 

[Briteling]

Yeah, the Cartel pearl is way too big. It was not so hard to do, under strong magnification. I used a flangeless led, so just cut the feet off, put it in the drill gently tightened and had a go at it with some engraving pens until it had the right mushroom shape, polished the head with some increasingly finer sandpaper (diamond paper for fiber optic polishing) then spun it holding a very sharp tipped one at one point until it was very thin, so I could snap it off. Then I drilled the center hole with a Tungsten PCB drill bit in I believe it was 0.6mm. Filled the hole with lume, glued it in the insert from the back. Total work about 25-30 minutes.

It is fantastic material, strong, easy to machine, and will stay nicely transparent forever.

 

[DrHuHill]

Very useful step-by-step guide for these LED based lume dots - thank you Briteling

 

[Briteling]

I've got a home printed insert on it now though...

 

[DrHuHill]

Back in stock!
Athaya’s Rolex pearl dot pips:

http://parts.athayavintage.com/product/aftermarket-rolex-pearl-dot-pips/

 

[kilowattore]

Back in stock!
Athaya’s Rolex pearl dot pips:

http://parts.athayavintage.com/product/aftermarket-rolex-pearl-dot-pips/

Hold your horses... I bought a few and they are not like before. Now they are just like Helena Rou's pearls

 

[DrHuHill]

Sad to know ????