Rolex GMT 16710 Tritium question

[Fraenki]

Hi everyone,

this is my first post here, since I just started with the ROLEX passion.. before I was "Living" in the speedmaster world ;)!

Last year I bought a very nice 1993 GMT 16710 with "SWISS-T >25" dial., from a dealer with a lot of good reputation.
Since this should be tritium I expected any reaction when exposing it to light-sources....

But I don't see any reaction at all....

Is this normal? I read different things on different sides..... :(

I am concerned that anything is wrong...

Best
Frank

[thewolfofmiddlesex]

Tritium has a radioactive half life of 12.3 yrs. Your watch is twice that half life in age....

[Fraenki]

thanks to your reply. I know that the tritium is not glowing a lot from its own anymore.

but the question is if it should glow for a very short time after beeing put under light sources?!
I know from my speedmasters that they glow heavily after beeing exposed to light (and these are no superluminova)

best
Frank

[4rnold]

I think it depends on the chemical composition. I have an heuer g1000 from the 80's and it still glows briefly (but very bright).

but my sea-dweller from 96 doesn't glow anymore at all.

So yes I think with Rolex it is normal that the tritium doesn't glow anymore, I read once that they are not famous for their readability in the dark.
My Omega Seamaster glows a lot more

[Andad]

Tritium doesn’t glow and never has.

Google it and all will be explained.

[thewolfofmiddlesex]

Originally Posted by directioneng

Tritium doesn’t glow and never has.

Google it and all will be explained.

Yes, but I think we all know what the OP is getting at

[Fraenki]

thanks again!
I know that the tritium is not glowing. It is just activating the luming part of the lume which might be zink-sulfit or zink-oxid.

then I will change my question into: should the zink-sulfit or the zink-oxid glow und exposure to light?!

[Ian Macdermott]

I have a 16610 of a similar age and I get nothing from the dial or hands. Which rather makes it useless for its designed purpose as a dive watch.

[Andad]

Hi Fraenki,

No, once the tritium has used the available phosphor there is no more lume.
At this point sunlight will not activate the lume because there is no more phosphor to excite.

It is possible that there may be some impurities in the remaining phosphor material that could still lume and this will show up as tiny ‘brighter’ specks in the remaining mix.

[Available Mase]

Your watch is too old. AT BEST you'd have to expose it to light and be in a really dark environment where your pupils would pick it up.