When/why was “T Swiss Made T” used?

[RazorD]

I’ve come across a few charts over the years that reference “Swiss T-<25”, “T Swiss T”, etc. but the one that I was always curious about was the “T Swiss Made T” notation. I believe the first two listed are different based on radioactivity numbers, but not sure why the difference between “T Swiss T” and “T Swiss Made T”. It seems to have been used in the same date range so why the difference? Was it specific to country codes, models, etc.? Curious any info you guys can share.

Thanks!

[taxico]

http://www.network54.com/Forum/20759...Rolex+Luminous..

[azguy]

I found this on-line..

What does the "T" designation at the bottom of the dial mean?

This refers to the chemical used on the hands and hour markers, which causes them to illuminate. Around 1950, watchmakers started using Tritium as their luminous material, and began indicating the amount of that radioactive material with a designation at the bottom of the dial (i.e. T SWISS T or SWISS T < 25). Around 1998, watchmakers changed the designation to read SWISS or SWISS MADE, when they replaced the Tritium with LumiNova (an organic, non-radioactive chemical), as their source of luminescence.

T SWISS MADE T indicates that the radioactive material Tritium is present on the wristwatch. The amount of radioactive material emitted is limited to a maximum of 25 milliCurie.

SWISS T < 25 more specifically indicates that the wristwatch emits an amount of Tritium that is less than the 25 milliCurie limit.

SWISS T 25 indicates that the wristwatch emits the maximum allowable amount of Tritium (i.e. a full 25 milliCurie).

SWISS (or) SWISS MADE on wristwatches produced after (around) 1998, indicates the presence of LumiNova as the luminous material. (Please Note: "SWISS" or "SWISS MADE" was also the indication on wristwatches produced prior to the 1950s, when Radium was used as the luminous material. However, at that time "SWISS" or "SWISS MADE" simply indicated that the watch was, in fact, made in Switzerland.

[andromeda160]

Mines fancy, I have "- T swiss T -" always been a fan of the dashes added for aesthetic.

Also part of the reason I have a hard time letting my 1500 go, as it's only marked "swiss" at the bottom.

Swiss t <25 was used on sports models for the most part and T swiss T was more of a Midsize thing from what I've seen

[RazorD]

Pic added (not one of mine) for reference.

[strongarms]

Last year, sent my 5700 Airking Date to the Dallas RSC for a service along with having new hands and a dial replaced (paint was flaking off). The old dial was T SWISS T, the replacement dial said T SWISS MADE T. Must have had some new old stock lying around.

[jdmi32]

My 2.39 mil DJ has this type of dial and I believe it was installed as a replacement sometime in the early 80's or later.

[joe100]

Originally Posted by strongarms

Last year, sent my 5700 Airking Date to the Dallas RSC for a service along with having new hands and a dial replaced (paint was flaking off). The old dial was T SWISS T, the replacement dial said T SWISS MADE T. Must have had some new old stock lying around.

Service dials can have the old markings but use luminova

[strongarms]

Thanks Joe, knew it didn't have tritium, but thought it was cool none the less....

[chris333]

Originally Posted by jdmi32

My 2.39 mil DJ has this type of dial and I believe it was installed as a replacement sometime in the early 80's or later.

That's a cracker! Love it. :)

[jdmi32]

Originally Posted by chris333

That's a cracker! Love it. :)

Thank you!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by RazorD

I’ve come across a few charts over the years that reference “Swiss T-<25”, “T Swiss T”, etc. but the one that I was always curious about was the “T Swiss Made T” notation. I believe the first two listed are different based on radioactivity numbers, but not sure why the difference between “T Swiss T” and “T Swiss Made T”. It seems to have been used in the same date range so why the difference? Was it specific to country codes, models, etc.? Curious any info you guys can share.

Thanks!

Up till 1960 Rolex used the word SWISS then dials were Radioactive Radium from around early 1960 on Rolex used T.Swiss.T less than 277 MBq (7.5mCi) and Swiss <T25 less than925 MBq (25mCi)on there dial depending on how much radioactivity they had from 1960 till mid/late 1998.Swiss only dials were then used with Luminovor from 1998 to 2000, then after 2000 back to Swiss Made with Superluminovor. But Superluminover was just renamed Luminover to mark factory location change as the paint is made by Nemoto a Japanese luminous paint maker. Now they moved a part of its factory to Switzerland in 1998 in Joint-ventured with RC-Tritec AG the change from Tritium to Luminover.But this was to mainly establish Luminova AG Switzerland for supplying Luminova to all the Swiss watch industry including Rolex and most major brands.Later the name was changed to super-luminover and many other names for basically the same product under various names but all basically the same paint with a slightly different colour pigments.
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[Andad]

Good info Peter.

[polarinda]

Don't think anyone answered the original question.

[linesiders]

Originally Posted by polarinda

Don't think anyone answered the original question.

You answer is in the second reply to the OP's post.

Though I think:

T SWISS MADE T was less than 7.5 milliCurie
T SWISS T was less than 15 milliCurie
T SWISS < 25 was less than 25 milliCurie