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Old 8 May 2023, 12:50 PM   #1
gmcjetpilot
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Real Name: George
Location: Memphis TN
Watch: Explorer II 16570
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Tritium Dial Turning "Tropical" (Cream) but Hands Aren't

My 32 yr old (1991) Rolex Explorer II, has tritium dial and hands. As the original owner and only having it serviced once by Rolex I am sure it's all all original.

I can tell the dial markers are subtly turning cream. The hands are still white.

Reading once I recall this is normal, where dial turns first and hands stay white longer? Can't find the reference.

Can anyone enlighten be on this topic of Tritium Lum turning into
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Old 9 May 2023, 02:55 AM   #2
SamP
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Watch: 1680/8 & '88 16528
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Hi,
Vintage dial plots often patina at different rates to hands because they came from different supplying companies in addition to being produced at different times. Even now Rolex still does not make its own hands, but has pretty much bought up most other suppliers to become comprehensibly vertically integrated.
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Old 9 May 2023, 05:10 AM   #3
subprimero
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Watch: 14060
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My 92 14060 is the same.
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Old 9 May 2023, 05:39 AM   #4
Phrank
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1990 Rolex 16700....same, and have found several examples online as well.
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Old 9 May 2023, 08:12 AM   #5
TimeLord2
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Great looking watch! For the Explorer II, it is called chica de mais. Here is a pic of my dad's watch. I think it too is from 1991 and he never replaced the hands.
Edit: A recent post in the classifieds: https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=888828
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