Explorer II Polar service dial

[Juggernaut]

Hello
I've recently picked up a L-series 16570 Polar Explorer II and I know this dial was replaced because this vintage would have had a Tritium dial (T<25), and I'm glad to have one of the newer Super Luminova dials coupled with the classic lug-hole case. Louping the dial, everything looks good, but the black surrounds on the hour markers look very thin compared to other examples I've seen. Is this common with service replacement dials? Or is it just the way this batch of dials was made?

photo:

[hdrazor251]

I don't know about service dials, but the surrounds and the fonts are definitely thinner. Who replaced the dial?

[Sublovin]

Definitely does not look right...I have a luminous dial Polar Explorer and my dial has much more black..

[CDNWatchNut]

For whatever reason, or possibly just due to difference in supply, polar explorer 2's in the last few years of the 16570 production run had dials with thinner black surrounds. I had an F serial and an A serial at one time (still have the A), and side by side, the F had notably thinner surrounds. Others have noted the same thing on the board here. I suspect the service dials come from the later batches of similar dials.

[Old Expat Beast]

The dial is fine. I actually prefer the thinner surrounds. My M-serial is somewhere between the two thicknesses shown above.

[Juggernaut]

thanks guys....I have little doubt that the dial is non-Rolex, and CDN's comments seem to make sense....what's great is that the larger markers (pseudo-maxi size) make for pretty bright lame display...

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

The dial is fine. I actually prefer the thinner surrounds. My M-serial is somewhere between the two thicknesses shown above.

I like the thinner surround look too. A bit less gold and so cost is reduced somewhat I would expect..

For comparison, here is one of mine.. Lug holes, Luminova thick surrounds, original P serial..

[Juggernaut]

I'm not sure the black surrounds are gold...I know the black dial version uses white gold, but I'm not sure of the surround material on the Polar version....black chrome?
you'll notice that the script/font is very thin too, but when looped, everything is super sharp and clear.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Juggernaut

I'm not sure the black surrounds are gold...I know the black dial version uses white gold, but I'm not sure of the surround material on the Polar version....black chrome?
you'll notice that the script/font is very thin too, but when looped, everything is super sharp and clear.

They are white gold; they are simply painted black.

[Juggernaut]

ah, interesting...OK...then I have less gold, and more lume on my dial....

[Juggernaut]

Despite the verdict here that my dial is all good to go, just with some variation, I wanted to get this 16570 "period correct" so I purchased a nice and clean Tritium dial to swap out for this one. I will post photos after the swap has taken place.

[ndsleep612]

maybe they cut back on the black paint on the markers to show it's a service dial?

[Daytona88]

Cool post great info

[Juggernaut]

hmmm...I think I made a mistake in buying the Tritium dial. I also have Superluminova hands. The Tritium dial will not match my glowing Superluminova hands...ooops.
I think I should just leave it be as is.

[G-Web]

Yeah, those thinner hour markers started showing up on white 16570 just toward the end of the run, so on some G and random serials, although it sounds like some M's have them as well. So it makes sense that Rolex uses the latest version of the dial when they service a watch.

All good. Although a bit of a bummer if you wanted period correct.
Luckily tritium 16570 dials aren't too difficult to source.

All the best, and a great watch in any configuration.
-GW

[Juggernaut]

Thanks for the insight G-Web...seems to make sense.
Yeah, the Tritium dial wasn't too hard to get, but now I have a dilemma: super clean/perfect hands and dial with Superluminova or period correct dial with Tritium and glowing new hands. So now I have to decide if I also want to chase down a set of Tritium hands...bummer....

[Alcan]

There is a simple solution to this, just throw the loupe in the trash can.

[Juggernaut]

Originally Posted by Alcan

There is a simple solution to this, just throw the loupe in the trash can.

that's a great call!

[droptopman]

Interesting and informative thread. You probably could find tritium hands to match the dial you bought, but I really like the way it is. Adds a little uniqueness to it. Plus you got the best of both worlds, lug holes with Super Luminova.

[Juggernaut]

Originally Posted by droptopman

Interesting and informative thread. You probably could find tritium hands to match the dial you bought, but I really like the way it is. Adds a little uniqueness to it. Plus you got the best of both worlds, lug holes with Super Luminova.

Yeah, thanks....that was exactly my original intention. The beauty of the Superluminova is that it doesn't loose its ability to glow....it's official...I f'ed up and let the buying bug take over....I'm going to see if I can do a return/refund.

[Juggernaut]

Ok...here's an update!...I purchased and received the period appropriate Tritium (T>25) dial....and guess what?!...IT GLOWS!...at least as strong and for as long (periodically checked it last night in the dark) as the lume on the Superluminova replacement dial!!....what?...how?
And I didn't realize the Tritium was light-rechargable???!
Now I see little reason NOT to install this age-appropriate dial.....?

Thoughts?

Photos-

[Juggernaut]

meanwhile, here's an older thread that discusses the latest 16570 dial....
...http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=193949

....but I think I will do a dial swap...thoughts?

[Juggernaut]

Ok, the silence is defending!....well, I had my watchmaker swap the dials and I'm so happy!!...I've got a pristine period-correct Tritium dial in my 1989 (first year of production for this Ref) 16570.


The increased boldness of the text and surrounds definitely makes for a more attractive watch dial....the added contrast makes the polar white even whiter.

[ndsleep612]

Are the hands tritium too?

Originally Posted by Juggernaut

Ok, the silence is defending!....well, I had my watchmaker swap the dials and I'm so happy!!...I've got a pristine period-correct Tritium dial in my 1989 (first year of production for this Ref) 16570.


The increased boldness of the text and surrounds definitely makes for a more attractive watch dial....the added contrast makes the polar white even whiter.

[Juggernaut]

I kept the same hands which I believe are newer service Superluminova, but I can't be sure. I still can't grasp how this old Tritium dial glows at least as bright as the SLN dial....weird....it was a very nice surprise. Maybe the Tritium dial was re-lumed with SNL...if that were the case, it's a top-notch expert job.

[DocJekl]

Originally Posted by Juggernaut

I kept the same hands which I believe are newer service Superluminova, but I can't be sure. I still can't grasp how this old Tritium dial glows at least as bright as the SLN dial....weird....it was a very nice surprise. Maybe the Tritium dial was re-lumed with SNL...if that were the case, it's a top-notch expert job.

So if the watch sits in a drawer for a couple days in the dark, does it glow at night without shining a light on it first?

[Sublovin]

Why exactly are you hoping to accomplish? You said in the original post that you were happy to have luminova, the. You swapped it for tritium but still have luminova hands?
Do you want a watch that will functionally glow? If so, the luminova is the way to go because tritium will eventually lose its glowing properties.
this is why I purchased any serial it has lug holes and came with original luminova dial

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by Juggernaut

Ok...here's an update!...I purchased and received the period appropriate Tritium (T>25) dial....and guess what?!...IT GLOWS!...at least as strong and for as long (periodically checked it last night in the dark) as the lume on the Superluminova replacement dial!!....what?...how?
And I didn't realize the Tritium was light-rechargable???!
Now I see little reason NOT to install this age-appropriate dial.....?

Thoughts?

Photos-

A reason for the glow in the dial you bought may be due to being re-lumed at some point. Either way looks fine to me, what is important is that you are happy! Congrats an wear it in good health!

[uconnkoala]

Where did you purchase your Tritium dial?