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JwRosenthal
·#3....
Have a watchmaker swap the dial and hands from #1, into the case of #2. Best of both worlds.
Help me chose between two 16610’s
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OneTwo
·#2 — the Tritium will age as you enjoy it. 10 years from now, it will likely look better than #1.
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Davidt
·Thanks for everyone who ventured their thoughts.
I had (very, very briefly) considered swapping the dials but I just can’t do that. I’d know they were frankens then and it would ruin both of them for me.
The notion that the dial on watch 2 will continue to patina over time is an interesting one. My gut feel is that with tritium, much of the change occurs in the first decades and if a 90’s dial hasn’t yet developed that nice yellow lume, it probably isn’t going to. I don’t know this for a fact though.
All I’ve decided for now is to keep both and see if I find myself subconsciously reaching for one of them much more than the other…
I had (very, very briefly) considered swapping the dials but I just can’t do that. I’d know they were frankens then and it would ruin both of them for me.
The notion that the dial on watch 2 will continue to patina over time is an interesting one. My gut feel is that with tritium, much of the change occurs in the first decades and if a 90’s dial hasn’t yet developed that nice yellow lume, it probably isn’t going to. I don’t know this for a fact though.
All I’ve decided for now is to keep both and see if I find myself subconsciously reaching for one of them much more than the other…
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JwRosenthal
·Keeping both is always the best path forward IMO 😉. Perhaps finding another set of hands or having them relumed on #1 and a replacement bezel (even a service bezel until you find a period correct one) will change your mind.
On your lume color change thoughts- I have wondered about this too. I have seen so many variations but it seems to be generational (not by model run but almost like batches from chunks of years). It makes me wonder if it was related specifically to tritium formulas used by different contractors over the years. My ‘94 14060 has only shifted mildly- about the same as your #2, despite being about the age of #1 (did no-date dials get done by different contractors than date dials?).
Perhaps yours was from an older dial run and mine from a newer (same contractor as #2?). And hands may have been lumed by yet an another contractor using a different formula thus don’t always age at the same rate as dials.
All that said, my GMT was 20 years old when I got it and I vividly remember the lume being very pale yellow- still very much a bright warm white. 21 years later it’s definitely aged
But so have I 🙁
On your lume color change thoughts- I have wondered about this too. I have seen so many variations but it seems to be generational (not by model run but almost like batches from chunks of years). It makes me wonder if it was related specifically to tritium formulas used by different contractors over the years. My ‘94 14060 has only shifted mildly- about the same as your #2, despite being about the age of #1 (did no-date dials get done by different contractors than date dials?).
All that said, my GMT was 20 years old when I got it and I vividly remember the lume being very pale yellow- still very much a bright warm white. 21 years later it’s definitely aged
But so have I 🙁
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GarethS
·I recall reading somewhere that tritium lume is bleached by sunlight. I found this counter intuitive since all those lovely chocolate tropic dials discolour due to high exposure to sunlight so I assumed those lovely pumpkin plots were discoloured in a similar fashion.
Could the differences that JW suggests are down to lume formulations actually be simply down to how much wrist vs sock drawer the watch has seen over it’s life?
Any material scientists out there who can shed light on this? If you’ll excuse the pun…
Could the differences that JW suggests are down to lume formulations actually be simply down to how much wrist vs sock drawer the watch has seen over it’s life?
Any material scientists out there who can shed light on this? If you’ll excuse the pun…
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JwRosenthal
·I recall reading somewhere that tritium lume is bleached by sunlight. I found this counter intuitive since all those lovely chocolate tropic dials discolour due to high exposure to sunlight so I assumed those lovely pumpkin plots were discoloured in a similar fashion.
Could the differences that JW suggests are down to lume formulations actually be simply down to how much wrist vs sock drawer the watch has seen over it’s life?
Any material scientists out there who can shed light on this? If you’ll excuse the pun…
This thing has clearly seen plenty of outdoor life and is darker than I tend to like
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GarethS
·I suspect you are right JW. Its more likely that the discolouring is due to a combination of factors including not only the formulation and exposure to sunlight but also oxygen and other reactants that may get into the watch over time.
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JwRosenthal
·I suspect you are right JW. Its more likely that the discolouring is due to a combination of factors including not only the formulation and exposure to sunlight but also oxygen and other reactants that may get into the watch over time.
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RoyalTick
·I know, I know. I hate these threads too. The decision is subjective and it’s down to me to decide, but I’d appreciate anyone who wanted to venture their opinion.
I’ve been really into 90’s Rolex this year for a couple of reasons. 1. I’ve never had a 5 digit Rolex sports model until this year, but have found myself drawn to them more and more, particularly tritium versions, 2. I’ve been more into Rolex over the last couple of years but the modern 6 digit don’t really appeal to me and 3. As I have two young children I find myself seeking out watches that are more robust or easily repaired than some of the 60’s models I usually buy, where damaging a bezel etc can lead to a frustrating and expensive search for a replacement.
So, I’ve bought these two 16610’s over the last couple of months.
The first is a 1990 version, lovely tritium dial with beautiful patina. The case is fairly sharp but the facets aren’t present. There’s also a scratch on the bezel.
The second is a 1998 version, still tritium but much paler. However, the case is much sharper, retaining the sharp facets and the green caseback sticker.
So, I’m likely only going to keep one and sell the other to fund something else. Which one would you keep?
Watch 1
Watch 2.
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Jonathan40
·I’ve really enjoyed reading this thread and which every way you go David I keep an eye on the sales forum, because which ever one you sell if you list it here first it could be close to the fastest sale record because you always list your items keenly priced and they are always pieces bought by you with thought, care and attention. Good luck with you choice.
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Davidt
·Thanks for the kind word @Jonathan40. Decision made and the first one is now on the block.
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JwRosenthal
·I’ve really enjoyed reading this thread and which every way you go David I keep an eye on the sales forum, because which ever one you sell if you list it here first it could be close to the fastest sale record because you always list your items keenly priced and they are always pieces bought by you with thought, care and attention. Good luck with you choice.
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Jonathan40
·Uh oh- you said the thing having not looked at the sales forum this week….this is uncomfortable…must have been the ambien talking 😉
I really like the watch for sale but just bought a new Explorer last week so watch fund is empty. Hope I haven’t cursed it.
