Help: Sub no date - lumed like a christmas tree

[Plaasbaas]

Oh my word, I never noticed before:

My beloved Submariner no date looks like a christmas tree on a lume shot :laughing:
Bought it half a year ago and never noticed, but once you HAVE seen it you just can't unsee it, can you?

Oh well, should I get it relumed? Or just leave it? What would you guys do?

 

[StreetFighter]

Wow.. time to upgrade to a VSF.

 

[Plaasbaas]

I seems to be ARF v1 or v2, purchased from TD in December 2020 - clasp code is E5N.

But seriously, is this doable by a watchsmith and worth the effort (except from my own individual assessment)?
I must admit, it does bug me a little...

 

[StreetFighter]

Yes it is fixable but you'll need another dial to use or cannibalise. It's not a great rep to be honest so I wouldn't bother, I'd just get a VSF.

EDIT: ..but i'd be keeping the bracelet fixed links to put on the VSF as those are better.

 

[Plaasbaas]

StreetFighter Ok, thank you for your advice, I see.

Well, maybe I'll try to source a VSF, swap the bracelet links, and give the ARF to my dad who would not be bothered with these details....

 

[Rubberman]

You can just get another dial to swap in. Way cheaper than buying another watch, if that is not what you needed.
A new VSF can be difficult to get now, been raided, hasn’t got back in business

 

[Plaasbaas]

Rubberman Thank you very much. Yes I am indeed torn in half what to do. So far I liked my sub. Although it seems consensual that VSF would be the superior choice, I had no desire to look for something else and liked my ARF, in fact I still do.

So, should or could I ask a TD if it is possible to buy an ARF dial only (with green lume according to hands and bezel pearl) or ask m2m in WTB section if I go down this path?

I'm inclined to try...

Would be able to do the dial swap myself, have done that before.

 

[Tobel]

You may need new hands as well as there's no saying that new dial would match the hands

 

[mari115]

Wow that's hilarious lmao

 

[Plaasbaas]

Tobel yes I had a gut feeling it might come to that. Thanks for replying.

So what I need to do now, is find somebody, TD or m2m, who is willing to sell a set of ARF dial and hands to me.

Well, worth a try anyway...

 

[Rubberman]

I think most people will agree that VSF has better LN sub dial than ARF due to the rounded hour markers, vs the sharp corners on ARF.

 

[Plaasbaas]

mari115 it is right? ...sigh...in fact it puts me through all sorts of emotions today, changing from laughing, to disappointment, to being slightly annoyed. I mean come on.... At least they could have had the decency to place the wrong colour dots on the 3, 6 and 9 position. That would have given it a very unique but still acceptable charme.

 

[Plaasbaas]

Rubberman If I am lucky enough to get a VSF dial, and in best case hands as well, would they fit on my ARF?

 

[Tobel]

Tobel yes I had a gut feeling it might come to that. Thanks for replying.

So what I need to do now, is find somebody, TD or m2m, who is willing to sell a set of ARF dial and hands to me.

Well, worth a try anyway...

ARF dials are not amazing (markers with sharp edges, white lume) so you could try to upgrade to a better one, at least there would be some upside in your misfortune

 

[Plaasbaas]

Tobel thanks. I'd be happy to, if I knew that VSF dial and hands would fit. How realistic is that? It's a different movement, that much seems clear...

 

[Rubberman]

VSF one will be a bit hard, it’s new, and busted. VSF hasn’t been back yet, no idea how long more to wait.
Next best would be ZZF no date dial. But that always comes with an uneven X on the print. It seems to me it still an upgrade for the matter.
I believe both are using the dial at same position, mimic to Rolex 3130 feet position.
If you have your ARF dial diameter size let me know, I can check the ZZF dial that I have. As long the ZZF dial is same size or slightly smaller I don’t foresee any issue swapping them.

 

[Plaasbaas]

Thank you Rubberman I will get back to you once I have measured the size of my dial.

Everybodies effort to give advice here is highly appreciated.

 

[Hazing]

To be honest you’re better off selling this one despite its flaws and buy a new one. I’ve seen mismatched dials and hands but never that bad. That’s just weird.

I would sell that and just start over. Otherwise you have to swap the dial and hands and that can be a pain.

And yes even knowing it’s there would drive me crazy as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Plaasbaas]

Hazing thank you too for replying.

I'm gonna sleep over it. I'm still very undecided.

 

[Plaasbaas]

This thread got 160 odd views so far, would be interesting to know, how many people went straight to their watch collection and checked the lume on all their Rolexes, just to make sure