Rolex tritium dial that apperas to be luminova...

[Verydark]

Hello, i have just taken a Rolex Sub 14060 from 1997, U series. By that time the paint used for lume was tritium and so the watch says in the dial with the “Swiss-T<25” at 6. The strange thing is that my unit behaves like luminova, I mean, if you expose it to light it will glow a lot, the more you expose it the more it glows. I´ve read that tritium does not need to be charged or exposed to any light to glow constantly so i´m a bit worried about this dial. I assume the watch is original, it came with papers and so, then what happens here? Maybe tritum reacts to light exposure even not needing it? Or maybe some watchmaker could have painted dial with luminova over the tritium? Any clue?

[DadsWatch72]

I don't know about your dial but........I do know that Rolex did produce a dial that was marked as having Tritium but contained Luminova. It was the Sea Dweller Mark V.

http://doubleredseadweller.com/drsd_v_dial.htm

[SubmarinerMan]

The dial has probally been re-lumed with luminova. Do you have any pics?

[Verydark]

Originally Posted by SubmarinerMan

The dial has probally been re-lumed with luminova. Do you have any pics?

I´ll try to post some pics tomorrow. Is it usual to relume Rolex dials with luminova even if they´re dial refers to tritium???

[SubmarinerMan]

It's not usual to re-lume dials but it does happen sometimes. Rolex themselves don't re-lume dials, they only replace them, so it's likely that the dial was re-lumed by a watchmaker.

[Verydark]

Originally Posted by SubmarinerMan

It's not usual to re-lume dials but it does happen sometimes. Rolex themselves don't re-lume dials, they only replace them, so it's likely that the dial was re-lumed by a watchmaker.

I see, maybe this watch has been serviced by a watchmaker. Just to know, does tritium glows brighter if it´s exposed to light even if it does not need it to glow? I´ll take a look at the watch during the night to see if it retains some lume or if it´s fade to black at all, if the second happens it´s sure it´s luminova.

[Tools]

Tritium, by itself, doesn't glow at all.. It emits radiation that excited the phosphorous paint........ The paint may glow when exposed to bright light for a very short time if the Tritium is no longer active..

If it doesn't glow by itself, it is not being tritium excited... If it glows for a minute or two, then it is likely just the paint mix getting a little kick, but won't last long.. If it glows brightly for a couple of hours, then, likely, it has been re-painted with a Luminova type paint..

[SubmarinerMan]

No Tritium doesn't glow brighter if exposed to light, although it may glow slightly if exposed to a strong source of light for a little while. Although the glow would be at a minimum.

[mike]

A photo might help. You might be on the bubble reguarding the switch from tritium to luminova. There was a period of time (some say circa 98-03) when Rolex used dial marked "SWISS T<25" that were in fact luminova.

Rolex had the dials in stock and as Rolex is not a company to waste anything simply applied luminova to the existing dials (supplied by the dial maker sans illuminating compound). This was not something done only with the submariner line but other references as well.

The reason I say on the bubble is that when the case was stamped and actually used can vary. One of the reasons dating can be a bit of a minefield.

Of course it could be, for what ever reason, a re-lume. Again a photo might help.

[Jocke]

A few years back you could get Luminova service dials marked with Tritium. Now Rolex marks them SWISS or SWISS MADE.

I have a Tritium marked Luminova dial on my GMT Master.

[mike]

Originally Posted by Jocke

A few years back you could get Luminova service dials marked with Tritium. Now Rolex marks them SWISS or SWISS MADE.

I have a Tritium marked Luminova dial on my GMT Master.

You da man Jocke.

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by mike

You da man Jocke.

I say as I use to do to JJ, I'll do my best.

Thanks my friend.

Jocke

[Verydark]

Ouch!!! Then you mean I could have a 14060 with tritium indication at 6 but with luminova applied instead of tritium??? I told it´s from 97 because of the serial number but the warranty was stamped at the end of 98. Here´s a quick shot of the dial, what do you think?

[snow_rocks]

what color does it glow?

if like Jocke's pic luminova.

[Verydark]

Originally Posted by snow_rocks

what color does it glow?

if like Jocke's pic luminova.

It glows green, slightly different from Jocke´s pic but it´s hard to tell from a pic seen on a monitor to real life comparison. Anyway it behaves and looks like all other luminovas i have had before so i´m pretty sure it´s actually luminova. Now what i´d like to know if there is a chance that it came like this from Rolex because of the use of tritium printed - luminova applied dials or if has been re-lumed, hope it´s the first thing and hope there´s a way to identify it...

[snow_rocks]

seems to young to be service dial, but that might have had SWISS

instead of the T<25. Hard to say.

[Tools]

I don't think that you can actually know for sure if it came from the factory like that or not..

As Mike and others have said, some markets are known to have had Luminova dials with tritium markings........ If this is a re-lume, it is a very good one..

I would be inclined to say that it likely came that way.. U models did span the changeover period of ~98/99.........

[Verydark]

Originally Posted by snow_rocks

seems to young to be service dial, but that might have had SWISS

instead of the T<25. Hard to say.

Just two options here, a re-lumed dial, i hope not, or a tritium printed dial with luminova on it like Mike says, i´d really like to know if there is a safe way to know if it´s one or another thing.

Originally Posted by mike

A There was a period of time (some say circa 98-03) when Rolex used dial marked "SWISS T<25" that were in fact luminova.

Rolex had the dials in stock and as Rolex is not a company to waste anything simply applied luminova to the existing dials (supplied by the dial maker sans illuminating compound). This was not something done only with the submariner line but other references as well.

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by Verydark

Just two options here, a re-lumed dial, i hope not, or a tritium printed dial with luminova on it like Mike says, i´d really like to know if there is a safe way to know if it´s one or another thing.

I'm not sure if they comes with Tritium marked with Luminova orginal at the watch. I guess it was only service dials.
I have neb´ver seen a Tritium marked Luminova dial with WG surroundings.

I will say it's a relumed so long no one correct me.

Jocke

[Verydark]

Originally Posted by Tools

I don't think that you can actually know for sure if it came from the factory like that or not..

As Mike and others have said, some markets are known to have had Luminova dials with tritium markings........ If this is a re-lume, it is a very good one..

I would be inclined to say that it likely came that way.. U models did span the changeover period of ~98/99.........

Hope you are right, it´s my first Rolex and i think i´m getting a little bit paranoid about it. Seller is totally reliable (afaik) and i already got in love of this watch, i just notice this "issue" today and can´t stop thinking about it .

[watchbureau]

I also understand from other sources (i'll see if i can find the web page on submariner history) that the dials around this time were T<25 but were luminova. I have one on my wrist right now (U serial 16610) that is printed like this but is luminova. I think it is right.

[Yasargil]

In Spain we have named this type of dial "tritinova dials"