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johane · 7 September 2008, 09:46 AM

Hi
The marking on the very bottom of the face is something that has made me somewhat confused, if you can help me to clear this up it would be appriciated.

If you buy a Rolex today it says SWISS MADE and on older models it says SWISS -T<25. As I understand it, it has to do with the material used to make the hands and hour markings glow in the dark, now they use Luminova but before they used some other material (Tritium?)

When was the changeover year? I have a T-serial Explorer with the old marking but I saw a L-serial 16618 yesterday with SWISS MADE. Has the face of the 16618 been changed or did they change the system in different years for different models?

Thanks for your help

Art161 · 7 September 2008, 10:54 AM

I don't know the answer to some of your questions. It is my understanding that tritium was phased out around 1998.

Tools · 7 September 2008, 12:41 PM

We discuss the dial markings as it relates to lume a bit over on our Reference Library

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=31836

Basically, after about 1960 when radium was phased out, the dials that used tritium should have a tritium marked dial and there are a couple of variations. When Tritium was phased out in about 1998, then dials were marked Swiss for a couple of years, and then Swiss Made up until now..

I think that if you run into a 1980's dial with Swiss Made on it you probably have a watch with a Superluminova replacement dial fitted in place of the original Tritium dial.

..

hawg · 7 September 2008, 01:15 PM

I also think that T SWISS T was on the bottom of the dial for mid eighties models. This also indicated Tritium was used.

Z-Sub · 7 September 2008, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johane

Hi
The marking on the very bottom of the face is something that has made me somewhat confused, if you can help me to clear this up it would be appriciated.

If you buy a Rolex today it says SWISS MADE and on older models it says SWISS -T<25. As I understand it, it has to do with the material used to make the hands and hour markings glow in the dark, now they use Luminova but before they used some other material (Tritium?)

When was the changeover year? I have a T-serial Explorer with the old marking but I saw a L-serial 16618 yesterday with SWISS MADE. Has the face of the 16618 been changed or did they change the system in different years for different models?

Thanks for your help

L serial does not have Swiss Made on it's original dial. If it is genuine dial then it's a replacement with Superluminova as Larry has mentioned.

johane · 8 September 2008, 08:45 AM

Thanks, all much clearer now.

All the best

Parachrom · 8 September 2008, 08:56 AM

So do the current Sd have the luminova or is this only the current subs.

7 September 2008, 09:46 AM	#1
johane "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Asia Posts: 3	Face markings Hi The marking on the very bottom of the face is something that has made me somewhat confused, if you can help me to clear this up it would be appriciated. If you buy a Rolex today it says SWISS MADE and on older models it says SWISS -T<25. As I understand it, it has to do with the material used to make the hands and hour markings glow in the dark, now they use Luminova but before they used some other material (Tritium?) When was the changeover year? I have a T-serial Explorer with the old marking but I saw a L-serial 16618 yesterday with SWISS MADE. Has the face of the 16618 been changed or did they change the system in different years for different models? Thanks for your help

7 September 2008, 10:54 AM	#2
Art161 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Real Name: Art Location: San Francisco Watch: Sundial Posts: 2,266	I don't know the answer to some of your questions. It is my understanding that tritium was phased out around 1998. __________________ Rolex SS Oyster Perpetual no date, TT Datejust Member #13992 HM Power to the Superlative Panda, officially certified! HMPanda eats, shoots and leaves. Rolexers do it with perpetual movements.

7 September 2008, 12:41 PM	#3
Tools TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: May 2007 Real Name: Larry Location: Mojave Desert Watch: GMT's Posts: 43,522	We discuss the dial markings as it relates to lume a bit over on our Reference Library http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=31836 Basically, after about 1960 when radium was phased out, the dials that used tritium should have a tritium marked dial and there are a couple of variations. When Tritium was phased out in about 1998, then dials were marked Swiss for a couple of years, and then Swiss Made up until now.. I think that if you run into a 1980's dial with Swiss Made on it you probably have a watch with a Superluminova replacement dial fitted in place of the original Tritium dial. .. __________________ (Chill ... It's just a watch Forum.....) NAWCC Member

7 September 2008, 01:15 PM	#4
hawg "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 263	I also think that T SWISS T was on the bottom of the dial for mid eighties models. This also indicated Tritium was used.

8 September 2008, 08:45 AM	#6
johane "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Asia Posts: 3	Thanks, all much clearer now. All the best

8 September 2008, 08:56 AM	#7
Parachrom "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: canada Posts: 721	So do the current Sd have the luminova or is this only the current subs.

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