Tritium question

[Emerald4194]

All - had a quick question I am hoping the experts here can help me out with. I got some painted hands replaced with original tritium ones for an explorer from the 60s.

Under intense light or UV light should these period hands glow? I get that it is way past the half life of tritium, just want to see if anyone knows if they should show some reaction to UV light or given their age not to expect anything no matter how intense the light or using Uv.

Appreciate your help!

[Tools]

All luminous hands have some sort of fluorescent paint. Tritium is the "power" that excites the paint as tritium itself does not visibly glow.

If the tritium paint has some photo luminescent properties, it will glow slightly under light, but likely it will not last. The paint used for tritium is mostly radio luminescent in composition and light is not going to excite it much, if at all.

If hands glow brightly after light exposure, it is photo luminescent and not designed for tritium power.

[Dan S]

I removed my original comments because they are probably too general, not referring specifically to Rolex watches from the 1960s. Sorry. The hands of my vintage Rolex watches are pretty much dead to visible or UV light excitation. Not necessarily the case with 1960s lume from other brands. Must be different types of phosphor.

[214270Explorer]

The lume in my Rolex from 1987 is long since dead. Will not even glow the tiniest amount today when exposed to a strong Ultraviolet light.

And that is how it goes. Certain types of lume products will just die off over time.

[05carbondrz]

The whole UV light thing for Vintage Rolex is a guessing game at best.There where so many changes to the luminous over the Years that each Watch doesn’t react the same.

[photoguy]

FWIW, my 1987 Sub's hands have long stopped glowing, but the pearl on the insert glows nicely...though not for long.

[roh123]

Originally Posted by Emerald4194

All - had a quick question I am hoping the experts here can help me out with. I got some painted hands replaced with original tritium ones for an explorer from the 60s.

Under intense light or UV light should these period hands glow? I get that it is way past the half life of tritium, just want to see if anyone knows if they should show some reaction to UV light or given their age not to expect anything no matter how intense the light or using Uv.

Appreciate your help!

Normally Rolex sport watches from the 60’s glow.