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14060 - Tritium or “tritnova”?

Heinz83
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Good morning OF,


I have a 14060 from 1998 and I’ve always wondered if it’s a “tritium” or “tritnova” version. My watch is a U-serial which could be either.


Having done some research, it seems that it’s around serial numbers starting with the digit 5 where the tritnova appears. And my serial is U563XXX. I’ve seen U496XXX with tritium according to the well known seller who also has listed other 14060 as “tritnova”.


I will try to add a video to show how it reacts under UV light. It glows for about 3 minutes and after that there is a very faint glow that stays on. Never having actually handled another 14060 with tritium I wouldn’t know how it should react.


What do you think? Tritium or Tritnova?
 
Heinz83
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befobe befobe
Are you sure about the link?
I am not 👎

I’m quite new at this. Need to figure out how to do it. Thought imgur would do the trick. Any advice on how to best share a video here?
 
Heinz83
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wsfarrell wsfarrell
That's luminova.

Ok interesting. How would a tritium version of 14060 have reacted in UV-light?
 
Dan S
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Appears to be luminova. The best thing is to get some watches together with both types of lume so you can compare side by side. That way, you will learn a lot.
 
JwRosenthal
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Heinz83 Heinz83
Ok, dead as a doornail? So not like a tritium speedmaster for example then.
Rolex for some reason has shit lume. I have Tritium watches from the early 60’s that still faintly glow on my dresser for a few minutes after I turn the light off. Not a single one of my Rolexes even try.
 
JwRosenthal
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Luminova is truly a far superior material than Tritium ever was- but it doesn’t take on that golden glow like Tritium which as ridiculous as it sounds from a technical perspective, does indeed add a bit of charm to a dial.
 
Heinz83
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Rolex for some reason has shit lume. I have Tritium watches from the early 60’s that still faintly glow on my dresser for a few minutes after I turn the light off. Not a single one of my Rolexes even try.

Ok, thanks for your help. It seems like I finally have a confirmation of my suspicion that my piece is a "tritnova". The "perl" is surely tritium and a bit darker than the markers on the dial, but I think this could also be the case on a "tritium" piece. The early 90s ones seem to get a richer/darker hue compared to later ones.
 
Heinz83
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Luminova is truly a far superior material than Tritium ever was- but it doesn’t take on that golden glow like Tritium which as ridiculous as it sounds from a technical perspective, does indeed add a bit of charm to a dial.
I fully agree. I was going for the 14060 specifically because I wanted the beauty of that aging tritium. Well well...
 
JwRosenthal
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Pearl is Tritium, yes. I’m assuming yours is from around ‘99-‘01 at that transition and right before the 14060M.

For what it’s worth, mine is early 90’s and it barely has any shift in the lume color- so you’re not missing much.

IMG_2391.jpeg
 
Heinz83
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Pearl is Tritium, yes. I’m assuming yours is from around ‘99-‘01 at that transition and right before the 14060M.

For what it’s worth, mine is early 90’s and it barely has any shift in the lume color- so you’re not missing much.

IMG_2391.jpeg

Mine is a 14060 from 1998 which is exactly when they used up the last T<25 dials but applied luminova.
In any case, I think 14060 is a really cool watch and a great daily driver.
 
Fallout Boy
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Heinz83 Heinz83
I fully agree. I was going for the 14060 specifically because I wanted the beauty of that aging tritium. Well well...

Me too 👍 , Keep in mind: in this case Tritium is t<25!
 
Dan S
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Heinz83 Heinz83
I fully agree. I was going for the 14060 specifically because I wanted the beauty of that aging tritium. Well well...

As noted, I think your dial is luminova. However, if you want nice yellow tritium, buy a watch where the tritium has already turned that color. If tritium hasn't turned yellow over the last 25-30 years, it's unlikely to happen any time soon.
 
Heinz83
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Dan S Dan S
As noted, I think your dial is luminova. However, if you want nice yellow tritium, buy a watch where the tritium has already turned that color. If tritium hasn't turned yellow over the last 25-30 years, it's unlikely to happen any time soon.

This is a good advice. Btw, did you change your crystal to plexi on the 14060? It looks like it on the picture.
 
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