[madeofducktape]

Hey folks,

I recently picked up a birth month and year 6309-7290. I've been wearing it for a few days and its keeping pretty good time. Cosmetically, however it needs a bit of work. There appears to be a film of some sort on the dial and hands. In all my research I've learned that dial and hands are delicate and tricky to clean. I've been practicing some of my watch repair / modding on a new snk809 (different movement) but I am not comfortable enough with my skills to tackle the 6309. So I am reaching out to the folks on this forum for some help.

As you can see, its got a bit of wabi to it. As best I can tell, its all original the goal is to keep it that way. I'm just looking to have the dial and hands cleaned, not looking to re lume.

Pictures below. PM me if you think you might be able to help.

Thanks for looking!

-Greg

 

[LongBike]

That Watch

It appears that you might need a complete Lume job done on it.
I have some of those dials and the Lume is almost gone like that one.
If you have it relumed I would say then you be alright with it. I have found that the
6309-7290 dials are many like that and when you relume them you will see a total
difference. I re-did them and they look great now.

Maybe some one will respond to this also and give you further help or
recommendation to it.
Use it as a everyday beater it will be OK .

 

[DiverDown]

Leave it alone, enjoy it as-is.

 

[jringo8769]

welcome to the forum...Long Bike is correct...with some simple changes that watch will look almost new again...it all depends on the look you want...if you want to keep it original...i would just leave it alone...if you want to refresh it ..i would suggest finding a harold's bezel insert..it is not original but they are very close to it...and with the hands and dial...they will need the old lume removed and cleaned and relumed...hands are very easy to do and great to learn too...there is a few threads on here showing how to do it...the big thing to learn is how to make up the lume...consistancy is key...i see you just want it cleaned...once you try and clean it...it may start coming off...so what you will need to ask yourself is ...can u live with it as it is...or do you want to dive in and do a lite restoration....glad to help in any way i can...great to have you with us...John

 

[IgniFerroque]

hands are very easy to do and great to learn too...

It's good to hear that they're so easy. Can you show us some that you have relumed?

 

[DAHASCO]

It's good to hear that they're so easy. Can you show us some that you have relumed?

I would like to see some examples of the relumed watches that you have done. Always looking for an easier way.

 

[madeofducktape]

Thank you all for your replies! If I'm understanding correctly cleaning the gunk off would also remove the lume?

Longbike - do you have any before and after pics of some that you have relumed? Would love to see what the potential is!
John- a Harold's bezel insert is from yobokies, correct? Or is that a different Harold?

-Greg

 

[TheTigerUK]

Thats a favourite model of mine Greg

I would be tempted to put it to the back of your box and look for something like a 6309-704X, just a nicer watch all round IMO

Harold is Yobokies.

Check here

 

[madeofducktape]

Tiger- 6309-704x is the "cushion case" diver correct? I'll have to keep that in mind when its time for a new (old) watch.

That's a great list of resources thanks for sharing!

-Greg

 

[jringo8769]

well IgniFerroque....my luming skills are nothing worth showing.. but thanks for interest...i am just learning..but what i have seen if you have steady hands and with practice..this would be a great one to start with...i find that every time i start i am not satisfied with the results..i am told that the mix needs to be like pancake batter..and it needs to be very smooth..when i can make a good example i will gladly post pics...well cleaning this watch dial and hands ... you can make a real mess of it unless you are careful and take your time..you can improve it to some degree...the 7290 is not as valuable as the 7040 and 7049's....i will impart what i was told to me years ago when i started fixing old cars and stuff..There is nothing that you can ruin that we can not fix.....Just remember..with old lume..it gets brittle..does not like to be fooled with..sometimes leaving alone is best unless you are willing to dive in with both feet and get wet....John

 

[cd__god]

Thank you all for your replies! If I'm understanding correctly cleaning the gunk off would also remove the lume?

Longbike - do you have any before and after pics of some that you have relumed? Would love to see what the potential is!
John- a Harold's bezel insert is from yobokies, correct? Or is that a different Harold?

-Greg

If the lume is discolored you will need to relume them.

If the hand frames are corroded and crusty they can be cleaned (don't ask me how to do it) but when I had my 6306 serviced many years ago the hand frames looked horrible but the guy that worked on it was able to clean some of the scaly crust off without disturbing the lume but the damage to the underlying metal was still there.