U series 16520 with SEL??

[Matthewmayer]

Hi all I’m looking to get U series zenith Daytona 16520. It’s late U series set, U9xxxxx. But it comes with SEL. From my understanding is that SEL only happen from A series onwards. Dealer claims it’s all original to the watch. End links and bracelets are not service parts, and there may be some overlapping as it’s a very late U series set sold in 1999. Have anyone encountered something like that?

Also since it’s a late U series, how I can be sure it’s a real tritium dial and not a tritium-nova dial? Like a lot of late U series Tdials with luminova markers. Really appreciate any inputs thanks!

[swish77]

Originally Posted by Matthewmayer

Hi all I’m looking to get U series zenith Daytona 16520. It’s late U series set, U9xxxxx. But it comes with SEL. From my understanding is that SEL only happen from A series onwards. Dealer claims it’s all original to the watch. End links and bracelets are not service parts, and there may be some overlapping as it’s a very late U series set sold in 1999. Have anyone encountered something like that?

Also since it’s a late U series, how I can be sure it’s a real tritium dial and not a tritium-nova dial? Like a lot of late U series Tdials with luminova markers. Really appreciate any inputs thanks!

Would be unusual to have an SEL bracelet, but it's possible.

As for your question about the dial ... just shine a UV/blacklight on it. If it lights up green like a torch, it's luminova. If it's white-ish and quickly fades, it's tritium.

Shouldn't really be an issue, though. My understanding is that the quirky luminova dials that are still stamped "T" for tritium were only on certain service dials, but maybe I'm wrong. Either way, follow the blacklight trick and you'll know for sure.

[Tools]

An SEL for the later 16520 Daytonas would be a 78390A, and have a stamped clasp, not the later billet clasp found on the 2000 and later 16520's.

As to tritium or Luminova, any light on a Luminova dial will excite it, you don't need anything exotic. Tritium excited paint is not photoluminescent so a few seconds of glow is meaningless.

[Matthewmayer]

Originally Posted by swish77

Would be unusual to have an SEL bracelet, but it's possible.

As for your question about the dial ... just shine a UV/blacklight on it. If it lights up green like a torch, it's luminova. If it's white-ish and quickly fades, it's tritium.

Shouldn't really be an issue, though. My understanding is that the quirky luminova dials that are still stamped "T" for tritium were only on certain service dials, but maybe I'm wrong. Either way, follow the blacklight trick and you'll know for sure.

So it means it can be totally legit for the U series Daytona with original SEL? I really couldn’t find any information on that.

[athom]

A "U serial" 16520 with SEL is quite seldom but not impossible...I crossed one some days ago sold by a famous dealer from the US

[Matthewmayer]

Originally Posted by athom

A "U serial" 16520 with SEL is quite seldom but not impossible...I crossed one some days ago sold by a famous dealer from the US

Thanks for confirming!!