New to Rolex, lumes, and subs...some questions

[Matth3w]

I'm considering trimming down my watch collection further, and trading someone that has a used Sub (picture attached). Aside from generally looking at it and telling me what you think - I'm mainly curious if I can get the dial re-done with working Tritium.

I say this, as strongly as possible - I don't care one single bit about resale value of the watch. I intend to use it as a utility watch, wearing daily in military uniform, it's going to get scratched, etc. That's why I like the tritium. Right now I have a Marathon watch that I use for my tritium. I did a lot of googling and I get a lot of people talking about messing with the dial and resale. I don't care about that if the dial can be redone with tritium.

I also don't like the strap they have it on, but I usually throw on a cheap NATO on even my more expensive utility watches because I have giant wrists and they're the only thing that fits well (I tried, for example, to get the official Omega NATO for my Seamaster 300, and it didn't fit well).

Thoughts on the watch, or cost to re-lume? An AD told me Rolex will replace the tritium but didn't know the cost, told me turnaround time was 4-6 weeks...but I'm suspect because when I google it says that they only re-lume by replacing the dial with superluminova, which I'm not a fan of re-charging lume.

[WS9D]

Following. Curious to know the answer myself. Pretty sure RSC won't, but I wonder if there's a shop someone knows of out there that will.

Welcome to the forums.

[Matth3w]

Originally Posted by Ks6pd

Following. Curious to know the answer myself. Pretty sure RSC won't, but I wonder if there's a shop someone knows of out there that will.

Welcome to the forums.

Thanks for the welcome. I decided to pull the trigger on it. It's my first Rolex, I've always kinda shied away from them. It's not super mint, but it's worth the trade and it's keeping time within COSC standards, so I'm going to assume it has been serviced recently.

What I learned more about the tritium was more of a fundamental misunderstanding of what tritium they were using. They were using paint whereas I was thinking gas tubes, and pretty much no one uses the paint any longer I don't think.

[rod442]

If your looking for something that doesn't have to be "charged", look at Ball.
They are one of the very few who use tritium gas tubes.
I have one, and its a great watch.

Most watches are formerly painted on tritium, or now superluminova or the like.
So yes, the lume is going to be applied in some way.

If you want that watch redone, find a watchmaker who will reapply the lume. I believe if you send it to rolex they will only replace the dial and hands. At a much higher cost than just redoing the luminous paint.

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/lu...ir-differences

[rootbeer7]

Originally Posted by Matth3w

Thanks for the welcome. I decided to pull the trigger on it. It's my first Rolex, I've always kinda shied away from them. It's not super mint, but it's worth the trade and it's keeping time within COSC standards, so I'm going to assume it has been serviced recently.

What I learned more about the tritium was more of a fundamental misunderstanding of what tritium they were using. They were using paint whereas I was thinking gas tubes, and pretty much no one uses the paint any longer I don't think.

I’d look out for a a service dial and hands and use a local watchmaker to swap. Keep the originals tucked away. Down the line, this hobby might hook you in and you’d be sorry you ‘ruined’ a classic timepiece. If that didn’t happen and you tire of the watch, you have a perfect example to move on.

[sillo]

nevermind

[Rocket_Man]

Check out this brand. Save you a lot of money.

https://luminox-usa.com/collections/...SAAEgLNLfD_BwE

[Dirt]

Sounds like you'd just be better off sticking with the Marathon.
Good luck.