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Old 9 October 2007, 05:26 PM   #1
Jedi
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Woo Hoo... tritium still works.

Hey guys.

Last night I fell asleep with my Sub on. It dates back to 1993 according to the serial number and info from the RSC when I got it back from service. I've had it for the last 10 years since my 21st birthday.

I'd thought that the tritium had long since reached its half life and given up the glow.

When I woke up for a, ahem, pit-stop , I realised the watch was looking back at me. Mind you it was pretty dark and my eyes were probably extra sensitive, but there it was... all 11 indices and 3 hands and the pearl... glowing...

Just thought I'd share this and see if anyone else's tritium is still glowing.
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Old 9 October 2007, 05:38 PM   #2
SPACE-DWELLER
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NICE one, and be sure to NEVER exchange that dial, or if you do, KEEP the original dial + hands

Could you please give us a nice lume shot?

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LocTite 221: The Taming Of The Screw...
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Old 9 October 2007, 05:41 PM   #3
Jedi
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Thanks Bo,

I'll try with the lume shot. I'm going to wait till it gets dark then set up the camera on the longest exposure without flash and hope for the best. It's not an SLR so problems with adjustability.

If it was my old Nikon F3... no worries at all.

Any tips on lume shots??
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Old 9 October 2007, 09:36 PM   #4
jac67
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My 1972 DRSD still glows a tineey weeny bit in a pitch black room.


John.
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Old 9 October 2007, 10:13 PM   #5
pittster
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I have a '78 and '81 5513, original dials. both still have the faintest of glows in total darkness, very hard to read though.... but still glowing.
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Old 9 October 2007, 10:16 PM   #6
Alcan
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JediSubExII View Post
there it was... all 11 indices and 3 hands and the pearl... glowing...

Just thought I'd share this and see if anyone else's tritium is still glowing.
My N serial 1992 Sub still glows some in a really dark room.
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I don't want to get technical, but according to chemistry alcohol IS a solution!
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Old 9 October 2007, 10:22 PM   #7
Ngage
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Hi Guys,

Since we are on this topic, I've got a 16610 U serial and the dial still glows at night. Just wondering that the tritium dial should be worth collecting as Rolex will never produce them again.

What's your thoughts on this?
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Old 10 October 2007, 01:24 AM   #8
Jedi
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While I'm trying to figure out how to get a lume shot of the weak tritium, I offer this re: collectible tritium dials...

Yes I think it will become a collectable.

However, some other watch makers still use tritium, like Ollech & Wajs.

The new fandangled super lume watches contain tritium, but in gas form encased in capsules. Quite cool. I have one, it's a Ball Fireman.
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Old 10 October 2007, 01:31 AM   #9
Tools
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So...

If you collect a bunch of tritium dials........

Can you save on your light bill by just opening your watch box when it's dark ..



Or, if you store them too close together, can a wooden box contain the reaction....

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Old 10 October 2007, 01:36 AM   #10
Jedi
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Okay Larry...

I understand your concerns... but read this okay?

I think it'll be okay.

Really...

...I do...
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Old 10 October 2007, 01:38 AM   #11
Tools
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I read it...

Now I'm really concerned, so I changed my prediction to correlate...





What do a bunch of watch geeks know ????

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Old 10 October 2007, 03:31 AM   #12
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As some of you know, an un-named watchmaker persuaded me to let him re-lume the dial and hands of my 1985 "Fat Lady."

I won't go into the rest of the story, but, talking to the police in his community, and in mine, they believe the jurisdiction falls here, and not there.
If I take it to small claims court, he has to appear here or default on the decision.
In which case, with a judgement in my favor, the police here tell me I can place a lien on his property and garner his income by simply filing the judgement in his county of residence.
If true, how nice.

In any event, everyone wants to know, in addition to the work he didn't do, for which he charged me, how much did re-lumeing the dial and hands reduce the value of this watch?

I don't know.

Any guesses?

I saw this same watch, all original, on sale for $6,299 from a British online dealer, but, that represents an asking price.

What do my fellow forumites think?

How much does re-lumeing the dial and hands of a tritium GMT Master II "Fat Lady" reduce its value?
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Old 10 October 2007, 08:43 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Cox View Post

How much does re-lumeing the dial and hands of a tritium GMT Master II "Fat Lady" reduce its value?
Ken, I think the short answer is the cost of a correct dial and matching hands. The problem now-a days is finding them.
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Old 10 October 2007, 08:43 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ngage View Post
Hi Guys,

Since we are on this topic, I've got a 16610 U serial and the dial still glows at night. Just wondering that the tritium dial should be worth collecting as Rolex will never produce them again.

What's your thoughts on this?
YES!!
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