Why are most 5513 Maxi Mk1 plots so whitish?

[Filipão]

Any thoughts and/or scientific facts?

Some pictures taken with diverse lightings:

[mountainjogger]

Wondered this also. Curious to see responses.

[RFC]

This is what online dealer Bulang & Sons said to me. It seems they sell maxi matte dial 5513’s more than other variants. “The patina has to do with the material of the tritium, different compounds are used. Tritium is actually bleached by UV light, so if you see watches with very dark tritium they are often not worn outside for extended periods of time.
If you would wear them outside in the summer, it could actually turn the plots into white again.”

[1665fan]

This one has some nice patina….


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[RFC]

Originally Posted by 1665fan

This one has some nice patina….


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Killer! I like.

[Filipão]

Originally Posted by 1665fan

This one has some nice patina….

Outstanding!

But not thread related?

[Filipão]

Originally Posted by RFC

This is what online dealer Bulang & Sons said to me. It seems they sell maxi matte dial 5513’s more than other variants. “The patina has to do with the material of the tritium, different compounds are used. Tritium is actually bleached by UV light, so if you see watches with very dark tritium they are often not worn outside for extended periods of time.
If you would wear them outside in the summer, it could actually turn the plots into white again.”

Thank you, I've read/heard about this theory too.

But are the great majority of MK1's out in the sun all the time?

Mine is not, I wear it not more than once a month.

[mountainjogger]

Originally Posted by Filipão

Thank you, I've read/heard about this theory too.

But are the great majority of MK1's out in the sun all the time?

Mine is not, I wear it not more than once a month.

Put differently, why would MK1's get less sun than other dials?

[Filipão]

Originally Posted by mountainjogger

Put differently, why would MK1's get less sun than other dials?

Ah... so much better! Precisely.

English must be your native language, I guess!

[mountainjogger]

Originally Posted by Filipão

Ah... so much better! Precisely.

English must be your native language, I guess!

Yes. Some days that is fortunate. Some days not.

But back to your point, I agree that the more sun for MK1 dials explanation holds no water for me. Must be a chemical issue with either the lume or the dial, or both interacting.

[Dan S]

Not just MK1, pre-Comex also IMO, frequently very pale yellow.

[illiguy]

Originally Posted by Filipão

Any thoughts and/or scientific facts?

Some pictures taken with diverse lightings:

OP - Beautiful watch. I’ve noticed this also. I like the aesthetic of the lighter patina and therefore find the Mark I the 5513 variant to own.