Relume for an 028A

[goirish18]

I'm in the process of finishing the mods on an 028A that I picked up a couple of months ago. I'm sending the case/buckle for real PVD this week. I also plan to send the dial for relume in March. My question is, how much age, if any, would the lume on a 10 year old PAM show? Per the pics below, aged tritium looks absolutely gorgeous on this 027A (pics taken from an RWG thread--hope that's ok). But I wonder if it isn't a little premature for a supposedly 10 year old watch. I'm also curious if you guys/gals think the aged tritium would look as good on a PVD model. Thoughts?

 

[takashi]

Aged tritium will be a bonus look to that vintage model. Another example will be on Rolex.

 

[goirish18]

Great looking Comex!

Here's a gen 027 pic that I pulled from risti. It seems that the gen lume is a little yellow, but in my opinion, it's nowhere near as old looking as the aged tritium I posted above. I really like the aged tritium look, but I'm afraid it will be an automatic tell.

 

[rogerwine]

Well the pictures are taken in different lighting with sunlight coming through on the bottom 2 pics and the 1st 2 being in very subdued light. So from the pictures its really hard to judge the difference. I don't think the differences between the watches are as dramatic as the pictures would indicate. I would go for a more moderate aged look....... my 2cents worth.....
Rogerwine

 

[daytona4me]

I think an aged look tritium would look fine on a pvd. I know it's not the same but I wear a "british tan" strap on my PVD because I think the two colors look great together. Something in the middle would be your best bet like Rogerwine said.

 

[goirish18]

Thanks for the input. Yeah, I was thinking something in between would probably work best. Guess I've got a month or so to mull it over. Peace.

 

[babola]

Aged tritium look on PAM 27/28 PR is overrated, in general.
The genuine 27/28 dial genuine tritium lume has aged in the last 10 years or so, but not that much, and most of the "Tritium-look" re-lumed dials are done too dark, resembling more of the 5218-20X/A pre-V watches than Vendome ones. Too many people get hung up on pre-V look, without realizing the main reason for dark aged look isn't the aged lume itself, but low quality varnish used on those dials of '93-'97 era.

Vendome Tritium dials don't come varnished, and as such will never develop the dark aged brownish appearance. Beige or light brownish - yes, but never the dark one as discussed above.

If you're after nice aged look close to gen 28 PR, leave it as is, as the rep factory has done a very good job for you already (having owned two 27 PR reps I can substantiate my claim), altough if you really like that dark look go for it by all means, after all these are all reps, but don't expect it to be 'close to gen'.

just my 2 cents on this matter... 8)

babola

 

[asad]

I have a 27A and whenever i have seen a Gen at risti the 27A doesn't show the tritium to be aged.

 

[optimus_prime]

glad you are doing so much with the watch. i am going to go with babola on this one. i saw a gen 028a while i was in vegas in January and found that the lume was virtually the same.
the pvd is probably the most difficult aspect of the watch. it had a very matte sheen, something that i believe will be difficult to achieve; even with the right PVD work.
the one last flaw is the crossbar on the A of Panerai, other then that the dial is amazing.
again, enjoy the watch.

 

[goirish18]

Aged tritium look on PAM 27/28 PR is overrated, in general.
The genuine 27/28 dial genuine tritium lume has aged in the last 10 years or so, but not that much, and most of the "Tritium-look" re-lumed dials are done too dark, resembling more of the 5218-20X/A pre-V watches than Vendome ones. Too many people get hung up on pre-V look, without realizing the main reason for dark aged look isn't the aged lume itself, but low quality varnish used on those dials of '93-'97 era.

Vendome Tritium dials don't come varnished, and as such will never develop the dark aged brownish appearance. Beige or light brownish - yes, but never the dark one as discussed above.

If you're after nice aged look close to gen 28 PR, leave it as is, as the rep factory has done a very good job for you already (having owned two 27 PR reps I can substantiate my claim), altough if you really like that dark look go for it by all means, after all these are all reps, but don't expect it to be 'close to gen'.

just my 2 cents on this matter... 8)

babola

Straight from the expert's expert--great info as always babola. I appreciate your advice and will leave the color as is. Thanks much!

 

[goirish18]

glad you are doing so much with the watch. i am going to go with babola on this one. i saw a gen 028a while i was in vegas in January and found that the lume was virtually the same.
the pvd is probably the most difficult aspect of the watch. it had a very matte sheen, something that i believe will be difficult to achieve; even with the right PVD work.
the one last flaw is the crossbar on the A of Panerai, other then that the dial is amazing.
again, enjoy the watch.

Hey Pete. How was your trip? I leave in 5 months, 3 weeks and 3 days, but who's counting, right?

Yea, I have my fingers crossed on the PVD. I picked up a new crown and also a gen buckle that should be delivered today. Once that gets here, my package is off to the EU for the magic treatment. And I stocked up on the Cape Cod cloths, so hopefully I can get it looking even closer when I get it back. I'll be sure and post some pics when it's all said and done.

 

[optimus_prime]

glad you are doing so much with the watch. i am going to go with babola on this one. i saw a gen 028a while i was in vegas in January and found that the lume was virtually the same.
the pvd is probably the most difficult aspect of the watch. it had a very matte sheen, something that i believe will be difficult to achieve; even with the right PVD work.
the one last flaw is the crossbar on the A of Panerai, other then that the dial is amazing.
again, enjoy the watch.

Hey Pete. How was your trip? I leave in 5 months, 3 weeks and 3 days, but who's counting, right?

Yea, I have my fingers crossed on the PVD. I picked up a new crown and also a gen buckle that should be delivered today. Once that gets here, my package is off to the EU for the magic treatment. And I stocked up on the Cape Cod cloths, so hopefully I can get it looking even closer when I get it back. I'll be sure and post some pics when it's all said and done.

I had a great time. The weather was terrible in rather terrible in France. I still haven't gotten over the cost of food, but overall it was a great trip. I am glad you are working so diligently to complete this project. The crown and gen buckle should work out handsomely on this piece. BTW, I still want first offer, last refusal. Enjoy!

 

[al1971]

My dream watch.

 

[goirish18]

BTW, I still want first offer, last refusal. Enjoy!

You have my word on the ROFR.

Yeah, the costs of hotels is really putting the clamps on the rest of the trip. I can only imagine how much food and entertainment is going to hurt now that the dollar is so weak. At least I'm not satrting in London like I usually do. Maybe we should just keep on selling this same watch back and forth each time one of us needs some cash for a vacation! :wink: See ya.