A rare Rolex 1503 service dial with superluminova?

[Dustytrail]

Hello everyone, first post here.

I recently obtained a 1503 gilt rolex dial, but I am confused with its authenticity:
1. Dial printing and fonts look genuine and not refinished
2. Although the dial states "T Swiss Made T", the dial:s lume dots glows after shining a bright light source at it (indicating that the lume dots are superluminova). To my knowledge, Rolex may have lumed the dial that way as they don't waste parts. Also, the lume dots do not look like they were relumed
3. Although the 1500 rolex model is from the 60s and 70s, the dial appears to be a service dial as rolex dials from that era does not have "T Swiss Made T" printed at the bottom.
4. The dial feet location verifies that the dial is made for a 1570 movement. The dial feet do not appear to be modified before from another position

Bearing with these points, I would like to know if the dial I bought is authentic? I am inclined to believe that the dial is a genuine 1500 series service dial with factory superluminova lume on a "T Swiss Made T" dial.

Thank you for your help!

[GLADIATOR]

T SWISS T is Tritium used 1960 to 1998,
In my opinion your dial has been reworked and relumed with tritium.

A

[Dustytrail]

Originally Posted by GLADIATOR

T SWISS T is Tritium used 1960 to 1998,
In my opinion your dial has been reworked and relumed with tritium.

A

Thank you for replying!

What confuses me is that if it was a relumed job, then this is one of the cleanest relume job I have ever seen lol.

Another thing that confuses me is that people with tritium marking service dials could also get superluminova lume instead:
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=456788

[Dustytrail]

off to RSC during the weekends to authenticate what i've got lol

[Dustytrail]

Originally Posted by GLADIATOR

T SWISS T is Tritium used 1960 to 1998,
In my opinion your dial has been reworked and relumed with tritium.

A

thank you for replying!
it is confusing because of how some people have dials that has "t<25" printed on it, yet the lume is factory superluminova!

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=105622

I have also seen another case before where a "T Swiss Made T" dial that has superluminova dots on it, but i can't find the link

[GLADIATOR]

Originally Posted by Dustytrail

thank you for replying!
it is confusing because of how some people have dials that has "t<25" printed on it, yet the lume is factory superluminova!

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=105622

I have also seen another case before where a "T Swiss Made T" dial that has superluminova dots on it, but i can't find the link

That is because it was relumed.
You can not legally use Radium or Tritium any more, so if you relume a dial it would be a non radio-active material.
In those cases most remark the dial SWISS MADE, but I guess some just leave the old T SWISS T marking
adam

[Dustytrail]

Originally Posted by GLADIATOR

That is because it was relumed.
You can not legally use Radium or Tritium any more, so if you relume a dial it would be a non radio-active material.
In those cases most remark the dial SWISS MADE, but I guess some just leave the old T SWISS T marking
adam

Again, thank you for the valuable insight Adam. Do you think that this dial is factory original, including the lume?

[htbilgic]

How long does the lume glow after you expose it to light? If it's short (for instance, the glow disappears quickly abd dies in less than a minute), it could be the original tritium.

[Dustytrail]

Originally Posted by htbilgic

How long does the lume glow after you expose it to light? If it's short (for instance, the glow disappears quickly abd dies in less than a minute), it could be the original tritium.

Yes that is what happens when the lume is exposed to light - it lasts for a minute or so, and then it becomes non-illuminating. This made me believe that the dial may be lumed with superluminova. But aren't tritium dials supposed to glow forever and beyond a minute (ofcourse - until the tritium lume reaches its' half life and beyond)?

it feels great learning new things everyday on the rolexforums

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by Dustytrail

Yes that is what happens when the lume is exposed to light - it lasts for a minute or so, and then it becomes non-illuminating. This made me believe that the dial may be lumed with superluminova. But aren't tritium dials supposed to glow forever and beyond a minute (ofcourse - until the tritium lume reaches its' half life and beyond)?

it feels great learning new things everyday on the rolexforums

What you have there is old tritium. It does that sometimes on old watches, even as old as the 1960s.

[Dustytrail]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

What you have there is old tritium. It does that sometimes on old watches, even as old as the 1960s.

thank you for chiming in, now I know what i've got

[wcremins]

I have a Ref 1503, 18k, with a riveted bracelet (also 18k)
most of the 1503 I have seen are 14k.
any info on rarity (if any) of this 18k model