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Old 5 April 2017, 01:50 AM   #1
Andrejb
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Are Tritium Dials dangerous?

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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Old 5 April 2017, 02:10 AM   #2
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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
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Old 5 April 2017, 02:11 AM   #3
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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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Old 5 April 2017, 02:22 AM   #4
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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.
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Old 5 April 2017, 02:26 AM   #5
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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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Old 5 April 2017, 02:40 AM   #6
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I've been wearing my tritium gmt since 1995. It's sick! Get your watch pressure tested!


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Old 5 April 2017, 02:41 AM   #7
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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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Old 5 April 2017, 03:37 AM   #8
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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.
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Old 5 April 2017, 03:43 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrejb View Post
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.
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Old 5 April 2017, 04:12 AM   #10
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Tritium has also been connected to bank account issues and marital tension.
truth.
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Old 5 April 2017, 04:13 AM   #11
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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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Old 5 April 2017, 04:27 AM   #12
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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).
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Old 5 April 2017, 04:31 AM   #13
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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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Old 5 April 2017, 04:50 AM   #14
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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!!!!!
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Old 5 April 2017, 07:30 AM   #15
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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
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.
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Old 5 April 2017, 08:30 AM   #16
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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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Old 5 April 2017, 09:19 AM   #17
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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.
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Old 5 April 2017, 09:31 AM   #18
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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.




Look how pretty



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Old 5 April 2017, 09:58 AM   #19
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...and then it went away. :)
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Old 5 April 2017, 10:01 AM   #20
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...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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Old 5 April 2017, 10:04 AM   #21
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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.
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Old 5 April 2017, 10:05 AM   #22
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Sure..



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


Lol


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Old 5 April 2017, 10:20 AM   #23
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It might make you "sterile" and unable to have kids.
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It is a known issue that all of the SubC and GMTIIC's movement have reliability issues. Something to do with a spring that was introduced. I expect this to further increase the value of older Submariners and GMTIIs.
Heck why can't I start my own internet rumor and raise the prices of MY WATCHES!!!!
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Old 5 April 2017, 10:22 AM   #24
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It might make you "sterile" and unable to have kids.
So no issue then.
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Old 5 April 2017, 10:22 AM   #25
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It might make you "sterile" and unable to have kids.


Too late for that


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Old 5 April 2017, 12:25 PM   #26
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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!
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Old 5 April 2017, 12:46 PM   #27
Andrejb
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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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Old 5 April 2017, 01:13 PM   #28
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It will behave exactly like the millions of other Rolex in cold weather.
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Old 7 April 2017, 10:05 PM   #29
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pretty sure it was the 1960's radium lume applicant that you should be worried about
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Old 7 April 2017, 11:40 PM   #30
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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.
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