Tritium color change . . .

[Racer X]

Hi all,

I'm wondering, are color changes in tritium for vintage watches an ongoing phenomenon, or does it typically occur for a finite period of time and then stop there?

As an example, if you have a watch from say the 60s that has hour markers with a cream patina, will the markers continue to yellow over time? Or, if the watch has some discoloration (e.g., dark spots), will that discoloration worsen or is it likely to remain as is? I would love to hear from anyone with personal experience on this.

Thanks!

[Clay]

There has been much debate over the years as to why some dials change color and some don't....
Depending on who you ask, you always seem to get a different answer....
I will tell you this...I saw a post on another forum not long ago....
The gentleman had a COMEX Submariner for the 70's I believe....
The markers were off white....
He put the watch in a drawer for six months...When he took it out the markers were a deep amber.....
Why???
Good question......
This is my 5.3 mil 1665 from late 1977....The watch has it's original dial and hand set...Lovely slightly off white markers....


Here is my Tudor 94010 from about the same year....These markers are a beautiful amber color.....


Two watches with Tritium dials and hands...From almost exactly the same time period......
One just off white...One deep amber....

Was it a lack of exposer to the sun, to much sun, moisture????

The question is for greater minds then mine to ponder.....

[Racer X]

Originally Posted by Clay

The gentleman had a COMEX Submariner for the 70's I believe....
The markers were off white....
He put the watch in a drawer for six months...When he took it out the markers were a deep amber.....

Wow, I'm amazed by that. I would have assumed that, with a watch that old, the color change would have occurred a while ago and it would have reached a "final" state by now. I guess the good news is that it may be possible to regulate the color of your indices using sunlight and darkness. Interesting.

Are the rules for discoloration any different? I'm referring to the undesirable spots and marbling that can occur, as opposed to a desired even patina.

[Clay]

In my experience, "spots" are usually caused by water damage or a carless watchmaker.........."Spider webbing" which is common on some gloss dial subs and GMT's, if I am not mistaken, is just inherent in those dials for some reason???

[rfknauss]

Here's a pic of my 32 year old Sub ........ not much patina as you can see ...... it has been on my wrist for most of that time and has seen a lot of sunlight.

[bb3188]

Originally Posted by Racer X

Hi all,

I'm wondering, are color changes in tritium for vintage watches an ongoing phenomenon, or does it typically occur for a finite period of time and then stop there?

As an example, if you have a watch from say the 60s that has hour markers with a cream patina, will the markers continue to yellow over time? Or, if the watch has some discoloration (e.g., dark spots), will that discoloration worsen or is it likely to remain as is? I would love to hear from anyone with personal experience on this.

Thanks!

The answer to your first question is colour change will still occur in tritium although at varying levels. Yellowing apppears to occur to (1) being kept in a dark, dark place (ie a safe for a long time) and (2) being in a humid enviroment...if you notice the watches out of asia, the markers tend to be a browny/ mustardy colour
check this discussion below.
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=141541

With regards to the dark spots, the discolouration will very, very slowly worsen, the key to this i guess is to make sure that the watch is kept waterproof to ensure external factors help accelerate the discolouration. I have a bit of discolouration on one of my dials and i think this quite nice and adds a bit of character.

[lakeros]

[QUOTE=Clay;2114084]There has been much debate over the years as to why some dials change color and some don't....
Depending on who you ask, you always seem to get a different answer....
I will tell you this...I saw a post on another forum not long ago....
The gentleman had a COMEX Submariner for the 70's I believe....
The markers were off white....
He put the watch in a drawer for six months...When he took it out the markers were a deep amber.....
Why???
Good question......
This is my 5.3 mil 1665 from late 1977....The watch has it's original dial and hand set...Lovely slightly off white markers....



Just had to comment on the sea dweller - wow what an awesome piece!

[Racer X]

Originally Posted by bb3188

With regards to the dark spots, the discolouration will very, very slowly worsen, the key to this i guess is to make sure that the watch is kept waterproof to ensure external factors help accelerate the discolouration. I have a bit of discolouration on one of my dials and i think this quite nice and adds a bit of character.

Interesting. Never thought of discoloration as a positive, but I guess it is character, which is appropriate for a vintage watch and which makes your watch unique. Would love to see a pic.

[Clay]

[QUOTE=lakeros;2114367]

Originally Posted by Clay

There has been much debate over the years as to why some dials change color and some don't....
Depending on who you ask, you always seem to get a different answer....
I will tell you this...I saw a post on another forum not long ago....
The gentleman had a COMEX Submariner for the 70's I believe....
The markers were off white....
He put the watch in a drawer for six months...When he took it out the markers were a deep amber.....
Why???
Good question......
This is my 5.3 mil 1665 from late 1977....The watch has it's original dial and hand set...Lovely slightly off white markers....



Just had to comment on the sea dweller - wow what an awesome piece!

[kyle L]

Interesting read:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/20759...cans)+%26gt%3B

[kyle L]

Alright time to go leave my watch in the bank.

[Racer X]

Originally Posted by kyle L

Interesting read:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/20759...cans)+%26gt%3B

Wow, that is amazing. That's a huge difference in a small amount of time. Thanks for posting.

[Racer X]

Does anyone know if discoloration can spread? For example, if the tritium of the hands are discolored, can it spread to the hour markers on the dial and "contaminate" them?

[Clay]

Originally Posted by Racer X

Does anyone know if discoloration can spread? For example, if the tritium of the hands are discolored, can it spread to the hour markers on the dial and "contaminate" them?

[Clay]

Originally Posted by rfknauss

Here's a pic of my 32 year old Sub ........ not much patina as you can see ...... it has been on my wrist for most of that time and has seen a lot of sunlight.

[rfknauss]

Originally Posted by Clay

Thank you for the compliment Clay.