Tritium dials, but more modern bezel?

[NJSub]

Hello all. First post outside of the "new member" forum so go easy on me!

My 16610 "T" series has a tritium face and hands (which I love!), but it seems the pearl on the bezel charges with light which I thought was a very untritium thing to do!

I guess mine had the bezel and/or pearl replaced at some point during a service, does that make sense? I bought it preowned so there's no way for me to know everything that's been done to the watch up until this point.

I have to say, it doesn't really stay luminous very long after charging it though so it probably isn't new even if it is a modern style one.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. I guess I will find out for sure when I take it to RSC NY to get it appraised and verified, that is, if they will tell me....

[allanofcalifornia]

Please post a picture of your watch.


Allan

[NJSub]

Here ya go, right out of my thread in the welcome forum (It's all I have right now so I'm reusing it....):

[Wolfgang427]

Originally Posted by NJSub

Hello all. First post outside of the "new member" forum so go easy on me!

My 16610 "T" series has a tritium face and hands (which I love!), but it seems the pearl on the bezel charges with light which I thought was a very untritium thing to do!

I guess mine had the bezel and/or pearl replaced at some point during a service, does that make sense? I bought it preowned so there's no way for me to know everything that's been done to the watch up until this point.

I have to say, it doesn't really stay luminous very long after charging it though so it probably isn't new even if it is a modern style one.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. I guess I will find out for sure when I take it to RSC NY to get it appraised and verified, that is, if they will tell me....

The RSC will not appraise it, how ever you can ask for a service estimate and then you'll receive the papers that tells you whats wrong with the watch as far as servicing goes.

[Tools]

A T ('96 or "97) should have been serviced at least once by now.. Changing the insert is a very common thing to have done, so it absolutely would have been changed to a Luminova style after 1998.

I would not go out of my way to try and find a tritium insert with a modern reference like the 16610.....

[NJSub]

Originally Posted by wolfgang427

The RSC will not appraise it, how ever you can ask for a service estimate and then you'll receive the papers that tells you whats wrong with the watch as far as servicing goes.

I thought so too but the woman on the phone when I called RSC NY said they will give me an appraisal I can use for insurance. If she was incorrect, no biggie, I'm still going to have them validate it.

Originally Posted by Tools

A T ('96 or "97) should have been serviced at least once by now.. Changing the insert is a very common thing to have done, so it absolutely would have been changed to a Luminova style after 1998.

I would not go out of my way to try and find a tritium insert with a modern reference like the 16610.....

I agree, I really like the T<25 face and hands and will not change them even when I get the watch serviced some day. But the bezel and pearl, if it's been changed, so be it.

Thanks for the replies!

[pz93c]

I'd try to find a Trit bezel insert anyway.

One day, it will be a vintage Sub and that'll be a nice thing to have.

[NJSub]

Originally Posted by pz93c

I'd try to find a Trit bezel insert anyway.

One day, it will be a vintage Sub and that'll be a nice thing to have.

I'm really not familiar with such things as this is my first Rolex. Are you referring to the pearls that someone like stevemulholland3 sell? You can just get the pearl and hold onto it and someday perhaps have it put in the bezel to be "authentic vintage"?

For the $100 he sells them for I'd be interested just to keep one in the box if I knew it would work on the bezel that I have.

Thanks again for the guidance, this is a fantastic forum and the sharing of knowledge is really helping me appreciate my new hobby.

[pz93c]

Originally Posted by NJSub

Are you referring to the pearls that someone like stevemulholland3 sell? You can just get the pearl and hold onto it and someday perhaps have it put in the bezel to be "authentic vintage"?

I don't know if the bezel itself changed between that. It may just be the pearl you need.

Hopefully, someone will be by with better answers.

[NJSub]

Originally Posted by pz93c

I don't know if the bezel itself changed between that. It may just be the pearl you need.

Hopefully, someone will be by with better answers.

Well, the bezel having changed is probably likely. If I could just get the pearl to hold on to I'd think that would go far towards the "vintage" look someday.

[Imtiaz]

Originally Posted by Tools

A T ('96 or "97) should have been serviced at least once by now.. Changing the insert is a very common thing to have done, so it absolutely would have been changed to a Luminova style after 1998.

I would not go out of my way to try and find a tritium insert with a modern reference like the 16610.....

Tools does the Luminova say T <25.

Not sure.

Ta

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Imtiaz

Tools does the Luminova say T <25.

Not sure.

Ta

T <25.stands for luminous material Tritium radioactivity less than 925 Mbq 25 Mci.And agree with Larry not a big deal with a modern watch like the 16610 bezel inserts are often changed, the dial hands are the main things in older vintage watches.

[NJSub]

Originally Posted by padi56

T <25.stands for luminous material Tritium radioactivity less than 925 Mbq 25 Mci.And agree with Larry not a big deal with a modern watch like the 16610 bezel inserts are often changed, the dial hands are the main things in older vintage watches.

I'm fairly certain the dial and hands are still Tritium as they only glow a tiny TINY bit that can only be seen by really well adjusted eyes when it's pitch black. And light does not recharge them at all.

I dig it, I like having "old technology" lume. It was actually one of the things that attracted me to the watch. :)

[padi56]

Originally Posted by NJSub

I'm fairly certain the dial and hands are still Tritium as they only glow a tiny TINY bit that can only be seen by really well adjusted eyes when it's pitch black. And light does not recharge them at all.

I dig it, I like having "old technology" lume. It was actually one of the things that attracted me to the watch. :)

Myself not a huge fan of anything in the modern Rolex, myself prefer the vintage maxi type dial without the gold surrounds.And yes with the >T25 that will be Tritium,up till 1960 Rolex used a luminous material called Radium.From 1960 to 1998 Tritium with the T Swiss T radioactivity less than 277 Mbq (7.50)mCi .And your dial T <25 luminous material Tritium radioactivity less than 925 Mbq 25 Mci,from 1998 on superluminova.But although Rolex called it superluminova to many brands lume was not the best,now its very much improved but not as good as say the Japanese.

[NJSub]

Originally Posted by padi56

Myself not a huge fan of anything in the modern Rolex, myself prefer the vintage maxi type dial without the gold surrounds.And yes with the >T25 that will be Tritium,up till 1960 Rolex used a luminous material called Radium.From 1960 to 1998 Tritium with the T Swiss T radioactivity less than 277 Mbq (7.50)mCi .And your dial T <25 luminous material Tritium radioactivity less than 925 Mbq 25 Mci,from 1998 on superluminova.But although Rolex called it superluminova to many brands lume was not the best,now its very much improved but not as good as say the Japanese.

Yeah, I read the history before I made the purchase because frankly I had no idea what the "T < 25" meant.

And as you stated with your preference, it's really up to the individual as to what they like. For me I appreciate the gold surrounds and enjoy having the Tritium dials, it just makes the watch more interesting IMO.

I won't lie, if I could afford it I'd get a brand spankin new GMT II as well with all the bells and whistles, but that would be more for it's usefulness than anything. It wouldn't have the story that my Sub has.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by NJSub

Yeah, I read the history before I made the purchase because frankly I had no idea what the "T < 25" meant.

And as you stated with your preference, it's really up to the individual as to what they like. For me I appreciate the gold surrounds and enjoy having the Tritium dials, it just makes the watch more interesting IMO.

I won't lie, if I could afford it I'd get a brand spankin new GMT II as well with all the bells and whistles, but that would be more for it's usefulness than anything. It wouldn't have the story that my Sub has.

Well the Sub or GMT11 has changed very little since 1988/9 same movement.
Not much bells and whistles there and now non lug hole case and on Sub SEL bracelet If you are talking about the GMT 11C then a slightly modded 3185 into the 3186 and a ceramic bezel plus polished centre link bracelet hardly bells and whistles.And basically all the Rolex line up except for the chronograph are just clones of the Cal 3135 with or without added complications.

[NJSub]

Originally Posted by padi56

If you are talking about the GMT 11C then a slightly modded 3185 into the 3186 and a ceramic bezel plus polished centre link bracelet hardly bells and whistles.

lol, I guess I was considering a watch I could actually read at night a bell and/or a whistle.

I also really like the GMT. Well, someday perhaps it will grace my wrist!

Thanks for your guidance on the Tritium issue.