Are Tritium Dials dangerous?

[Andrejb]

Hey guys,

Recently picked up a 16570 from 1995 with Tritium Dial. I don't believe the watch is fully pressure tested because the ice cube test shows fog in the back of the crystal.

Was wondering it wearing this watch has caused any issues with radioactivity? I don't know much about Tritium. But I am reading that it's no good lol. But I also see a ton of guys with Tritium watches.

Am I risking anything here?

Cheers


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[Mick P]

If you left arm rots and then drops off, you may be in trouble but you could sue the ass off Rolex.

Give it a try and see how you get on.

Regards

Mick

[Andrejb]

Originally Posted by Mick P

If you left arm rots and then drops off, you may be in trouble but you could sue the ass off Rolex.



Give it a try and see how you get on.



Regards



Mick

Haha. I'm under the impression that this may be a stupid question


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[Mick P]

It may have been dangerous when it was purchased way back when but today grown men will wrestle your arm off to have a tritium watch.

No one gets into a fit and risks a jail sentence just to endanger their own health.

Relax and enjoy your 16570 and if certain rumours are true, your wife may be in for a treat.

Regards

Mick

PS I often wear a tritium watch and my left arm is still on but the wife has not had any additional treats. However I am 68 so possibly I was hoping in vain.

[Andrejb]

Originally Posted by Mick P

It may have been dangerous when it was purchased way back when but today grown men will wrestle your arm off to have a tritium watch.



No one gets into a fit and risks a jail sentence just to endanger their own health.



Relax and enjoy your 16570 and if certain rumours are true, your wife may be in for a treat.



Regards



Mick



PS I often wear a tritium watch and my left arm is still on but the wife has not had any additional treats. However I am 68 so possibly I was hoping in vain.

Hahaha. Thank you


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[GGGMT]

I've been wearing my tritium gmt since 1995. It's sick! Get your watch pressure tested!


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[Andrejb]

Originally Posted by GGGMT

I've been wearing my tritium gmt since 1995. It's sick! Get your watch pressure tested!


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It's at the watchmaker now! Was afraid that since it wasn't pressure tested and there was fog behind the case that somehow the Tritium could have escaped and now I'm a diseased mutant manufactured by Rolex


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[Tools]

Originally Posted by Andrejb

It's at the watchmaker now! Was afraid that since it wasn't pressure tested and there was fog behind the case that somehow the Tritium could have escaped and now I'm a diseased mutant manufactured by Rolex

Tritium cannot "escape" and the tritium/paint matrix is not dangerous unless you eat it..

As to condensation with the ice cube test, that just means that there is moisture inside the case, not that it will or will not pass a pressure test.

[Andrejb]

Originally Posted by Tools

Tritium cannot "escape" and the tritium/paint matrix is not dangerous unless you eat it..



As to condensation with the ice cube test, that just means that there is moisture inside the case, not that it will or will not pass a pressure test.

Can that be fixed or what? Re: moisture




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[Richard Carver]

Originally Posted by Andrejb

Can that be fixed or what? Re: moisture




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Best thing to do is quit screwing around with ice cubes. :) When you get a vintage Rolex have the seals inspected, pressure test it, check the condition of the oils, estimate the need for a service and replace the spring bars.

That will give you an idea of your watch's condition. Tritium won't kill you but can cause the back of your hand to turn various colors.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Andrejb

Can that be fixed or what? Re: moisture

Sure..

A watchmaker can warm a watch on a watchmakers hotplate to evaporate moisture before closing the case; or work in a controlled environment.

[1675-David]

Tritium can cause mental instability and questionable impulse control especially in combination with matt black paint, patina and red writing... be careful. Tritium has also been connected to bank account issues and marital tension.

[2ar2c1]

Originally Posted by 1675-David

Tritium has also been connected to bank account issues and marital tension.

truth.

[Andrejb]

Originally Posted by 1675-David

Tritium can cause mental instability and questionable impulse control especially in combination with matt black paint, patina and red writing... be careful. Tritium has also been connected to bank account issues and marital tension.

Lmao


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[Gina Marie]

Originally Posted by 1675-David

Tritium can cause mental instability and questionable impulse control especially in combination with matt black paint, patina and red writing... be careful. Tritium has also been connected to bank account issues and marital tension.

Dying!!!!!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Andrejb

Hey guys,

Recently picked up a 16570 from 1995 with Tritium Dial. I don't believe the watch is fully pressure tested because the ice cube test shows fog in the back of the crystal.

Was wondering it wearing this watch has caused any issues with radioactivity? I don't know much about Tritium. But I am reading that it's no good lol. But I also see a ton of guys with Tritium watches.

Am I risking anything here?

Cheers


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No not by wearing you could harm yourself if you eat the Tritium lume paint.

[faimag]

Jokes aside, tritium is a radioactive isotope, so it decays with time and emits energy particles; this is why it glows, after all!

However, it's potency is relatively low and thus cannot penetrate skin. So your wrist is safe... But swallowing it can indeed be dangerous. So don't mistake your dial for a cracker.

The T<25 means that your dial emits <25 millicurie of radioactivity (i.e. low energy emission). Actually, by now it's much less, since every 12.5 years or so, the amount of T left halves (which is why T dials eventually stop glowing).

[Andrejb]

Originally Posted by faimag

Jokes aside, tritium is a radioactive isotope, so it decays with time and emits energy particles; this is why it glows, after all!

However, it's potency is relatively low and thus cannot penetrate skin. So your wrist is safe... But swallowing it can indeed be dangerous. So don't mistake your dial for a cracker.

The T<25 means that your dial emits <25 millicurie of radioactivity (i.e. low energy emission). Actually, by now it's much less, since every 12.5 years or so, the amount of T left halves (which is why T dials eventually stop glowing).

Makes sense.

My dial no longer glows at all


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[Richard Carver]

...and then it went away. :)

[Andrejb]

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

...and then it went away. :)

Took like 20 mins! And it looks like there's a bit of a film on the dial. Just worries me because I wear my watches everywhere. Don't take it off. So I'm hoping my watchmaker can pressure Test it and all is well. Also, if there is moisture inside the watch, won't the dial technically corrode with time?


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[U5512]

It might make you "sterile" and unable to have kids.

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by U5512

It might make you "sterile" and unable to have kids.

So no issue then.

[Andrejb]

Originally Posted by U5512

It might make you "sterile" and unable to have kids.

Too late for that


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[Richard Carver]

Ambient moisture is not generally a problem until you begin to condense it inside your Rolex watch with an ice cube. What if you dink around and cause a drop of water to roll off the crystal and into the movement? Stop it!

[Andrejb]

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

Ambient moisture is not generally a problem until you begin to condense it inside your Rolex watch with an ice cube. What if you dink around and cause a drop of water to roll off the crystal and into the movement? Stop it!

And if I wear it in the Cold Canadian winter? Lol


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[saskmh]

Originally Posted by Andrejb

And if I wear it in the Cold Canadian winter? Lol


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If yours is full of condensation I would guess it was opened in an uncontrolled environment. Somewhere the ambient humidity was high and trapped humid air in the case. When they are opened/worked on in controlled low humidity environments there is nothing to worry about. I wear my watches out in the cold Canadian winters shovelling snow all the time. Never had any condensation show up ever.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

Ambient moisture is not generally a problem until you begin to condense it inside your Rolex watch with an ice cube. What if you dink around and cause a drop of water to roll off the crystal and into the movement? Stop it!

You forgot the smiley, Dick.

[Richard Carver]

It will behave exactly like the millions of other Rolex in cold weather.

[Spectre007]

pretty sure it was the 1960's radium lume applicant that you should be worried about

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Spectre007

pretty sure it was the 1960's radium lume applicant that you should be worried about

And you would need to lick the brush to get that fine line.