Rolex Watch Lume Overview (Tritium)

[pablofields]

Thanks for the info!

[flyback]

Originally Posted by mwillems

Nothing wrong with Ra is you handle it carefully - the problem is not in the watch users, the problem is in the making. Read up on the "Radium Girls" (Google the term) - that was bad.

But today I think we could do it with little danger to user or maker. Only the political climate is against it.

It's not just the first buyer or Rolex, it's every person/organization involved in the supply, manufacture, repair and disposal of every watch dial for at least the next 16,000 years (10x half-life).

There's no good reason to be making consumer products out of highly toxic, persistent materials like radium if we don't have to.

[hflee55]

so of the best lume shots seen!

[stratus]

very nice
good post thank you

[brkanand]

Superb piece of info here.

[larrysb]

Originally Posted by Ike

One thing I find a bit odd is that my dad's DJ that he bought new in the 70's still glows in dark rooms and glows bright for several seconds when charged with a flashlight. It is marked T swiss T.

My DJ that I bought pre-owned is from the late 80's to early 90's from what I can tell. It is also marked T swiss T. It will not glow at all, even when it is left with a light source for several minutes.

They both probably rely on zinc sulfide as the phosphorescent material. ZnS requires a dopant to serve as the activator. A green glow comes from copper dopant and gives the longest glow time. Other metals give other hues, but shorter times.

It is possible that the one that doesn't exhibit glow is either degraded, or it contains an activator for a different color, but decays very rapidly. With a tritium energy source, it isn't important for the phosphor to glow very long, as it would be for an afterglow lume.

Try exposing the dials to a UV light sources, such as a UV LED flash light. That should cause them to glow and reveal their colors.

[Coubs]

Did Rolex use the SWISS T < 25 designation for a certain period of time and the "T SWISS T" for another period or did they overlap? I sent my Oyster Date to Rolex (model 15200 from 1991) for a service and a dial change. I can't remember which dial it had when I sent it in and I am wondering if either designation is a correct dial change. Is there anywhere I can look?
In case anyone is wondering it now cost $270 for the dial and $81 for all three hands.

Thanks

[everose]

You really explain this topic clearly and succinctly....i know Rolex do not use micro-gas tubes,but i would have enjoyed to read your comments on that concept/system also.
Thank you sir

[The Relumer]

this is a conversion i did from dead tritium to super luminova
Rolex 3135

[sheldonsmith]

Very cool. Would like to see more picts on how you do/did this...

[Frosty]

Old post, but still interesting!

[htinez]

fully agree - thanks for bringing it back.

[Swift_Movement]

The half life of the tritium was stated. What about the life span of the current luminova material? How many years will it glow strong?

[ReOng]

wow, a useful info, thanks