Questions on re-luming a vintage watch
Hi all. I bought my son this Citizen Homer Japanese railroad watch (c. 1971) for high school graduation last year. He's enjoying wearing it at college. He wondered if it's possible to re-lume the hands and the pips on the dial. (I understand the urge to not modify a vintage watch, but this is only worth a couple hundred bucks, and he's not interested in selling it, so the value loss proposition would be minimal.)
Has anyone ever had a vintage watch re-lumed? Where did you have it done (i.e., what kind of shop)? How much did it cost? Did it work and look great, or did it mess with the coolness of the watch as it used to look?
Any helpful thoughts welcome. Thanks.
Fairly new to the obsession. Fan of microbrands and indies, Arabic numerals, and interesting dials.
Can be done, cost is going to be regional dependent from my experience.
What I could get done for price x when stationed in Missouri, is different than what a shop in DFW charges and vice versa.
With anything vintage, always need to check for radium first, but a good company will know to do that.
Also, before everyone and their dog freaks the heck out, you're fine.
Don't open the case yourself, and don't lick, eat, breathe anything on the watch face.
YouTube is your friend and supplies are plentifully on Amazon or AliExpress. There are a few here that could do it but it's easy
I've had hands relumed & my watch repairer charges about £20 for that. Reluming dots on a dial he charges £25 for
Could you send back to Citizen? I took lume for granted for many years, since the watch I wore had pretty good lume, some of my recent purchases have poor to no lume and it is annoying when I can’t tell the time when I wake up in the middle of the night. 🤣. I’m lazy like that, god forbid I have to fumble for my phone or the light.