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Clay · 7 July 2011, 09:40 PM

Does the sun lighten or darken the white markers on a Tritium dial???

Frogman4me · 7 July 2011, 09:43 PM

From what I gathered and believe is that the sunlight lightens the markers and hands. I think most would agree. One thing that has been documented that I found interesting is that even today there can be a small effect of color change from the sunlight or lack there of.

roh123 · 7 July 2011, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frogman4me

From what I gathered and believe is that the sunlight lightens the markers and hands. I think most would agree.

Agree, lighten

PhilM · 7 July 2011, 10:08 PM

Had a few 5513 over the last couple of years, and the one that was the whitest \ lightest markers was the one that had been worn daily by it's owner in sunny Florida

learningtofly · 7 July 2011, 10:10 PM

Yes, lightens. In fact, safe queens can be something of a delight on the patina front!

RLX-lvr · 7 July 2011, 10:32 PM

Lightens.

You usually see safe queens with heavy (darker) patina.

Jagatai · 7 July 2011, 11:39 PM

So I have a 67 Safe Queen 5512 with dark patina on the lumes. (see my tiny pic to the left). I have been wearing it every other day, will the sunlight lighten already dark lumes?

PhilM · 7 July 2011, 11:41 PM

It should lighten it slightly, but it would be good to see some better pics, expecially if you have them of the watch when you first took it out of the safe and how it is now.

Jagatai · 7 July 2011, 11:47 PM

Thank you Phil! I need to work on my camera skills this summer.
I'll def post nice big pics.

Let me see if I can dig up Eric's photos. I'll post them.

Jagatai · 7 July 2011, 11:54 PM

Here is my 5512, photo by Eric at 10pastten.com

Uhm Having trouble attaching the jpg to my post.

PhilM · 8 July 2011, 12:09 AM

That is a great looking 5512

BTW Have linked it for you, all you need to do is copy the img code and then paste it in you post, job done

Jagatai · 8 July 2011, 12:10 AM

Thanks Phil. Been wearing only for about 2 months, every other day.
Will take my own photos very soon. Its now on a black NATO cordovan.

dddrees · 8 July 2011, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilM

That is a great looking 5512

BTW Have linked it for you, all you need to do is copy the img code and then paste it in you post, job done

Great looking watch!!!

onkyo · 8 July 2011, 02:19 AM

Lightens....

Somewhere I saw a post recently of a before and after shot of a vintage watch put in a safe for a while. Lume got darker.

PhilM · 8 July 2011, 02:32 AM

Question for me now is what are you going to buy

Jagatai · 8 July 2011, 04:58 AM

so Pav is the lightening or darkening of the lume reversible? if I put awaymy superwhite maxi III it may get darker?

thanks

mannyv11 · 8 July 2011, 05:29 AM

lightens all the way

PhilM · 8 July 2011, 05:56 AM

While there is no concrete answer, this is the general understanding

HL65 · 8 July 2011, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onkyo

Lightens....

Somewhere I saw a post recently of a before and after shot of a vintage watch put in a safe for a while. Lume got darker.

Pav- you saw the same before and after of a 1665 Comex. Went to safe for a long visit- came out dark patina. After several weeks in sun and out of the safe- it lightened substantially. In fact- Jedly posted here for us a while back...

ndb80 · 8 July 2011, 09:38 AM

Solution could be as crazy as to leave a small LED torch in safety box and change batteries say 1ce per month, so they are never in total darkness?

Lol-x · 8 July 2011, 09:42 AM

I'm wearing my 1655 to get to lighten up.....and incidentally I love wearing it too

HL65 · 8 July 2011, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lol-x

I'm wearing my 1655 to get to lighten up.....and incidentally I love wearing it too

Show us the goods!!

onkyo · 8 July 2011, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

Pav- you saw the same before and after of a 1665 Comex. Went to safe for a long visit- came out dark patina. After several weeks in sun and out of the safe- it lightened substantially. In fact- Jedly posted here for us a while back...

Thanks for that Ken.

.... I did not know it lightened significantly after re-exposure to sun.

It seems to be a dynamic process. Gotta love vintage.

onkyo · 8 July 2011, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jagatai

so Pav is the lightening or darkening of the lume reversible? if I put awaymy superwhite maxi III it may get darker?

thanks

See Kens answer above....

greekbum · 8 July 2011, 12:44 PM

I can confirm 100% that after sitting in my safe for as little as 8 months 1 of my mid 70's GMT's that was bright white got more egg color. The hands however did not go to the same shade and are still very white. I am going to set up a light box and stick it in there for the next 6 months and see if it gets white again. I can tell you I have bought more than I can count watches that people wore everyday in the Florida sun and all were for the most part still white. All of the watches I bought that sat in safe deposit boxes,dressers,etc were not white but egg shell to even yellow.

kyle L · 8 July 2011, 12:46 PM

Hmm...maybe I should stick my GMT in the bank for a year!

toph · 8 July 2011, 12:49 PM

yes lighten, usually the least dark dials are ones that have been worn regularly

J.Wong · 8 July 2011, 05:25 PM

I have also heard that too much sun exposure will damages the dial and its indices. Could this be a myth?

Although I wear my pieces all the time, weather its sunny, or when its raining cats and dogs, it seems to hold up fine...

bb3188 · 8 July 2011, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toph

yes lighten, usually the least dark dials are ones that have been worn regularly

yup, there are also some dark (usually a mustardly coloured) lume type which is quite prevalent in tropical climates (ie asia)..... It may be due to the odd exposure to humidity over the years as the crown is periodically unlocked as you do when winding etc etc
they are quite nice as well.....

Yeager · 9 July 2011, 12:24 PM

It lightens, but also fades the black of the dial...so be careful

7 July 2011, 09:40 PM	#1
Clay Banned Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Up a tree Posts: 4,001	So what is the consensus here??? Does the sun lighten or darken the white markers on a Tritium dial???

7 July 2011, 10:10 PM	#5
learningtofly 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Real Name: Tony Location: London, England Watch: Hmmm... Posts: 2,483	Yes, lightens. In fact, safe queens can be something of a delight on the patina front! __________________ Tony

7 July 2011, 11:39 PM	#7
Jagatai "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Real Name: Philip Location: NY Posts: 851	Follow up question So I have a 67 Safe Queen 5512 with dark patina on the lumes. (see my tiny pic to the left). I have been wearing it every other day, will the sunlight lighten already dark lumes?

7 July 2011, 11:47 PM	#9
Jagatai "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Real Name: Philip Location: NY Posts: 851	Thanks! Thank you Phil! I need to work on my camera skills this summer. I'll def post nice big pics. Let me see if I can dig up Eric's photos. I'll post them.

8 July 2011, 09:42 AM	#21
Lol-x Facilitator Join Date: Nov 2005 Real Name: Steve Location: Omnipresent Posts: 33,563	I'm wearing my 1655 to get to lighten up.....and incidentally I love wearing it too __________________ *Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.* ~Abraham Lincoln Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride. ~John F. Kennedy ROLEXploitation - yeah I'm a victim

7 July 2011, 09:43 PM	#2
Frogman4me Banned Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Maryland Posts: 6,268	From what I gathered and believe is that the sunlight lightens the markers and hands. I think most would agree. One thing that has been documented that I found interesting is that even today there can be a small effect of color change from the sunlight or lack there of.

7 July 2011, 10:08 PM	#4
PhilM "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Real Name: Phil Location: London Watch: Sea-Dweller Posts: 1,765	Had a few 5513 over the last couple of years, and the one that was the whitest \ lightest markers was the one that had been worn daily by it's owner in sunny Florida

7 July 2011, 10:32 PM	#6
RLX-lvr "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Real Name: Jeff Location: Toronto Posts: 1,947	Lightens. You usually see safe queens with heavy (darker) patina.

7 July 2011, 11:41 PM	#8
PhilM "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Real Name: Phil Location: London Watch: Sea-Dweller Posts: 1,765	It should lighten it slightly, but it would be good to see some better pics, expecially if you have them of the watch when you first took it out of the safe and how it is now.

7 July 2011, 11:54 PM	#10
Jagatai "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Real Name: Philip Location: NY Posts: 851	Here is my 5512, photo by Eric at 10pastten.com Uhm Having trouble attaching the jpg to my post.

8 July 2011, 12:09 AM	#11
PhilM "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Real Name: Phil Location: London Watch: Sea-Dweller Posts: 1,765	That is a great looking 5512 BTW Have linked it for you, all you need to do is copy the img code and then paste it in you post, job done

8 July 2011, 12:10 AM	#12
Jagatai "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Real Name: Philip Location: NY Posts: 851	Thanks Phil. Been wearing only for about 2 months, every other day. Will take my own photos very soon. Its now on a black NATO cordovan.

8 July 2011, 02:19 AM	#14
onkyo Banned Join Date: Apr 2008 Real Name: Pav Location: Manhattan Posts: 11,495	Lightens.... Somewhere I saw a post recently of a before and after shot of a vintage watch put in a safe for a while. Lume got darker.

8 July 2011, 02:32 AM	#15
PhilM "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Real Name: Phil Location: London Watch: Sea-Dweller Posts: 1,765	Question for me now is what are you going to buy

8 July 2011, 04:58 AM	#16
Jagatai "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Real Name: Philip Location: NY Posts: 851	so Pav is the lightening or darkening of the lume reversible? if I put awaymy superwhite maxi III it may get darker? thanks

8 July 2011, 05:29 AM	#17
mannyv11 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Real Name: Manny Location: MA Watch: DD,Sub,GMT,Daytona Posts: 4,509	lightens all the way

8 July 2011, 05:56 AM	#18
PhilM "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Real Name: Phil Location: London Watch: Sea-Dweller Posts: 1,765	While there is no concrete answer, this is the general understanding

8 July 2011, 09:38 AM	#20
ndb80 "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Oxford UK Watch: 5512 from 1960 Posts: 139	Solution could be as crazy as to leave a small LED torch in safety box and change batteries say 1ce per month, so they are never in total darkness?

8 July 2011, 12:44 PM	#25
greekbum "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Real Name: Nikos Location: Florida Watch: Rolex GMT 16750 Posts: 8,418	I can confirm 100% that after sitting in my safe for as little as 8 months 1 of my mid 70's GMT's that was bright white got more egg color. The hands however did not go to the same shade and are still very white. I am going to set up a light box and stick it in there for the next 6 months and see if it gets white again. I can tell you I have bought more than I can count watches that people wore everyday in the Florida sun and all were for the most part still white. All of the watches I bought that sat in safe deposit boxes,dressers,etc were not white but egg shell to even yellow. __________________ Follow Me On Instagram @nickgogas Original Owner ROLEX 16750 GMT Daily Wearer For Over 13,000 Days And Counting

8 July 2011, 12:46 PM	#26
kyle L "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: USA Watch: Rolex Explorer I Posts: 10,278	Hmm...maybe I should stick my GMT in the bank for a year!

8 July 2011, 12:49 PM	#27
toph "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Real Name: ChrisTOPHer Location: Sydney Watch: Rolex, Brellum, Posts: 12,601	yes lighten, usually the least dark dials are ones that have been worn regularly __________________ "Where no counsel is the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." Member No.# 11795

8 July 2011, 05:25 PM	#28
J.Wong "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Real Name: Jon Location: Hong Kong Watch: Tudor/Rolex Divers Posts: 244	I have also heard that too much sun exposure will damages the dial and its indices. Could this be a myth? Although I wear my pieces all the time, weather its sunny, or when its raining cats and dogs, it seems to hold up fine... __________________ Member #88 Instagram : @jwlife37

9 July 2011, 12:24 PM	#30
Yeager Banned Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: America Watch: Ho Posts: 368	It lightens, but also fades the black of the dial...so be careful

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