Is tritium more desirable than super luminova?

[Betelc]

For a modern Rolex (with white gold surrounds), is a T dial more desirable than a SL dial?

[Tools]

No

What is most desirable is the original dial to the watch..

[DiamondJack]

It really comes down to personal taste and the value will depend on the originality and model of the watch in question.

Tritium dials will probably not be glowing much these days if at all so are perhaps less practical than a modern LM dial. But some tritium dials will have what is called patina whereby the tritium over time has reacted with the dial and changed the colour of the hour markers. This can be from a cream colour to quite a vibrant orange.

See my 16800 below which was kept in a safe by a previous owner for over 25 years. So unusual but not particularly valuable......

[Clay]

Originally Posted by DiamondJack

It really comes down to personal taste and the value will depend on the originality and model of the watch in question.

Tritium dials will probably not be glowing much these days if at all so are perhaps less practical than a modern LM dial. But some tritium dials will have what is called patina whereby the tritium over time has reacted with the dial and changed the colour of the hour markers. This can be from a cream colour to quite a vibrant orange.

See my 16800 below which was kept in a safe by a previous owner for over 25 years. So unusual but not particularly valuable......

THAT is a lovely looking watch...

[bigrustypig]

Originally Posted by DiamondJack

It really comes down to personal taste and the value will depend on the originality and model of the watch in question.

Tritium dials will probably not be glowing much these days if at all so are perhaps less practical than a modern LM dial. But some tritium dials will have what is called patina whereby the tritium over time has reacted with the dial and changed the colour of the hour markers. This can be from a cream colour to quite a vibrant orange.

See my 16800 below which was kept in a safe by a previous owner for over 25 years. So unusual but not particularly valuable......

That's pure "beautiness". Patina is wonderful

[DiamondJack]

Originally Posted by bigrustypig

That's pure "beautiness". Patina is wonderful

Thanks Jeff......

Love the terminology too

[stockae92]

Is service dial from Rolex consider "original"?

[Tools]

Originally Posted by stockae92

Is service dial from Rolex consider "original"?

A proper service dial is "authentic" and "correct".. It is not possible for it to be "original"..

A watch is only original once..

[Speed]

Originally Posted by stockae92

Is service dial from Rolex consider "original"?

Not original to the watch.

There is a hit in value to most collectors.

[rmurphy]

How would you know if your watch had a service dial? I purchased mine pre owned. Can anyone tell from the picture? It's a P serial

[crowncollection]

a p serial is relatively new, it is unlikely to have needed a service dial unless it was damaged for some reason, the original part would likely still be available on such a modern watch anyway. Service dials are more of an issue on vintage watches as rolex can no longer use the original materials as they are banned from use.

[rmurphy]

Well thank you for your reply. I was told by my jeweler that I bought it from that is was all original. I love all the information I get from the forum.

[joe100]

Doesn't matter anyway. Neither work very well

[Clay]

Originally Posted by Betelc

For a modern Rolex (with white gold surrounds), is a T dial more desirable than a SL dial?

I have an N series 16600 Sea Dweller (Tritium) and a Y Series 16600 Sea Dweller (Luminova)...
I find the Tritium to be slightly "warmer" looking...

[enginerd]

Originally Posted by Clay

I have an N series 16600 Sea Dweller (Tritium) and a Y Series 16600 Sea Dweller (Luminova)...
I find the Tritium to be slightly "warmer" looking...

I agree 100%. I too have a tritium 16600 and the patina it has started to develop is fantastic. "Warmer" is a perfect description. However, I've been eyeing the 116660 lately and I think I'd "warm" up to that one too. Mine's a W series from 1995, unpolished and entirely original.

[Vincent65]

T for me, every time!

[HL65]

Radium and tritium for me as well but of course as stated above best is what is original to the watch! Cheers,

PS. Steve love that orange patina! Sweet!!!!

[DiamondJack]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

Radium and tritium for me as well but of course as stated above best is what is original to the watch! Cheers,

PS. Steve love that orange patina! Sweet!!!!

Thanks Ken..... Appreciate it and yes it gets a few comments partly because the strap also really draws attention to it....

[Len]

A matter of taste. I like tritium better, because of the color. Gets an warmer look over the years... Here is my 16600 with tritium. Last tritium series for the 16600 (U-series) from 1998:

[cruvon]

Tritium or Radium for me, here's my 1955 Navitimer with Radium lume and a 73-74 red sub with Tritium with a nice patina that only age and the elements can replicate. Note how the radioactivity of the radium on the hands has reacted with the steel hands of the Navitimer to change to an oxidised brown, also one of the signs of originality. Tritium wasn't as radioactive as radium, so we don't usually see any reaction on the hands or dials of Tritium subs.
But then again luminova glows so for those who value function and modernism over vintagey characteristics, nothing wrong with luminova too!