Should I be concerned about the authenticity of this vintage Rolex?

[erling]

Hello friends on the forum! I bought this vintage Rolex Oyster (ref 1500) recently. It had been authenticitated by my local AD. I have paper to proof so. But some days ago I noticed: There was a faint lume/glow on the dial. As my Submariner from 1992 has stopped glowing some years ago, I raised my eyebrows. Should this vintage watch still glow? Then I thought: Yes of course it should. The watches in 1973 used radium/tritium which make them glow still today. I did some reading about this. And now to the point: The dial should be marked at the 6 o´clock position: “Swiss T” or “T Swiss T”. (am I right?) But the dial on my watch only says: “Swiss made” How concerned should I be? The AD has taken a look at it and I have his paper about it being authentic. Here are pictures of the watch.

[erling]

Here is a picture of the watch

[Old Expat Beast]

Service dial? What serial?

[rolfiz]

From what year does this watch date? Is it 1973?

The correct markings for a dial from 1973 would be "Swiss T - < 25" or "T Swiss T".

Either of those markings would be period correct. They were placed on the dial to inform of the radioactive material.

However, Rolex stopped used that stamping and started using "Swiss Made" in 2000.

How would your dial from 1973 have the markings of a watch from 2000?

Simple... your dial is a replacement "Service" dial. Often times when you send a vintage watch into Rolex for servicing, if the dial is damaged or dirty, you can ask them to swap the dial with a modern period correct reproduction dial. You can also tell them to leave the original dial should you prefer it.

As long as Rolex has a dial on hand and it's not a unique dial, they will replace it with a modern one stamped "Swiss Made", as it will use Superluminova an not tritium.

[erling]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Service dial? What serial?

ser no: 3912404

[erling]

Originally Posted by rolfiz

From what year does this watch date? Is it 1973?

The correct markings for a dial from 1973 would be "Swiss T - < 25" or "T Swiss T".

Either of those markings would be period correct. They were placed on the dial to inform of the radioactive material.

However, Rolex stopped used that stamping and started using "Swiss Made" in 2000.

How would your dial from 1973 have the markings of a watch from 2000?

Simple... your dial is a replacement "Service" dial. Often times when you send a vintage watch into Rolex for servicing, if the dial is damaged or dirty, you can ask them to swap the dial with a modern period correct reproduction dial. You can also tell them to leave the original dial should you prefer it.

As long as Rolex has a dial on hand and it's not a unique dial, they will replace it with a modern one stamped "Swiss Made", as it will use Superluminova an not tritium.

Thanks !

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by erling

ser no: 3912404

So, mid 1970s watch with post-2000 dial. It's still 'authentic' Rolex, hence your AD's piece of paper.

[erling]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

So, mid 1970s watch with post-2000 dial. It's still 'authentic' Rolex, hence your AD's piece of paper.

Thanks!

[crowncollection]

service dial