Submariner Does Not Glow At Night

[blairg]

last night after i got offline i put a led flashlight up to it for about 20 minutes in my dark room and when my eyes adjusted to the dark i could see it good i woke up 2 or three times during the night and it still glowed so im gonna leave it original.i love this watch.i have 2 tag heuers but i must say i am most proud of this watch.thanks for all the help guys.

[leeyong]

I think "T swiss made T" and "Swiss T<25" are Tritium and Swiss made should be super luminova. also the I read the switch over date from tritium to luminova was 98-00, depending on model...

anyway too much reading.

[Robe]

Frostie has stated superluminova does not lose its glow over time. In my experience superluminova does lose its glow. As an aside, the luminosity of my Speedmasters are superior to my GMT Master II 16710.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Welcome to TRF!

As stated, the reason why your TT Blue Sub does not glow is that it has a Tritium dial. Tritium is a mild radio-active substance (beta waves) that has a half life of 12,5 years. Tritium (or rather the phospers it was bonded with) made the hands and indices glow CONSTANTLY. Tritium sometimes "ages" over the years and turns slightly yellow (discolours). Trtium was banned in 1998, but a few companies still use it.

SuperLuminova, however, needs an external source of light to make it glow and also loses its glow gradually (typically it can last 6 hours on a good "charge" of light). It has not yet been proven that SL loses its overall glowing quality over years, though, and SL is also expected not to discolour by age like Tritium did.

Here is an overview over the luminous materials used by Rolex during the ages:

Luminous materials! CLICK!

Note the "SWISS" (etc.) markings on the various dials! That way you can determine what kind of luminous material you have on your dial.

[GoldenBear]

It's a personal decision. So many people are obsessed with resale value and others want the best possible watch for use now. I guess I'll have to decide if I want my circa 1990's Sub with a weak lume or a tuned up Sub with a new face and bright lume. Same deal, it's the 1st Rolex I ever owned. I don't think I'll ever sell it. My others, I don't have the same emotional attachment to.

[Solo118]

Does anyone know when the Explorer II changed to Luminova? I am looking at a U serial I found a good price on

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by Solo118

Does anyone know when the Explorer II changed to Luminova? I am looking at a U serial I found a good price on

Rolex changed from Tritium to SuperLuminova in 1998 as the link above states.

[ghost2000]

Originally Posted by wolfgang427

The USA RSC will change both hands and dial, but they will keep the old ones on an exchange basis.(no-returns).

I was told that the same thing happens here if you go to a RSC, I asked information to change my dj dial and I was kindly advised not to go to a RSC unless I want to lose my old dial (obviously I don't)..I was explained that RSC do this to avoid people making a fake rolex using original spare parts....bye

[frostie]

Originally Posted by ghost2000

I was told that the same thing happens here if you go to a RSC, I asked information to change my dj dial and I was kindly advised not to go to a RSC unless I want to lose my old dial (obviously I don't)..I was explained that RSC do this to avoid people making a fake rolex using original spare parts....bye

But still i 've seeing fake ones with genuine parts

[ghost2000]

Originally Posted by frostie

But still i 've seeing fake ones with genuine parts

you only have to change your dial by any watch seller/repairer (non RSC) and you'll keep your old dial....or there are some people that buy genuine spare parts (don't know where) in order to assemble a fake rolex...just think about it: you only need a well-done case, an original dial and, if the movement (eta, chinese or similar) is good the fake rolex is done