The Rolex Forums   The Rolex Watch

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX


Go Back   Rolex Forums - Rolex Forum > Rolex & Tudor Watch Topics > Rolex General Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12 February 2013, 12:09 PM   #1
MartinF79
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Real Name: Martin
Location: Toronto
Watch: 2 Rolex Subs
Posts: 27
Need some Help RE: "A" Series Rolex Sub

Hi All -

New to the forum... first off, everyone on here seems very helpful and clearly, a tremdous level of knowledge.

I recently purchased a two-done SS/18K Gold blue dial Sub w/ a "P" series serial number. Absolutely love the watch!

Currently in the markey for a SS black sub. I've sourced an "A" series that I'm interested in. I've read up that 1998 was a transition year for the dials (from trillium to luminous). I plan on having the watch authenticated at a Rolex dealer, but was wondering if there is any way to confirm what type of dials the watch will have. I've been told that the Trilium are more collectable, however given the "radiation" myth, prefer the luminous hands.

Any insight anyone can share would be appreciated.

Martin
MartinF79 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12 February 2013, 01:19 PM   #2
moviefreak
"TRF" Member
 
moviefreak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: in my house...
Posts: 5,524
What is the radiation myth...?? That you will start to glow... Most tritium dials do not glow at all anymore...12.5yrs half life..
Tritium dials have a T swiss T at the bottom...
__________________
Cheers, Eduardo
Be a WIS not a WUSS... and remove all the stickers..
moviefreak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12 February 2013, 01:19 PM   #3
Thatguy
"TRF" Member
 
Thatguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Real Name: Wayne
Location: California
Watch: Rolex, PAM
Posts: 3,302
I believe the trilium will have a small T at 6 o clock on the dial. Someone will correct me if I am mistaken.
Thatguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12 February 2013, 01:43 PM   #4
77T
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
77T's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Real Name: PaulG
Location: Georgia
Posts: 42,016
During the changeover period some dials would be marked with a "T" even though Rolex applied Luminova to them after the Tritium was phased out.

The change was made so fast Rolex still had T dials around and like the good cost-conscious Swiss people that they are, they said why waste them?
__________________


Does anyone really know what time it is?
77T is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12 February 2013, 06:17 PM   #5
Jolu
"TRF" Member
 
Jolu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Real Name: Jo
Location: Norway
Watch: Explorer I/II
Posts: 660
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thatguy View Post
I believe the trilium will have a small T at 6 o clock on the dial. Someone will correct me if I am mistaken.
An A-serial will most likely have a luminova dial, but there are 3 options in that transitional period. A tritium dial will have "Swiss-T<25", a luminova dial will have "Swiss" only, and a superluminova dial will have "Swiss Made".
__________________

“I have never been lost, but I will admit to being confused for several weeks”
- Daniel Boone -
Jolu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12 February 2013, 06:44 PM   #6
padi56
"TRF" Life Patron
 
padi56's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Real Name: Peter
Location: Llanfairpwllgwyng
Watch: ing you.
Posts: 53,062
Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinF79 View Post
Hi All -

New to the forum... first off, everyone on here seems very helpful and clearly, a tremdous level of knowledge.

I recently purchased a two-done SS/18K Gold blue dial Sub w/ a "P" series serial number. Absolutely love the watch!

Currently in the markey for a SS black sub. I've sourced an "A" series that I'm interested in. I've read up that 1998 was a transition year for the dials (from trillium to luminous). I plan on having the watch authenticated at a Rolex dealer, but was wondering if there is any way to confirm what type of dials the watch will have. I've been told that the Trilium are more collectable, however given the "radiation" myth, prefer the luminous hands.

Any insight anyone can share would be appreciated.

Martin
I would doubt if any 16610 could be classed as collectible just too many of them around both with Tritium and luminover. But who knows what will happen in 20-50 years time.And Rolex have never made a series of any watch they are just case serials nothing more and many serials overlap in different so called production years.Now if its a Tritium dial there would be very little glow left now in darkness.And all the Tritium based dials after 1960 are perfectly safe and bare no risk whatsoever.Now pre 1960 Radium was used on some dials that were a slight risk but these were removed from sale as they were over the limit then for radioactivity..
__________________

ICom Pro3

All posts are my own opinion and my opinion only.

"The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop. Now is the only time you actually own the time, Place no faith in time, for the clock may soon be still for ever."
Good Judgement comes from experience,experience comes from Bad Judgement,.Buy quality, cry once; buy cheap, cry again and again.

www.mc0yad.club

Second in command CEO and left handed watch winder
padi56 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13 February 2013, 12:45 AM   #7
MartinF79
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Real Name: Martin
Location: Toronto
Watch: 2 Rolex Subs
Posts: 27
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jolu View Post
An A-serial will most likely have a luminova dial, but there are 3 options in that transitional period. A tritium dial will have "Swiss-T<25", a luminova dial will have "Swiss" only, and a superluminova dial will have "Swiss Made".
Thanks everyone .... this really helps. AT least the above (while not 100% accurate in all instances) will atleast give me some direction... appreciate it.
MartinF79 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13 February 2013, 01:02 AM   #8
77T
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
77T's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Real Name: PaulG
Location: Georgia
Posts: 42,016
Quote:
Originally Posted by padi56 View Post
And all the Tritium based dials after 1960 are perfectly safe and bare no risk whatsoever.
Only one thing to mention here Peter. Tritium, with a half-life of 12.3 years (let's use 12.5 just to be conservative), can still be dangerous if anyone was to fiddle with a dial made between 1988-1998. So care should be exercised with exposed dials from R, L, E, X, N, C, S, W, T, & U case s/n's.

The element in those Tritium dials still emits a very low energy beta particle. It is safe in a sealed watchcase - but handling those dials outside the case (without proper precautions) can cause absorbtion.
__________________


Does anyone really know what time it is?
77T is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13 February 2013, 01:09 AM   #9
swish77
2024 Pledge Member
 
swish77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Real Name: Aaron
Location: CT/NYC
Watch: ing the time!
Posts: 6,999
One point to keep in mind that hasn't been mentioned here is patina. Tritium develops it over time, turning ivory, yellow or even orange in some cases, depending on many different factors, such as exposure to light, humidity, how the tritium was mixed, etc .... This can take years and might not be an issue for you, but if you want a dial that has white luminous on the dial and hands _ and for the most part won't change _ stick with a luminova dial/hands. Unless, of course, you're like me and many others who love the look of tritium with patina. Good luck!
swish77 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13 February 2013, 02:09 AM   #10
padi56
"TRF" Life Patron
 
padi56's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Real Name: Peter
Location: Llanfairpwllgwyng
Watch: ing you.
Posts: 53,062
Quote:
Originally Posted by 77T View Post
Only one thing to mention here Peter. Tritium, with a half-life of 12.3 years (let's use 12.5 just to be conservative), can still be dangerous if anyone was to fiddle with a dial made between 1988-1998. So care should be exercised with exposed dials from R, L, E, X, N, C, S, W, T, & U case s/n's.

The element in those Tritium dials still emits a very low energy beta particle. It is safe in a sealed watchcase - but handling those dials outside the case (without proper precautions) can cause absorbtion.
Today there are dose calculations done for all watches still employing tritium paint,mainly because the doses from the paint would be higher than those from Tritium gas type tubes. Since the extremely low doses of any form of radiation the estimates to anyone wearing any watch even Rolex that contained all forms of Tritium paint are typically 0.04 to 0.06% mrem per year even if the crystal was removed.Now compare this to the 300 mrem per year that an average resident of the UK or the United States receives each year from natural sources of radiation.
__________________

ICom Pro3

All posts are my own opinion and my opinion only.

"The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop. Now is the only time you actually own the time, Place no faith in time, for the clock may soon be still for ever."
Good Judgement comes from experience,experience comes from Bad Judgement,.Buy quality, cry once; buy cheap, cry again and again.

www.mc0yad.club

Second in command CEO and left handed watch winder
padi56 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13 February 2013, 03:30 AM   #11
77T
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
77T's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Real Name: PaulG
Location: Georgia
Posts: 42,016
Quote:
Originally Posted by padi56 View Post
Today there are dose calculations done for all watches still employing tritium paint,mainly because the doses from the paint would be higher than those from Tritium gas type tubes. Since the extremely low doses of any form of radiation the estimates to anyone wearing any watch even Rolex that contained all forms of Tritium paint are typically 0.04 to 0.06% mrem per year even if the crystal was removed.Now compare this to the 300 mrem per year that an average resident of the UK or the United States receives each year from natural sources of radiation.
I agree. I was thinking more about our members who are handy with a case tool and fiddle with their watches.

Repeated Tritium dial handling and exposure simply calls for precautions.
__________________


Does anyone really know what time it is?
77T is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13 February 2013, 10:56 AM   #12
MartinF79
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Real Name: Martin
Location: Toronto
Watch: 2 Rolex Subs
Posts: 27
Quote:
Originally Posted by 77T View Post
During the changeover period some dials would be marked with a "T" even though Rolex applied Luminova to them after the Tritium was phased out.

The change was made so fast Rolex still had T dials around and like the good cost-conscious Swiss people that they are, they said why waste them?
I just confirmed from the buyer that the A-Serial does have "Swiss-T<25" at the 6 o'colock mark, so given the above, is is possible that the dials are luminova and not Tritium? Would an authorized rolex watch service man be able to confirm what they are actually made of when I have it authenticated?
MartinF79 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13 February 2013, 11:33 AM   #13
phantom357
"TRF" Member
 
phantom357's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Jack Daniels Land
Watch: me drink Guinness!
Posts: 373
Martin, I understand your concern but think you over thinking it & will suffer from paralysis by analysis. Good luck in your quest.

Sent from my Galaxy 3 using Tapatalk 2
phantom357 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13 February 2013, 03:01 PM   #14
montpyt
"TRF" Member
 
montpyt's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Real Name: Shawn
Location: WPB, FL
Watch: 116610LV "HULK"
Posts: 1,095
Quote:
Originally Posted by phantom357 View Post
Martin, I understand your concern but think you over thinking it & will suffer from paralysis by analysis. Good luck in your quest.

Sent from my Galaxy 3 using Tapatalk 2
__________________

ACTIVE MEMBER OF RED SOX NATION
montpyt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13 February 2013, 06:53 PM   #15
padi56
"TRF" Life Patron
 
padi56's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Real Name: Peter
Location: Llanfairpwllgwyng
Watch: ing you.
Posts: 53,062
Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinF79 View Post
I just confirmed from the buyer that the A-Serial does have "Swiss-T<25" at the 6 o'colock mark, so given the above, is is possible that the dials are luminova and not Tritium? Would an authorized rolex watch service man be able to confirm what they are actually made of when I have it authenticated?
Its possible at that time frame but doubtful and but no big deal either way . Now if you charged the lume with a bright light then go into complete darkness and the lume was quite bright. Then if would be safe to say it was luminover but if hardly any glow then its Tritium.
__________________

ICom Pro3

All posts are my own opinion and my opinion only.

"The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop. Now is the only time you actually own the time, Place no faith in time, for the clock may soon be still for ever."
Good Judgement comes from experience,experience comes from Bad Judgement,.Buy quality, cry once; buy cheap, cry again and again.

www.mc0yad.club

Second in command CEO and left handed watch winder
padi56 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

My Watch LLC

WatchesOff5th

DavidSW Watches

Takuya Watches

OCWatches

Asset Appeal

Wrist Aficionado


*Banners Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.





Copyright ©2004-2024, The Rolex Forums. All Rights Reserved.

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Rolex is a registered trademark of ROLEX USA. The Rolex Forums is not affiliated with ROLEX USA in any way.