well, for one; your'e in Singapore. This elevates chances of your watch being a fake exponentially short of it being purchased at an AD. I will stop there as you need to unscrew the back for the real story. If its real then get a new dial for it...
Thanks,
Randy

 

....If its real then get a new dial for it...
Thanks,
Randy

Meaning: could be an older tritium lumed SD, and the trit is dead.

-ben

 

Hi All

I've just bought this pre-owned but mint condition owned Rolex Sea Dweller watch recently from a reliable and established shop. The condition of the watch is great but it does not glow in the dark!

I wonder if anyone can tell me why the lume of my pre-owned Rolex Sea Dweller is so low? What should I do to increase the lume? Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

Does it say "Swiss Made" around the 6 o'clock marker, or does it say something like T>50, etc.

If it is the latter, the lume is tritium, which Rolex used to use until roughly 5 years ago. Tritium loses it's luminosity after about 12 years or so.

 

Hi

If the bottom of the dial says " Swiss-T<25 " then its a tritium dial and do not get it replaced by a new dial as you will devalue the watch tritium burns out after a few years and modern Rolex now use "lithium".

Edit- i meant luminova

Martin

 

I think Rolex use Luminova/SuperLuminova now. Lithium is a highly flammable metal.

 

I think Rolex use Luminova/SuperLuminova now.

Correct.

-ben

 

Question. Someone indicated the older lume material had anvexpected lume life of @ 12 years. What is the expected life of the current Rolex lume material?

 

In theory Super-LumiNova does not age. It is the brand name of a strontium-aluminate which is not radioactive. However it does have to be protected against water/humidity as this degrades its light emitting qualities. Tritium degrades because it is a radio active material and its half life is just over 12 years. The same goes for the really old Radium dials and hands, with the difference that Radium's half life is around 1602 years.

 

Thanks, does Super-LumiNova glow as bright as Tritium?

 

Not sure what is on my 1963 Baby Ben clock, but I can read it just before first light in the morning and never had to charge it.

Wish my watches glowed so well!

- GregB

 

That'll be Radium then. You may want to read this. This is why the military issue watches always hat a big R (or T) on the dial: to make sure the guys in the repair shop knew what they were dealing with.

 

It does imo. Have a look at an Omega Seamaster, a Deepsea or an Ecozilla ... But unlike Tritium or any other radioactive compound it needs charging with light beforehand.

NB. The only really safe way of using Tritium is GTLS developed by mb microtec in Switzerland and used in Traser watches.

 

Thanks again. I have two Omegas, a Seiko and a Citizen and have been very happy with the lume. About an hour ago, I put a deposit down on an M series Sub LV.

 

Ah! Thank you!

I haven't figured out how to post pics (is there a way without having to upload the pix to another site first?), but the Baby Ben has a nice, clean functional face with a textured background not unlike the new PO.

- GregB

 

Swiss - T < 25 means the Tritium radiates with less than 25 milli-Curie (equivalent to 925 MBq). The S serial dates it between 1993 and 1995.

Edit: my recommendation depends on what you want. If you want to keep the potential vintage value of the watch under no circumstances get a new dial. Just live with the original and enjoy it. the lume will change colour over time and get a beautiful vintage patina. If you want a watch you can always read in the dark get a new dial at the next service.
Personally I'd keep it original and I'd get some other watch for the nightshift. (In this case remember to always specify that you do not want a new dial or hands when you give it to a Rolex AD or an RSC. Otherwise they will just do it. Same as they almost always polish up the case ...)

 

I have a rolex Sub that I received as a gift in 1991 with the tritium dial / hands. I never intend to sell this watch, so I had no problem changing the dial / hands so I could read what time it is at night. The new hands also look slightly different (more elegant, less blocky) as the lume strip is thinner. Overall, I am very happy I did this.

 

This thread's been very educational. Now I know why the lume on my Tudor is dead, though it doesn't have "T < 25" anywhere on it. I don't know the exact age of the watch...all it says is "Swiss" below the 6 o' clock marker.

 

I at least have never seen a Tudor with with the "T < 25". This may be because Tudor didn't use it or because of my limited experience.

 

My 13 yr. old Submariner has never really been a torch, even when new.