Rolex 1680 pearl lume on bezel

[tquieng]

My 1680 sub bezel pearl glow with lifht but the dial is gone-? Did Rolex make these bezel pearl different from the dial? My watch is circa 1979- and the pearl looks whiter than the dial tridium

[Dan S]

What do you mean the pearl glows? In response to UV? Just in a dark room by itself? Let's see some photos.

[tquieng]

Looks like the pearl is not tridium- shine a light and it glows just like modern sub- is it common for Rolex to replace these with modern bezel during service?

[BrazenC5]

Just speculation without photos, but you may have a later service replacement insert. If you post photos, it be more helpful to understand what you may have.

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[Dan S]

Originally Posted by tquieng

Looks like the pearl is not tridium- shine a light and it glows just like modern sub- is it common for Rolex to replace these with modern bezel during service?

Yes, Rolex will often replace the bezel insert. Again, post photos.

[77T]

Originally Posted by tquieng

Looks like the pearl is not tridium- shine a light and it glows just like modern sub- is it common for Rolex to replace these with modern bezel during service?

Rolex wouldn’t likely replace just a pearl- they ordinarily replace the entire bezel insert.

There are many variations on your question:

An owner may have had just a Pearl replaced by an independent watchmaker (not Rolex). In this case, the insert numbers would comport with the era of the serial number.

Owner had entire bezel replaced due to damage (might be Rolex, might not). In this case, if the replacement was done several years after purchasing, the insert numbers would not comport)

Same case if just the insert was replaced due to damage.

If you post good pictures and the leading four characters of the serial number then the guessing can be replaced with actual answers.


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[Fredrik]

The original pearl in my -78 1680 disintegrated a few years ago, RSC replaced it with a luminova pearl. I payed about $50 in total. They had replacement pearls on site and they just snap in.

[Jack550]

it seems the pearl is not tridium