16710 U-series T<25 dial

[Marconini]

Hi,

I have 16710 U-Series with T<25 dial. Both the dial and markers glows bright in the dark, so I guess this is not tritium but rather luminova? The watch has been opened and it is certainly not a fake, so how can this be?

Do anyone know if Rolex for some reason provided T<25 dials with luminova as replacements?

Thank you in advance

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by Marconini

Hi,

I have 16710 U-Series with T<25 dial. Both the dial and markers glows bright in the dark, so I guess this is not tritium but rather luminova? The watch has been opened and it is certainly not a fake, so how can this be?

Do anyone know if Rolex for some reason provided T<25 dials with luminova as replacements?

Thank you in advance

I've heard of Rolex having T<25 dials with Luminova during the switch over (late U was right at that time period). Also could be relumed dial. FWIW, my '72 DD still glows at night but not a T<25 dial, a T SWISS T dial. Supposedly by then they were pulling back on how much Tritium was being used. So it goes. Someone else with a '73 has a watch with the hands only glowing; could be replaced hands for all I know.

[swish77]

Does it glow green or yellow? I assume it's green, therefore luminova, and it could be a correct switch-over dial from that time period. It's mentioned here as a "variant:" http://www.gmtmasterhistory.com/gmt-...ref_16710.html

[Marconini]

Thank you. I know from the certificate that the watch was sold in 1999, and the Serial nr does indicate it was a late U-Serial. So if im Lucky, this may actually mean that both markers and dial are original and not replaced?
Yes, the glow is green.

[Sublover2166]

Originally Posted by Marconini

Thank you. I know from the certificate that the watch was sold in 1999, and the Serial nr does indicate it was a late U-Serial. So if im Lucky, this may actually mean that both markers and dial are original and not replaced?
Yes, the glow is green.

Highly doubtful. Tritium has a half life. I can't recall how many years. I have a "T" serial 16613 that I bought new in 1997. Neither the hands or dial have had any glow in several years, and I have owned the watch for 18 years now. I am not sure how your watch still has lume glow? From it's age technically it should not.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Sublover2166

Highly doubtful. Tritium has a half life. I can't recall how many years. I have a "T" serial 16613 that I bought new in 1997. Neither the hands or dial have had any glow in several years, and I have owned the watch for 18 years now. I am not sure how your watch still has lume glow? From it's age technically it should not.

Simply because in that time-frame U serial around 1998/9 was the change from Tritium to Luminover,and some dials were marked Tritium but they had Luminover lume Rolex just using up the old stock dials.

[Marconini]

Originally Posted by Sublover2166

Highly doubtful. Tritium has a half life. I can't recall how many years. I have a "T" serial 16613 that I bought new in 1997. Neither the hands or dial have had any glow in several years, and I have owned the watch for 18 years now. I am not sure how your watch still has lume glow? From it's age technically it should not.

I understand. :) What I actually meant was that they may be original with luminova from the fabric, and not replaced by one of the earlier owners or during service.

[glocati]

Originally Posted by padi56

Simply because in that time-frame U serial around 1998/9 was the change from Tritium to Luminover,and some dials were marked Tritium but they had Luminover lume Rolex just using up the old stock dials.

This - Transitional era of moving to luminova from tritium. Some U series had tritium marked dials that had luminova. They are tongue in check referred to as "tritinova" dials.

My U series 16613 had ( since sold) a T marked dial but was clearly luminova.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Marconini

I understand. :) What I actually meant was that they may be original with luminova from the fabric, and not replaced by one of the earlier owners or during service.

Yes, that is likely, it is well known to have been done on originals.

A service dial would have likely been marked "Swiss" for that era..

[MattPegler]

Very strange for Rolex not to uphold their normal very high standards by not printing SWISS instead of T <25? The green indicates luminova thus Rolex have been sloppy

[padi56]

Originally Posted by MattPegler

Very strange for Rolex not to uphold their normal very high standards by not printing SWISS instead of T <25? The green indicates luminova thus Rolex have been sloppy

Its only the WIS type would even know what the T <25 stood for, or Swiss on the bottom of the dial. Or know what Tritium or Luminover was,and the WIS buyer is only a tiny proportion of Rolex sales.

[HogwldFLTR]

Ultimately tritium an Luminova behave very differently. If it starts out bright after exposure to light it is and fades through the night Luminova. If it is always the same relative brightness and doesn't fade through the night it is tritium. You should be able to tell what it is by it's performance.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Ultimately tritium an Luminova behave very differently. If it starts out bright after exposure to light it is and fades through the night Luminova. If it is always the same relative brightness and doesn't fade through the night it is tritium. You should be able to tell what it is by it's performance.

Seeing its a watch from 1998/9 if Tritium I would doubt if dial would have any glow at all.

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by padi56

Seeing its a watch from 1998/9 if Tritium I would doubt if dial would have any glow at all.

I agree, however as I mentioned the two perform quite differently so if there is any doubt they can be distinguished readily.

[trackntrail]

Since my 1996 Sea Dweller tritium dial has no glow anymore, I doubt this piece would either if it was tritium. Probably transitional luminova

[Anthony2018]

Anyone have prediction that its rarity is collectible and its price will soar?

[Chilly Coconut]

Originally Posted by Anthony2018

Anyone have prediction that its rarity is collectible and its price will soar?

What?

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Anthony2018

Anyone have prediction that its rarity is collectible and its price will soar?

Since it has been a known thing for almost 20 years, I would say that it is a non-issue.

[77T]

Isn’t it too early for drunken New Years Eve posts?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[venuswilliam]

good read

Sent from my LYA-L29 using Tapatalk