Tritium

[Paul Newman]

I'm posting for a friend of mine. He just purchased and Pepsi GMT Master II from a reputable dealer . "X" serial number. In excellent condition. First night he owns it he takes it off and puts it on his nightstand.
No luminescence.
Can't see the dial in the dark.
The question is: What are his options?
Is he doomed to the darkness or are there options?

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by Paul Newman

I'm posting for a friend of mine. He just purchased and Pepsi GMT Master II from a reputable dealer . "X" serial number. In excellent condition. First night he owns it he takes it off and puts it on his nightstand.
No luminescence.
Can't see the dial in the dark.
The question is: What are his options?
Is he doomed to the darkness or are there options?

Yeah, and early 90s GMT will still use tritium, which looses its effectiveness over time, but some people prefer it for the patina that it develops.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but if your friend sends it in for service, he can get a service dial with superluminova, I believe.

[mike]

Tritium's half-life is about 12 1/2 years so it's pretty much run it's course.

Debate aside as to whether to leave original or not. There are two main choices--relume or service dial from Rolex.

Of the two I'd opt for service dial. Some really excellent shops do nice re-lumes ABC comes to mind, but I'm not sure of cost.

Keep in mind the hands will need changed as well and if sent to Rolex a full service will add to the cost, but the watch will be 100% with paperwork.

[Hollywoodvillain]

he can sell me the dial cheap , and buy a new luminova service dial to replace it !

[MCO1]

Pretty much as others have said...send it in for a service replacement which could effect future value. Keep the original and live with it not glowing which is what I decided to do with my 92 GMT. Lume is nice to have but I find I rarely miss the it. I am waiting for mine to patina but really is the same white as it was when I bought it. Part of the charm.

[Matt748]

Leave it be
Its meant to be that way.

[JDR888]

Leave it well alone & original.

[Tools]

Having a current dial with lume is not a big deal; it does not miraculously make your dial legible in the dark.

You can almost always find a light source to see your watch dial if you absolutely need to see the time..

[CHRONOLEX]

Originally Posted by Tools

Having a current dial with lume is not a big deal; it does not miraculously make your dial legible in the dark.

You can almost always find a light source to see your watch dial if you absolutely need to see the time..

[HogwldFLTR]

Doomed, doomed; all is dark and despair. Even current Rolexes aren't really great in the dark. OK maybe when the lights first go out but not half way through the night.

[Sublover2166]

Keep the original dial. My 18 year old 16613 has not glowed in many years. I would never consider replacing it. Hint; use the flashlight app on your smartphone if you need to see the time on the watch in the dark. As been said, even the lume on a brand new Sub is nothing to write home about.

[Dr DRW]

If it's tritium it says it on the dial t< 25, easy enough to tell , but should be in an. Serial. Don't think about changing the dial unless you like to throw away money. Trit dials are collectables. But even with a lumi dial it's hard to see at night, I have a $30 timex I sleep in push the crown and the whole dial lights up ... Problem solved

[watchabout]

Originally Posted by Sublover2166

Hint; use the flashlight app on your smartphone if you need to see the time on the watch in the dark.

Why not just look at the time in the phone?you're adding an extra step.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Marvoon]

i will just leave it,original

[AzHadEnuf]

Are there any tritium experts who can tell me why after 45 years the lume on my 6263 still glows dimly , I don't know for how long, I'm usually asleep within 10 minutes after turning the lights out. I have a 16610 from 1993 that is completely dark. Both have the original dials. I would think it would be the other way around. Thanks

[themaninblack]

It was not an exact science that's for sure. Different lume formulas, different dial makers. There is a great deal of variation. I have older dials that still glow somewhat and newer ones that are as dark as night. I have noticed that the lume plots I have with strong golden/orange 'patina' don't glow at all anymore. Early-mid 1970's. The ones that have a more white-green hue still have some glow and these are mid-late 60's. Coincidence? I cannot say.

My Radium dials all have virtually no luminescence left.

[Castor]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Doomed, doomed; all is dark and despair. Even current Rolexes aren't really great in the dark. OK maybe when the lights first go out but not half way through the night.

I don't know about that. There are times when my wife wakes me up to tell me to take my watch off because it's so bright it keeps her awake. I can read by the lume alone. VERY good lume!

[Sublover2166]

Originally Posted by watchabout

Why not just look at the time in the phone?you're adding an extra step.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That would disqualify you from being a WIS, lol.

[MCO1]

In regards to old dark lume still glowing. I find it depends where I am at, if there is radon around like in basements or other varied places it charges up the lume temporarily. Kind of freaks me out when it happens. I think if it is doing it to the lume what is it doing to me.:)

[AzHadEnuf]

Originally Posted by MCO1

In regards to old dark lume still glowing. I find it depends where I am at, if there is radon around like in basements or other varied places it charges up the lume temporarily. Kind of freaks me out when it happens. I think if it is doing it to the lume what is it doing to me.:)

Well so much for falling asleep 10 minutes after the lights go out. I might be glowing at night. You make an interesting point. Thinking back 20 years ago when I lived in NYC I am certain the lume on that watch was dark. I have no idea what the radon levels are here in the southwest but I do know that there is a large amount of uranium deposits in the area where I live. Fast forward 20 years...now the lume glows. Well, something is going to kill me. At least the weather and scenery is nice here.

[997.2]

Originally Posted by Matt748

Leave it be
Its meant to be that way.

Yes. Leave it. He messed up if he thought a Rolex tritium dial was still supposed to glow 😂

[watchwatcher]

Yeah...I wouldn't mess with it.

[brandrea]

No glow, is better than replacing the dial. Leave it be.