View Single Post
Old 22 April 2010, 10:44 PM   #8
robsteve
"TRF" Member
 
robsteve's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Canada
Posts: 776
Quote:
Originally Posted by snowbird View Post
Does anyone know how it is these tritium tubes are allowed when tritium on the dials is not anymore? Is it because it's sealed in tubes?
Is the Tritium paint not allowed or had it become difficult to deal with? For example, my Rolex date which I have owned since new in 1989 no longer glows. The only solution is a new dial and hands. I wonder if Rolex has to deal with the old dials and hands in some special (expensive) way in order to dispose of them?

Luminova dials and hands probably have made it much easier in regards to life and service. Even Luminova seems to have a life to it, as my older Seiko watches do not glow very well anymore.

Compared to the Tubes, Tritium paint had quite a short life and as you mentioned the tubes are also sealed, so no problems with paint dust. I also get the impression that the tube is more efficient and it takes less radioactivity to make the coated insides of the tube glow. The Tritium is in a gas form.

Robert
robsteve is offline   Reply With Quote