Sunlight affecting Lume question

[Davidco]

Might sound like an odd question, but will too much sunlight exposure affect the lume or fade the dial of my Submariner? I didn't want to be one who asks if it's okay if my watch gets wet from rain, but I am just curious if sunlight exposure could do either of these things. Thanks in advance.

[moviefreak]

UV might do something but in the very long term...

[ecsub44]

I think I've read that UV light will actually bleach the lume on Tritium dials. I remember reading that the really high patina dials are those less exposed to sunlight.

Dunno.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Davidco

Might sound like an odd question, but will too much sunlight exposure affect the lume or fade the dial of my Submariner? I didn't want to be one who asks if it's okay if my watch gets wet from rain, but I am just curious if sunlight exposure could do either of these things. Thanks in advance.

Well after working around the various diving resorts world wide,and especially around the Red sea in very very bright hot sunlight.I never had a problem with any of my watches lume wise or any fading of dial bezel insert etc.And can remember on quite a few occasions when working on the boats, after a dive I just left my watch beside my kit in the full sun. Rolex watches are quite tough and yes they can be used as a working tool..

[Tools]

I live in the desert.......... I hardly own any long sleeve shirts and the sun shines all the time...

So far, no bezel, dial, or lume issues..........

[gypsy jim]

I have a 168000. I bought it in 1991 and put it a drawer. I recently had it serviced (thanks to this forum for inspiration and advice) by Bob Ridley, retaining its original dial, hands and bezel. The twenty years in the darkness did not add any patina at all. Jimmy

[Johny]

Originally Posted by gypsy jim

I have a 168000. I bought it in 1991 and put it a drawer. I recently had it serviced (thanks to this forum for inspiration and advice) by Bob Ridley, retaining its original dial, hands and bezel. The twenty years in the darkness did not add any patina at all. Jimmy

it would be nice to see some pics jimmy, it sounds like a treat.

[Jason71]

Originally Posted by Tools

I live in the desert.......... I hardly own any long sleeve shirts and the sun shines all the time...

So far, no bezel, dial, or lume issues..........

Larry, would a vintage with loads of darkened patina start to show bleaching if worn constantly in direct UV light? Or, would the said dial/hands already have the color set and the color wouldn't change much? I just don't want to hurt my butterscotch baby

[Johny]

Originally Posted by Jason71

Larry, would a vintage with loads of darkened patina start to show bleaching if worn constantly in direct UV light? Or, would the said dial/hands already have the color set and the color wouldn't change much? I just don't want to hurt my butterscotch baby

jason that is a lovely watch.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Jason71

Larry, would a vintage with loads of darkened patina start to show bleaching if worn constantly in direct UV light? Or, would the said dial/hands already have the color set and the color wouldn't change much? I just don't want to hurt my butterscotch baby

I agree that's a beauty Jason...

I really don't have an actual answer for you, only theory...

My personal feeling is that the color change, and particularly the very dark patina, seems to come from areas with high humidity.. it's seldom seen here in the arid desert..

Tritium has an affinity for water (it combines readily) and so I believe that in areas with humidity, moisture gets into the case, combines with the plots/tritium, and then the heat generated by the radioactivity super-heats the water/paint matrix, burning the phosphors..

So... once it's burnt, it's kind of like a creme' brulee; already done and not likely to go back to white again...

The dry sunshine areas have less chance for moisture to get into the watch... but it can happen with a swimmer/diver, adventurer who spends a lot of time in wet areas...

But as I say - just a theory.. Still, I don't think that your butterscotch dial will likely go back to white without considerable UV exposure, if at all...

[RJC]

I had a Tag Heuer Specialist Diver many years ago. I left it on a table, outside in the sun for around 5 hours, after which, the lume was completely dead!

I've not done the same with a watch since!

[Atomant]

Originally Posted by RJC

I had a Tag Heuer Specialist Diver many years ago. I left it on a table, outside in the sun for around 5 hours, after which, the lume was completely dead!

I've not done the same with a watch since!

Which is why I have the same concerns as the OP. I feel that the lume is the part of a Rolex with the shortest life span. But I haven't got any issues with it yet other than it turning yellowish on my Exp II. Would that qualify as patina?

I also feel that the lume on my EXP II is very sensitive to light. More so than the rest of my Rolexes.

[gypsy jim]

per request from Johny, here's a shot Mr. Ridley took during service. My own experience is that 20 years in a drawer does not add patina to a 168000. It has virtually no lume remaining. P.S. I really enjoy this site and forum members and I'm learning all the time, Thanks Jimmy.

[mambo]

1979 suntanned daily for 25 years, all original except for the "pearl". No lume at all.

[Johny]

Originally Posted by gypsy jim

per request from Johny, here's a shot Mr. Ridley took during service. My own experience is that 20 years in a drawer does not add patina to a 168000. It has virtually no lume remaining. P.S. I really enjoy this site and forum members and I'm learning all the time, Thanks Jimmy.

thank you jimmy. it looks as though it has just been manufactured. bnos=brand new old stock. i mentioned in a thread earlier today that that is the way i like my things to be.