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Have my hands been swapped at Rolex HQ service... tritium v Chromalight?

kewteddington
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My father kindly gifted me his Rolex Submariner 16610 which features a X serial and dates to 1991
Dial is ‘SWISS-T<25’ produced from 1988 - 1999 with tritium indices. The indices have naturally aged and taken on a nice patina.
The aluminium bezel (faded) has a matching tritium pip. As expected, the tritium indices and bezel pip no longer glow.

Whereas the hands are much ‘whiter’ and glow in the dark..
When I looked closely it appeared to be a green glow. However, the photos clearly show a blue glow. please see images attached;-

Therefore, is it reasonable to assume this handset is a later Chromalight (rather than Super-LumiNova) Rolex replacement / service handset?

I originally purchase the watch as a gift for my father; and know the full service history. It’s only been serviced by Rolex UK Head Office, St James’s Square. Rolex service dates 1994, 2004, 2011, 2017 & 2022 - ie. the past 3 services took place after Rolex swapped to using Chromalight - c. 2008
I have all of the Rolex service cards and receipts, and there is no mention (or charge) for a new handset...

IMG_2934.webp IMG_2935.webp IMG_2937.webp IMG_2973.webp IMG_2992.webp
 
gbesq
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If it was an Omega, I would say absolutely. I don't have enough experience for Rolax, but the brilliant white color on the hands shown on the bottom photo looks that it has been swapped from me.
 
Duracuir1
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What a beauty! And from your father. To me it would not matter either way.
 
Dan S
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No question that the hands are have been replaced. Unfortunate given the lovely color of the markers, which is not very common for a 90s Rolex. Blue generally indicates Chromalight, although I don't think it really matters, SL vs CL. I would have someone color match the hands because that mismatch would bother me.
 
vibe
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I’d be on the lookout for a nice tritium set of hands that match and then sell the hands that are on it. You can also have them color matched but it may be more risky. And never send it to Rolex again!
 
Larry S
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Frankly, “Do no harm” is my default these days after some failed parts adventures. I’d just leave it as is. +1 on not letting the local service center touch it again. That should not have happened if instructions were given not to change hands.
 
kewteddington
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Dan S Dan S
No question that the hands are have been replaced. Unfortunate given the lovely color of the markers, which is not very common for a 90s Rolex. Blue generally indicates Chromalight, although I don't think it really matters, SL vs CL. I would have someone color match the hands because that mismatch would bother me.
Hi Dan, Thanks for this advice. I agree and once seen, it cannot be unseen. I'm in the UK so I'll get in touch with the Alchemist, James Hyman (I haven't required his services before, but I hear lots of good things;-)

in the meantime, do you know if these replacement hands are exactly the same as the original hands on the 16610?
 
Dan S
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kewteddington kewteddington
in the meantime, do you know if these replacement hands are exactly the same as the original hands on the 16610?
If there are differences, they are very minor.
 
bgrisso
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Beautiful family watch, you are lucky it's only the hands changed. James H is great, I'm sure he can fix you up. And don't ever send it back to Rolex from here on out, you are playing with fire!
 
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