Tritium Dial T<25 Debate / Photos

[faimag]

For me, nothing beats the charm of tritium, lug holes, and rattling non SELs!!! But I always go for the best possible example overall. A fantastic dial with patina etc etc tells me nothing if it's on a watch that has been "overused."

[Daveclock]

Originally Posted by csaltphoto

Ball uses Tritium sealed in little glass tubes where it won't deteriorate.

Anyone know how long the original tritium dials glowed? I know the half life is around 12 years but part of that had to do with the materials in the phosphorescent paint deteriorating. The tritium itself doesn't glow but it was used as an exciter for materials in the paint that did glow.

Sorry the Tritium is always deteriorating.
I know Gallet/Marathon were using tritium from 1990's (I am a fan of these and have owned a few) they are often marked H3 for hydrogen 3 the molecular makeup of tritium.

Web says: Being an unstable isotope with a half-life of 12.32 years, the rate of beta emissions decreases by half in that period. Additionally, phosphor degradation will cause the brightness of a tritium tube to drop by more than half in that period.

I personally love a patina and colour of age the Wabi of a nice watch

[bezler]

Why do some of the old tritium subs develop patina, while others don't? My guess would be that the watches that had a lot more exposure to harsh sunlight would develop patina faster. Is that true? Are there other factors? I'm sure there must be a fair amount of simple randomness as well.

[Swearengen]

There is a running joke on Time4aPint and Redbar that whenever Tritium is mentioned Kathleen McGivney reminds people not to eat it

Originally Posted by sillo

Its safe unless you decide to eat the dial one day.

[Swearengen]

It seem to be the reverse, watches exposed to sunlight seem to be paler and safe queens develop more patina.

Originally Posted by bezler

Why do some of the old tritium subs develop patina, while others don't? My guess would be that the watches that had a lot more exposure to harsh sunlight would develop patina faster. Is that true? Are there other factors? I'm sure there must be a fair amount of simple randomness as well.

[bman381]

Wonder why they used the small second hands in the tritium dials? Smaller meaning shorter from the lume to minute indice. Kinda neat but almost makes it look fake. Mine has the same hand as well.

[MickCollins1916]

I have a 16660, 16600, 16700, 79090, 19018, and 18239 with tritium, and have owned a bunch of others.

I tend to rock those pieces during the day to work or play, then switch to something with lume for the evening. I don’t know why, since I could always look at my phone or whatever, but I like being able to glance at my watch for the time whenever the mood strikes.

I don’t know which is more preferable as a rule, or whether there’s any consensus on the question, but at the end of the day, I value functionality most.

[bezler]

Originally Posted by Swearengen

It seem to be the reverse, watches exposed to sunlight seem to be paler and safe queens develop more patina.

Interesting. I'll need to search and find out more.

[ramonrq731]

Originally Posted by MickCollins1916

I have a 16660, 16600, 16700, 79090, 19018, and 18239 with tritium, and have owned a bunch of others.

I tend to rock those pieces during the day to work or play, then switch to something with lume for the evening. I don’t know why, since I could always look at my phone or whatever, but I like being able to glance at my watch for the time whenever the mood strikes.

I don’t know which is more preferable as a rule, or whether there’s any consensus on the question, but at the end of the day, I value functionality most.

Gees Mick... with all those numbers I thought you were an accountant but no, actually a colleague! Cheers for those patinated beauties whichever got there!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MRPWRPATX21]

To me it sort of depends on the watch- I’m hunting for a 16800, and I think the tritium looks great on those matte dials (as well as the later WG surround glossy dials). I’m kind of split on the GMT, and am lean towards a little newer Version that hasn’t patina’d just yet, but might in the future. However, in looking at a polar Explorer II, I opted for the SEL/lug holes/Super Luminova combo, as there is already a slight variation in whites, but not so substantial that you get the light orange/darker yellow you see in the tritium on top of the white polar dial...to me those aren’t the best match.

So I think it’s sort of case-specific...

[wrf2]

Sorry - new to the forum so, I apologize if this has been discussed. For those with tritium indices, how long does it typically take to patina? I would imagine it is largely a result of how often you wear in direct sunlight but I have a 1999 submariner with no signs of patina.

[spirinellio]

Originally Posted by springer

1995 Submariner 16610 with tritium dial.

any idea what causes some watches to patina quicker than others? Yours is fantastic looking and it's a 95 whereas i've seen references older than that with hardly any patina. Haven't really found a definitive answer for what causes differentiated patina rates in tritium dials

[GMTSean]

I previously owned a GMT 16750 that was about 18 years old when I got it. The tritium didn't glow when I would first switch out the lights at night, but sometimes I would awake during the night after a few hours it was glowing beautifully.

[101031-28]

Big fan of tritium/patina. Given the choice, I always pick T<25

My 1984 16660, 1986 16550 and 1989 16570.

[101031-28]

Big fan of tritium/patina. Given the choice, I always pick T<25

1984 16660
1986 16550
1989 16570.

[1665fan]

Originally Posted by springer

1995 Submariner 16610 with tritium dial.

That’s the benefit of tritium....nice one

[RolexBrian]

“Triple 0“ (168000)

[MickCollins1916]

Originally Posted by ramonrq731

Gees Mick... with all those numbers I thought you were an accountant but no, actually a colleague! Cheers for those patinated beauties whichever got there!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My tritium-dialed triple 6 is currently getting some love from LAWW and they sent me some nice pics of it in process.

[Boostmiser]

Does anyone know where to get tritium hands?
I have a U serial with great petunia on the dial and pearl. The hands are luminova making the watch more functional. But I think I want to replace them with period correct hands.

[214270Explorer]

Originally Posted by JePro

Does Tritium emits even a low amount of radiation? I like the look of a patinated tritium but i'm afraid i'm exposing myself to some radiation in the process.

Tritium radiation does not exit the watch. Tritium watch radiation, should you be exposed by a broken crystal, watch disassembly, etc., is not a danger.

The radiation type that is Tritium will literally not penetrate human skin. Which makes it safe for us. In fact, a Russian Vostok I have (396778) with H3 Tritium states in the user manual that the watch is safe for disposal in regular trash. Well, it is not likely for me to ever do that, but they make the point that the H3 in the watch is not a hazard.

[Andad]

Wow!

Great pix.

Why even consider buying new?

[thedudde35]

Hello folks
Insert bezel for Rolex triple 6 mark 1 (1982) is made in aluminium or bakelite?
Thx in adavnce

[faimag]

Originally Posted by JePro

Does Tritium emits even a low amount of radiation? I like the look of a patinated tritium but i'm afraid i'm exposing myself to some radiation in the process.

Tritium emits low energy beta rays that can't penetrate the skin. Given the last batch of T<25 dials where produced in the late 1990s and the half-life is 12.5 yrs, you should be perfectly fine

[Tazzz]

Hi folks. I’m new to RF. Where should I go to sell 168000 triple zero. Any recommendations or suggestions. Thank you.

[subprimero]

For the masses, a negative. For the collector, a positive.

[Tools]

A tritium dial is an era designator, not really a "rather have this or that".

If you want a pre-98 watch, that's what you get, post 98 and you don't get it. I don't see it as a tritium vs non-tritium consideration.

[BOA]

Sourcing matching tritium hands is difficult, but sooner or later, I hope to make this one right.

[Alcan]

Originally Posted by kanton1

Is have a Tritium Dial more of a pro or con for the masses?

The "masses" wouldn't recognize a Rolex with a tritium dial if you smacked them in the face with one.

My 1950's Tudor, on the other hand......

[HogwldFLTR]

Tritium is still being used; I love it. Actually wearing the top one (T<25) right now. If I had my way Rolex would get their crap together and engineer the use of Tritium in a unique way. I really am not a fan of Super-Luminova, fwiw. I thinks it's utter horse pucky the way they show their 15min lume on their website. Total misrepresentation. But that's just me.

[giruto]

Originally Posted by Tools

A tritium dial is an era designator, not really a "rather have this or that".

If you want a pre-98 watch, that's what you get, post 98 and you don't get it. I don't see it as a tritium vs non-tritium consideration.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk