Submariner Does Not Glow At Night

[blairg]

I Just Purchased A Used Ss/gold Rolex Submanier With Date And Blue Face It Will Not Glow In The Dark The Number Markers Look Like They Should Glow .anyone Know Why? I Tried Holding A Flashlight On It But Didnt Matter

[Thani]

JJ should answer that

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by blairg

I Just Purchased A Used Ss/gold Rolex Submanier With Date And Blue Face It Will Not Glow In The Dark The Number Markers Look Like They Should Glow .anyone Know Why? I Tried Holding A Flashlight On It But Didnt Matter

Hi and welcome to TRF.

How old is the watch? Can you tell us the first letter of the serial no.?

Cheers - JJ

[blairg]

i dont know i think it is late 90s

[frostie]

Originally Posted by blairg

i dont know i think it is late 90s

If it is from the 90's then it is a tritium dial. tritium dials lose their glow after a decade.

[problmchylde]

Originally Posted by frostie

If it is from the 90's then it is a tritium dial. tritium dials lose their glow after a decade.

Thats your answer.

[blairg]

i dont know to find the serial number can you advise?

[frostie]

By the way welcome to TRF happy to have you here

[blairg]

what do i have to do and how much will it cost?

[frostie]

Originally Posted by blairg

what do i have to do and how much will it cost?

Go to an RSC and change the dial of the watch. The new rolex dials are equipped with superluminova and superluminova does not lose it's glow over time. I don't know what is the price for a dial exchange in the US but i don't that it's a lot of money. Also if you change the dial make sure that you keep the old one cause it adds more value to the watch.

[scottschoe]

Originally Posted by frostie

Go to an RSC and change the dial of the watch. The new rolex dials are equipped with superluminova and superluminova does not lose it's glow over time. I don't know what is the price for a dial exchange in the US but i don't that it's a lot of money. Also if you change the dial make sure that you keep the old one cause it adds more value to the watch.

I don't think they'll allow you to keep your original dial, so I would advise not to swap anything out. Resale will also take a hit.

[frostie]

Originally Posted by scottschoe

I don't think they'll allow you to keep your original dial, so I would advice not to swap anything out. Resale will also take a hit.

That's strange. there are many TRF members here that kept the dials or watch hands after replacing them

[Wolfgang427]

Originally Posted by frostie

That's strange. there are many TRF members here that kept the dials or watch hands after replacing them

The USA RSC will change both hands and dial, but they will keep the old ones on an exchange basis.(no-returns).

[stewie]

Originally Posted by frostie

Go to an RSC and change the dial of the watch. The new rolex dials are equipped with superluminova and superluminova does not lose it's glow over time. I don't know what is the price for a dial exchange in the US but i don't that it's a lot of money. Also if you change the dial make sure that you keep the old one cause it adds more value to the watch.

i thought they were all luminova and not super-luminova? i hope i am wrong on this one though, as i would love to know it has superluminova

[YuppieKid]

Originally Posted by frostie

Go to an RSC and change the dial of the watch. The new rolex dials are equipped with superluminova and superluminova does not lose it's glow over time. I don't know what is the price for a dial exchange in the US but i don't that it's a lot of money. Also if you change the dial make sure that you keep the old one cause it adds more value to the watch.

I would keep it original. My N-Serial Sub 16610 also as its original tritium dial and hands. Keeping it original may maintain its value.

Just my two cents.

[mcubed]

It is really up to you. If you don't care about potential collector value, then get it changed. I personally would on a mid 90s sub, since the basic layout (gloss dial with white gold markers) is the same as you would get currently. It's not like you are sending in a matte dial 5513 with painted markers and will get back a gloss dial with applied markers......But it all depends on what you use the watch for.

I am never selling mine, so I really don't care much about resale value, for others, the history of the piece and originality are all important, I guess it depends on what your interest in the watch is. There is no right or wrong IMHO, just different perspectives and inerests.

[YuppieKid]

Originally Posted by mcubed

It is really up to you. If you don't care about potential collector value, then get it changed. I personally would on a mid 90s sub, since the basic layout (gloss dial with white gold markers) is the same as you would get currently. It's not like you are sending in a matte dial 5513 with painted markers and will get back a gloss dial with applied markers......But it all depends on what you use the watch for.

I am never selling mine, so I really don't care much about resale value, for others, the history of the piece and originality are all important, I guess it depends on what your interest in the watch is. There is no right or wrong IMHO, just different perspectives and inerests.

[blairg]

thanks for the warm welcome guys

[blairg]

thanks for the info

[frostie]

Originally Posted by blairg

thanks for the info

[Mrdi]

Just depends on where you live Frostie.
I would leave it stock.
If you need glo sell it and buy one that will glo.
You'll probably be better in the long run $$ wise

[frostie]

I have to see what's the policy of the greek RSC. i am just curious to find out

[blairg]

i spoke to rolex in new york earlier today and they said they would refurbish it between 400 and 800 usd will doing this mess up the value and also will they make it glow?

[Keith F.]

If RSC is doing the work then it will be documented, and I don't see how that will affect the value.

[Scooby]

Originally Posted by Keith F.

If RSC is doing the work then it will be documented, and I don't see how that will affect the value.

I affects the value in that it is no longer original. Sure, it's still all certified Rolex, but it is altered. Maybe not now, but sometime in the future someone may want an old blue TT sub in it's original form. That's when the value is affected. For example, buying a 5513 from the early 70's means (usually) looking for the original dila tobe on it as well. If it's been redialed, the value drops.

[leeyong]

I think "T swiss made T" and "Swiss T<25" are Tritium and Swiss made should be super luminova. also the I read the switch over date from tritium to luminova was 98-00, depending on model...

anyway too much reading.

[Robe]

Frostie has stated superluminova does not lose its glow over time. In my experience superluminova does lose its glow. As an aside, the luminosity of my Speedmasters are superior to my GMT Master II 16710.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Welcome to TRF!

As stated, the reason why your TT Blue Sub does not glow is that it has a Tritium dial. Tritium is a mild radio-active substance (beta waves) that has a half life of 12,5 years. Tritium (or rather the phospers it was bonded with) made the hands and indices glow CONSTANTLY. Tritium sometimes "ages" over the years and turns slightly yellow (discolours). Trtium was banned in 1998, but a few companies still use it.

SuperLuminova, however, needs an external source of light to make it glow and also loses its glow gradually (typically it can last 6 hours on a good "charge" of light). It has not yet been proven that SL loses its overall glowing quality over years, though, and SL is also expected not to discolour by age like Tritium did.

Here is an overview over the luminous materials used by Rolex during the ages:

Luminous materials! CLICK!

Note the "SWISS" (etc.) markings on the various dials! That way you can determine what kind of luminous material you have on your dial.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Keith F.

If RSC is doing the work then it will be documented, and I don't see how that will affect the value.

Original dials and original hands are something that collectors look for in the most desired models.

A 90's TT Sub is not among the highly collected and most desireable Subs at this time (unless it is a particularly rare model)...But they are desired by a large number of the population who like the blue Sub.

I believe that this Sub is probably due for an overhaul at this point (unless documentation shows it's been done in the past 5 years). Or alternatively, it definitely needs to be taken to any good watchmaker for a clean, oil, and adjust.

If the Dial and hands were changed for Luminova at an RSC Service, I do not believe that the value of this particular piece would be seriously affected... Certainly the value for the present owner would be enhanced since that is the only way that "glow" can be restored.

It's kind of an owners call here...

[Mrdi]

Like painting an old Porsche.
The original paint may not be as shiny
but it is worth a lot more than a recent resale red