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KFP55 · 29 July 2019, 01:03 AM

I’ve heard mixed things on whether UV exposure increases or slows down dial/lume/bezel patina. Some say sticking the watch in a safe speeds it along, which makes no sense to me...can anyone explain if this is true and what would make it so?

I recently acquired a 16710 with Tritium lume, which I understand is the best lume to transition to the desired creamy color over time. It’s 20 years old and has begun to transition, but barely lights up even with direct sun exposure. Is there any way to restore the lume but keep the aged color?

I also have a couple extra bezels and was thinking I could leave one in a window to fade over time and keep another new-looking to have options. Would this work? If I were to leave the watch in a window rather than in a dark safe, would the dial and lume age more quickly?

padi56 · 29 July 2019, 01:19 AM

Tritium dials have a half life of around 12 years so expect now your dial will have little or no lume,and no real way of regaining any lume, except change the dial to Luminover which would not be the best to do. And direct UV light will fade most all things if exposed long enough could be years rather than months.

stevedssd · 29 July 2019, 04:42 AM

As above you either have a Tritium dial with poor/no lume but patina....or replace with a luminova dial and have lume, no patina and a devalued watch.

Tritium dial patina varies a lot but mine get a bit darker when stored away and get lighter again when worn for a while.

DramaTurtle · 29 July 2019, 04:49 AM

Sunlight bleaches old tritium, which annoys me. I choose not to wear my tritium pieces on especially sunny days.

bradyb · 29 July 2019, 06:34 AM

As other have mentioned, yellowing or discoloring (patina!) of tritium markers seems to be most pronounced on dials that haven't seen much sun exposure (safe queens), but this isn't always true from my experience.

And a 16710 bezel will likely fade if left outside in the sun, but might take a long time.

29 July 2019, 01:03 AM	#1
KFP55 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Needham, MA Posts: 173	Question on dial/bezel patina I’ve heard mixed things on whether UV exposure increases or slows down dial/lume/bezel patina. Some say sticking the watch in a safe speeds it along, which makes no sense to me...can anyone explain if this is true and what would make it so? I recently acquired a 16710 with Tritium lume, which I understand is the best lume to transition to the desired creamy color over time. It’s 20 years old and has begun to transition, but barely lights up even with direct sun exposure. Is there any way to restore the lume but keep the aged color? I also have a couple extra bezels and was thinking I could leave one in a window to fade over time and keep another new-looking to have options. Would this work? If I were to leave the watch in a window rather than in a dark safe, would the dial and lume age more quickly? __________________ 116710 LN l 16710 Pepsi l 216570 Polar

29 July 2019, 01:19 AM	#2
padi56 "TRF" Life Patron Join Date: Jun 2005 Real Name: Peter Location: Llanfairpwllgwyng Watch: ing you. Posts: 53,062	Tritium dials have a half life of around 12 years so expect now your dial will have little or no lume,and no real way of regaining any lume, except change the dial to Luminover which would not be the best to do. And direct UV light will fade most all things if exposed long enough could be years rather than months. __________________ ICom Pro3 All posts are my own opinion and my opinion only. "The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop. Now is the only time you actually own the time, Place no faith in time, for the clock may soon be still for ever." Good Judgement comes from experience,experience comes from Bad Judgement,.Buy quality, cry once; buy cheap, cry again and again. www.mc0yad.club Second in command CEO and left handed watch winder

29 July 2019, 04:42 AM	#3
stevedssd "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: UK Posts: 2,205	As above you either have a Tritium dial with poor/no lume but patina....or replace with a luminova dial and have lume, no patina and a devalued watch. Tritium dial patina varies a lot but mine get a bit darker when stored away and get lighter again when worn for a while.

29 July 2019, 06:34 AM	#5
bradyb "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2010 Real Name: Brady Location: Austin, TX Watch: GMT Posts: 979	As other have mentioned, yellowing or discoloring (patina!) of tritium markers seems to be most pronounced on dials that haven't seen much sun exposure (safe queens), but this isn't always true from my experience. And a 16710 bezel will likely fade if left outside in the sun, but might take a long time.

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