Rolex Explorer II 16570 T<25 but luminova dial

[beepbeepimajeep]

Hi all, has anyone encountered a U series (1998) 16570 polar that has a dial stating T<25 but has luminova paint?

[johnjm]

How do you know it's luminova?

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[ocN55]

Originally Posted by johnjm

how do you know it's luminova?

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+1

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by johnjm

How do you know it's luminova?

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Could be any one or both of two main criteria.
Firstly, Tritium would be nearly useless by now as a result the Luminova would be still going strong as it was the day it was applied to the dial.
Secondly, the Tritium would have a creamy colour as opposed to the Luminova which would be whiter.
Additionally, the Luminova material looks different to Tritium under some magnification like that of a loupe.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by johnjm

How do you know it's luminova?

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Originally Posted by ocN55

+1

Simply because in that time-frame U serial around 1998/9 was the change from Tritium to Luminover,and some dials were marked Tritium but they had Luminover lume Rolex just using up the old stock dials.Seeing its a watch from 1998/9 if Tritium I would doubt if dial would have any glow at all. Tritium lume had a half life of around 12 years, if its glows when activated with a strong light source it will be Luminover.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by beepbeepimajeep

Hi all, has anyone encountered a U series (1998) 16570 polar that has a dial stating T<25 but has luminova paint?

I owned one of those dials myself which was fitted to a "T" serial.
The dial was changed at the RSC after the "U" serials had come out.

Why do you ask

[beepbeepimajeep]

Originally Posted by Dirt

I owned one of those dials myself which was fitted to a "T" serial.
The dial was changed at the RSC after the "U" serials had come out.

Why do you ask

I was given the opportunity to purchase a 16570 polar with the T<25 but with luminova paint, so I would like to just double-check with you guys.

[beepbeepimajeep]

Thanks padi56 and Dirt for the information! A rather interesting piece that would make for a good conversation.

[Dirt]

Indeed.
But only among WIS

[snowflake]

Isn't this so-called the "triti-nova" dial?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by snowflake

Isn't this so-called the "triti-nova" dial?

No we have enough stupid childish names now in the Rolex world its just a dial.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by beepbeepimajeep

Hi all, has anyone encountered a U series (1998) 16570 polar that has a dial stating T<25 but has luminova paint?

Yes.
Had one myself and it was a delightful watch
Sad to see it go
Mine was a Polar.
There have been a few turn up on the forum all of which date back to around 1998.

[Recaro18]

Originally Posted by padi56

Simply because in that time-frame U serial around 1998/9 was the change from Tritium to Luminover,and some dials were marked Tritium but they had Luminover lume Rolex just using up the old stock dials.Seeing its a watch from 1998/9 if Tritium I would doubt if dial would have any glow at all. Tritium lume had a half life of around 12 years, if its glows when activated with a strong light source it will be Luminover.

Agreed with padi56