Hi All,

Another of my military watches for you to peruse.

Cyma GSTP, Serial 069926. The bottom of the 'Crow's foot' has an 'S' struck through it (Sold out of service?)!

Case isn't too bad on this, but it does have a fair amount of mauling from cack handed use of case knives, plus a slightly sunken case back - too much pressure applied refitting the back (it is very tight)!.

Movement runs well, but loses around 1 min in 24 hours. Not too bad really, considering it's been laid up for years untouched.

The dial and hands were totally bereft of any luminous compound, so I had a go with some Bergeon lume paint, came out quite well for a first attempt.

Not too easy to apply though, used 0.5mm pivot wire with the end filed flat to place lume on the dots, and 0.25 to wick it into the numerals, but it was difficult to place it totally within the numeral bounaries, hence the 'fogging' on some of the edges.

Stuff dries so fast and rock hard, it chips off when trying to clean up the edges, so it's a case of quick 'dabs', and scrape the excess away.
Had to use Green though, as can't get hold of a yellow lume from anywhere.

Glows like a demon in the dark!

Best regards

John.

This was how the dial / hands appeared before re-luming!

John

Couldn't get a decent shot of the back, but the 'depression' can just be seen.
Quite a lot of scratching plus 'knife' scrapes.

John

John,

it looks quite nice but if you like you can mix the Bergeon' with any water colour based paint and make the color you want....
rgds
enzo

Shot of the movement, 15 Jewel, Swiss lever, Monometalic uncut balance, with timing screws and overcoil hairspring.

John

Very neat, John. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Thanks Clyde, much appreciated.

Enzo, that's a tip well worth knowing about!
Many of these old Mil watches appear to have (Had!) a more yellow colour in the lume and look better for it really.

I have got 'Yellow / Green' Bergeon paint too, but it barely shows on the dial, will try darkening some as an experiment.

Have you tried diluting it at all? if so, how does it affect drying / colour etc?

I used it neat from the bottle!

Regards

John