Rolex Super Luminova useless after 2 years

[ro-lex]

Is this normal ?..On my TT Sub 2007..it becomes brilliant after being in daylight, but within 15 mins in dull light it has no lume left, so at night there is absolutely nothing to be seen.

[rkammer]

Originally Posted by ro-lex

Is this normal ?..On my TT Sub 2007..it becomes brilliant after being in daylight, but within 15 mins in dull light it has no lume left, so at night there is absolutely nothing to be seen.

Hmmm, not good. I have a 14060 from 2003 and it still glows brightly after exposure to light. The glow does diminish in the dark but, the dial and hands are still readable 4 or 5 hours later. Did you buy your TT brand new?

[Jason71]

Suposedly, superluminova does not degrade over time like the old tritium. It does seem like my older watches do not glow as brightly after an hour or two. I would try this test if I were you:

Take your watch and keep it under a fluorescent light bulb for 5 minutes before going to bed. Wear your watch to bed. If you wake up from time to time during the night (like I do) then check the luminosity at that time. (since your eyes will be adjusted to the darkness)

I bet that you will be able to see the luminosity a bit better and read the time.

[ro-lex]

Thanks all, not bought new, only a recent purchase , and Rolex refuse to say date it was sold , (Data protection excuse ...had same response in past trying to find when another Rolex was last serviced) or I would have tried under Warranty. I will try florescent bulb test and see if any sign !

[rkammer]

Originally Posted by ro-lex

Thanks all, not bought new, only a recent purchase , and Rolex refuse to say date it was sold , (Data protection excuse ...had same response in past trying to find when another Rolex was last serviced) or I would have tried under Warranty. I will try florescent bulb test and see if any sign !

Take a look at the very bottom of the dial. Here is what you should read:

1) SWISS - T <25

OR

2) SWISS

OR

3) SWISS MADE

If you see #1 your watch was made prior to about 1999 and used Tritium for illumination and the tritium has long since worn out.
If you see #2 your watch was made about 1999 or 2000 and had Luminova and won't glow as brightly as the newer ones but should still glow.
If you see #3 your watch has Super Luminova and should still glow brightly.

Let us know which you have.

[BASSETHOUNDS]

Doesn't sound good , any way with my F-reg ( thin hands ) SS.Daytona I never saw what time it was after dark . lume is absolutely useless on that watch , superluminova or not . I have seen other Daytona's with "fat hands" they do seem a bit better but not that much better .

[jrssv]

I keep a Surefire flashlight by my bed. I shine it close to my watch for a minute or two before turning out the light. My 2005 LV is good until I get up at 6:00. I don't think it gets enough light on cloudy days or under a shirt sleeve. Now if I could lounge on the beach all day I bet it would be different.

[ro-lex]

Hello all , its "SWISS MADE" 2007 Serial no Z259xxx thanks for all advice

[smc]

Moisture will degrade Super Luminova. Pretty much anything else (light/air etc) will not. Is it possible that it got wet/humid inside?

SMCx

[Nick1959]

I am not big fan of rolex luminova. So I end up taking my Luminox to bed with me

[R1@160@alltimes]

I have no issues with Rolex lume.

[RsqVet]

I would take tritium any day over luminova, I do not get much readable time out of mine and worse all the random times I go to read it it seems even weaker.

[DanP]

Originally Posted by R1@160@alltimes

I have no issues with Rolex lume.

X2 Same school.
Or Havent yet so far

Dan

[Bullyterrier]

I don't think the lume is as good on my subs than my old OMP or my citizen diver. But then again the maxi dial on my LV is better than my sub non date.

[Sub'erman]

Had my 16613 Blues brother tritium-dial in the vault for a year. I thought that the tritium was dead, but surpricingly it has regained its lume and is readable during the night...

My Sub 14060 from 92 is still luming after some convincing LED-light exposion...
My 16610, GMT II C and SD haven't changed and are still Superluminating...

Regards

SK

[tinstar]

Originally Posted by jrssv

I keep a Surefire flashlight by my bed. I shine it close to my watch for a minute or two before turning out the light. My 2005 LV is good until I get up at 6:00. I don't think it gets enough light on cloudy days or under a shirt sleeve. Now if I could lounge on the beach all day I bet it would be different.

That's funny!

I thought I was the only one that did that Surefire trick!

[tinstar]

Originally Posted by rsqvet

i would take tritium any day over luminova, i do not get much readable time out of mine and worse all the random times i go to read it it seems even weaker.

x2

[JeffCB]

Confused by some of the responses. I have an "X-series" Exp 2 with a tritium dial (T<25) and the glow is continuous regardless of how recently it was exposed to light. Probably not as bright as when it was new but still quite readable. I believe that tritium "glows" naturally as it burns-down its half-life, unlike Super-Lume which absorbs and then slowly releases light. Am I correct?

Jeff B
Exp 2 - 90s vintage (on a Nato now - sorry JJ)
Air King - 80s vintage (wife wears it - looks good!)
G-Shock G2300B-1V (chain saw, paint stripping, etc.)
Seiko 6139-6002 (original owner - worn rarely)
Bovet Freres - probably early 50s (father's - worn rarely

[vitix]

Originally Posted by rkammer

Take a look at the very bottom of the dial. Here is what you should read:

1) SWISS - T <25

OR

2) SWISS

OR

3) SWISS MADE

If you see #1 your watch was made prior to about 1999 and used Tritium for illumination and the tritium has long since worn out.
If you see #2 your watch was made about 1999 or 2000 and had Luminova and won't glow as brightly as the newer ones but should still glow.
If you see #3 your watch has Super Luminova and should still glow brightly.

Let us know which you have.

wow... how do you know all this stuffs.....

[rkammer]

Originally Posted by vitix

wow... how do you know all this stuffs.....

I read lots of posts and use the search engine frequently.

[BlackpoolRolexCoaste]

Originally Posted by Nick1959

I am not big fan of rolex luminova. So I end up taking my Luminox to bed with me

x2
I wear a traser to bed for the same reason.

[Blue Lantern]

Instead of starting a new thread, I wanted to say that on my 14060M, the lume on the dial and hands seems to be a little brighter than the pearl. I wonder if that's common?