16600 Patina

[B.F. Pigeon]

Hi Everybody,

I am currently looking for an early nineties 16600 and found the below example

Is the tritium really capable to turn into this fine ochre or could this be relumed during service? I think it is beautiful but perhaps also too good to be true.



Any thoughts or insights?

Thanks,

Bill

[swish77]

Yes, that patina is quite possible. I used to own one that looked similar (see below). Ask for a UV photo of the dial and hands. That could give you some clues.

However, on the surface, with that one photo, nothing jumps out as an obvious relume.

[herts9]

Tritium from that time does behave like that



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[B.F. Pigeon]

Originally Posted by swish77

Yes, that patina is quite possible. I used to own one that looked similar (see below). Ask for a UV photo of the dial and hands. That could give you some clues.

However, on the surface, with that one photo, nothing jumps out as an obvious relume.

Very fine example indeed. Why did you let it go?

[B.F. Pigeon]

Originally Posted by herts9

Tritium from that time does behave like that



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Nice, what year is this watch?

[swish77]

Originally Posted by B.F. Pigeon

Very fine example indeed. Why did you let it go?

I do wish I still had that 16600, but I needed the money for another watch. I have a strict watch limit. If one comes in, one needs to leave.

[B.F. Pigeon]

Originally Posted by swish77

I do wish I still had that 16600, but I needed the money for another watch. I have a strict watch limit. If one comes in, one needs to leave.

Aha, I understand. I have the same thing; it helps keeping all under control.

[herts9]

Originally Posted by B.F. Pigeon

Nice, what year is this watch?

Thanks! This one was a 1994.

[Steed]

As a contrast my 1994 16600 has hardly mellowed at all and still glows weakly at night. Interesting how much difference there is between these tritium dials.


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[B.F. Pigeon]

Originally Posted by Steed

As a contrast my 1994 16600 has hardly mellowed at all and still glows weakly at night. Interesting how much difference there is between these tritium dials.


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So, every individual watch’s tritium responds differently? It has nothing to do with batch or production year? Or will every watch, given te exact same circumstances, colour somewhat similar?

[spare]

Originally Posted by B.F. Pigeon

So, every individual watch’s tritium responds differently? It has nothing to do with batch or production year? Or will every watch, given te exact same circumstances, colour somewhat similar?

No, no way of predicting how the lume will age. Watches from similar periods can display totally different aged lume.
Whether this can be related to different factories, the way they were displayed to UV light, or totally different factors, no one knows for sure;

[Dr.Stu]

Originally Posted by B.F. Pigeon

Hi Everybody,

I am currently looking for an early nineties 16600 and found the below example

Is the tritium really capable to turn into this fine ochre or could this be relumed during service? I think it is beautiful but perhaps also too good to be true.



Any thoughts or insights?

Thanks,

Bill

I am still surprised at the great variability in the patina variation of watches that are the same age/reference. Makes me think that not only ambient conditions that the watch lived in (temp., humidty, light exposure, etc.) are important, but also variation in the lume lots and even ambient conditions at the time of manufacture/application are also important.

That said, that 16600 is a particularly beautiful patina IMHO. I know it almost looks too good to be true, but it almost looks like too perfect a job for it to be a relume. (If that makes any sense.) Is there any service history on the watch?

[strafer_kid]

Originally Posted by B.F. Pigeon

Hi Everybody,

I am currently looking for an early nineties 16600 and found the below example

Is the tritium really capable to turn into this fine ochre or could this be relumed during service? I think it is beautiful but perhaps also too good to be true.



Any thoughts or insights?

Thanks,

Bill

Looks nice!

[rushca01]

I always see more patina on watches that didn’t get much wrist time. The OP’s example looks very fresh. I’ve read reports that the tritium yellows more when tucked away out of the sun/uv.

[Tavli3]

Patina is a strange and mysterious thing with surprisingly very little definitive information about it. I’ve been trying to find out unsuccessfully if there is a time limit as to when tritium can develop patina. In other words if a dial does not develop patina in say 30 or 40 years does that mean it will never develop it or do all tritium develop patina eventually??


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[FrenchBigCrown]

Originally Posted by B.F. Pigeon

Hi Everybody,

I am currently looking for an early nineties 16600 and found the below example

Is the tritium really capable to turn into this fine ochre or could this be relumed during service? I think it is beautiful but perhaps also too good to be true.



Any thoughts or insights?

Thanks,

Bill

That's gorgeous.

[B.F. Pigeon]

Originally Posted by Dr.Stu

That said, that 16600 is a particularly beautiful patina IMHO. I know it almost looks too good to be true, but it almost looks like too perfect a job for it to be a relume. (If that makes any sense.) Is there any service history on the watch?

I understood that it was never serviced and have no reason to doubt the info. However, I do agree with you; it almost looks to perfect. Frankly, at first I thought the hands were a shade to bright as compared to the indices. But having seen the other examples posted in this thread, it might be possible this is just one of these extraordinary items.

[B.F. Pigeon]

Originally Posted by FrenchBigCrown

That's gorgeous.

It's a very beautiful watch indeed. Alas, I had misunderstood the price so had to pass. The hunt however is still on!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by B.F. Pigeon

So, every individual watch’s tritium responds differently? It has nothing to do with batch or production year? Or will every watch, given te exact same circumstances, colour somewhat similar?

Exactly that and today because of many wanting patina on dials and some willing to pay extra for these dials. Many sellers have logged in to this patina stuff, and many dials/hands and inserts are now artificially aged by varies means.

[Lamontsanders]

My image won't load and this isn't apples to apples but I have a 666 from '84 with similar patina. It's possible.

[gt0279a]

I always see Rolex's with perfect aged lume like that in Hong Kong