Rolex 14060 U series Tritium lume or re-lumed?

[billyhsat]

Hi all! Just purchased this U Series 14060 in pretty nice condition, and I’m try to figure out whether it’s been re-lumed or not. If anything maybe the pearl? Photo taken after a healthy dose of sun. Thoughts?

[Onikage]

Later Luminova bezel insert replacement. Not a huge deal but the mismatch will become more apparent as the watch ages and develops patina.

[FTX I]

Beautiful Sub. Congrats.

[Gerry62]

the ser U tritium has the fat 4

[Gerry62]

my ser U 799 dial only swiss

[billyhsat]

Thanks much all and beautiful watch Gerry62!

From my understanding U series watches spanned the tritium and luminova transition.

Also it's my understanding Rolex might have at different times in their history placed different bezel designs on the same series watch. Obviously in my watch's scenario, the bezel insert is a replacement bezel insert.

So the question for me (and y'all out there that might know ) now becomes did all U series 14060's have the flat 4 bezel insert regardless of whether tritium or luminova?

[rusty427]

I believe some U serials have tritium marked dials, with luminova applied.
The OP of this thread has a similar watch.
http://forums.watchuseek.com/#/topics/4564791

[billyhsat]

Originally Posted by rusty427

I believe some U serials have tritium marked dials, with luminova applied.
The OP of this thread has a similar watch.
http://forums.watchuseek.com/#/topics/4564791

Rusty thx so much for the link! I’ll have to do some more research obviously Is it ok on this forum to post photos of the serial # to help w the research?

[chrito]

beautiful lume

[HogwldFLTR]

Trit dial and Luminova pearl; great looking watch!!!

[billyhsat]

Thanks all for your gracious thoughts and comments!

So here’s a random thought and question. Since it’s a U4xxxxx serial number, is there any chance it came from Rolex with the Trit dial and hands and the Luminova bezel sans Flat 4? Doubtful I’m sure, but I’m confident there have been stranger things.

Is there any way to find out positively from Rolex the build out specs on the watch?

[billyhsat]

Went back and looked again at Gerry62’s posts and pics and answered my own question—as y’all have said, U’s with trit came with trit flat 4 insert. Any idea as to where source one of those?

[flintsghost]

Tritium dials can be preserved with a luminova relume. You won't be able to tell except that the hour markers won't age like Tritium to the patina color. My experience is that Tritium dies pretty fast in the first 10 years. But I've had my 1675 dial and hands relumed with luminova by an outfit in Flagstaff Arizona and except for the patina and the intense glow in the dark, no one could tell.

[Gerry62]

Originally Posted by billyhsat

Thanks much all and beautiful watch Gerry62!

Thanx William and enjoy your beautiful Watch

[Onikage]

Originally Posted by billyhsat

Went back and looked again at Gerry62’s posts and pics and answered my own question—as y’all have said, U’s with trit came with trit flat 4 insert. Any idea as to where source one of those?

I wouldn't worry. It'll probably be easier to straight swap it for one with the period correct bezel at minimum extra cost. Get some wear out of it first whilst you find an even mintier (is that a word?) one. Most people (dealers included) probably don't even know or care about the lume or tiny font differences.

[rusty427]

OP, did you confirm if your dial is marked SWIS-T, while actually being Luminova?
Sorry previous link died to WUS. Similar trit/lum.
Post 9 and 21 of this TRF post talk about Rolex using up swis-t dials in the transition period of the U serial?!
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=105622

[billyhsat]

Originally Posted by rusty427

OP, did you confirm if your dial is marked SWIS-T, while actually being Luminova?
Sorry previous link died to WUS. Similar trit/lum.
Post 9 and 21 of this TRF post talk about Rolex using up swis-t dials in the transition period of the U serial?!
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=105622

Rusty, thanks for the question! I'm pretty sure the dial (which is marked Swiss T<25) and hands are tritium, and the bezel insert is, as others have remarked and I agree with, luminova. It is possible for the dial and hands to be luminova, too, but looking back at the lume shots I'd think the lume of the dial and hands would more closely match the pearl in terms of intensity and color.

I am going to try some dark room tests this week to see if there's any lume anywhere after a while in a dark room, but as recommended I'm going to wear for a while and enjoy!

[billyhsat]

So an interesting observation this morning when I woke up at zero dark thirty and checked the lume in the darkness. After shutting the watch off from light last eve, the pearl dot, dial, and hands were all the same color and brightness when I brought it out this am. It’s when I zap them with some bright sunlight and check out the lume that there’s a major diff between the pearl and the dial/hands in the color and intensity of the lume. Weird.

[Throttle]

Judging from the pics you have posted, it is very clear to me that you have a luminova pearl insert which is from a later series.

Nothing weird at all.

The dial and hands are tritum as seen by the weak glow compared to the pearl.in another 10 years the dial and hands will lose most of its glow while the pearl will not.

It’s not too difficult to find a standard tritium flat four insert. Probably about $150 today.

Emjoy your 14060

[bdigi249]

I own a U serial 16570 with original tritium dial and hands. The dial and hands will glow very briefly if exposed to bright light, albeit not as vividly as luminova. Keep in mind your watch is one of the very last Rolex with tritium and tritium has a 12yr half-life.

This is normal and doesn’t necessarily indicate a relume or luminova.

[billyhsat]

Roger that all! Thanks much for your thoughts and replies! As suggested, I'm wearing and enjoying it with gusto! Will look for another bezel or relume at some point in the future.

[kegan]

Originally Posted by bdigi249

I own a U serial 16570 with original tritium dial and hands. The dial and hands will glow very briefly if exposed to bright light, albeit not as vividly as luminova. Keep in mind your watch is one of the very last Rolex with tritium and tritium has a 12yr half-life.

This is normal and doesn’t necessarily indicate a relume or luminova.

Exact same for my U16600 tritium

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by billyhsat

So an interesting observation this morning when I woke up at zero dark thirty and checked the lume in the darkness. After shutting the watch off from light last eve, the pearl dot, dial, and hands were all the same color and brightness when I brought it out this am. It’s when I zap them with some bright sunlight and check out the lume that there’s a major diff between the pearl and the dial/hands in the color and intensity of the lume. Weird.

The watch most likely has the original dial and hands which are possibly from the transition period from Tritium to Luminova where the dial was printed to denote Tritium but they put Luminova instead.

The bezel insert is most likely a service replacement from a later period which has Superluminova.
This would easily explain the difference in initial intensity of the luminosity and where they fade later on to be somewhat equivalent.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by kegan

Exact same for my U16600 tritium

Tritium would be near enough to dead by now under any circumstances.
You most likely have a transitional dial.

[kegan]

Originally Posted by Dirt

Tritium would be near enough to dead by now under any circumstances.
You most likely have a transitional dial.

Cool, now I just need to get some internet hype going for my ultra rare tritium
marked luminova dial. These u serial error dial watches are gonna be worth a fortune

[stevedssd]

Originally Posted by Dirt

Tritium would be near enough to dead by now under any circumstances.
You most likely have a transitional dial.

+1

[StrongDGame]

Everyone just gonna ignore that ghost in the background of the first pic with the glowing eyes??




lol

[Nikrnic]

What is that in the background ? hehe.
I'd say re-lume.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[stil]

My ‘93 14060 has a bit of lume left...original dial. You have to be in a completely pitch black room and let your eyes adjust for a good 10 min before you can see it though. Pitch black like a photo dark room.