Question on Tritium Lume?

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watch_collector

·Sep 20, 2018

Hello all,
Long time lurker, 1st time poster. I had a question about the tritium dials on the 145.022/145.0022 references...
Does anyone know if these older speedmasters from the 80s will still have some glow? I see that tritium has a 1/2 life of about 12 years. So after 24 years ~ 25% of the life would be left. And after 36 years, about 12.5% would be left? Just wondering if anyone has one in this age range with some of the highly desirable creamy patina but with still a bit of glow?

 

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Delbok

·Sep 20, 2018

It really depends on how the watch has been stored and serviced, even if it is true tritium glow passes over time, some examples are luckier than other. I don't have examples to share and I am sure some OF members will share their experience but I doubt there's some kind of formula that can apply 😀

 

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southard

·Sep 20, 2018

Your formula should work for the tritium radiation. But, I think the tritium activates the luminous coating of the vials or paint it is mixed with. How many years that luminous material remains sensitive to be activated could be a limiting factor.

I know my older luminous watches don't look as bright as they used to.

Edited: Sep 20, 2018

 

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Seaborg

·Sep 20, 2018

My 105.012-66 and my 145.012-67 (faintly) glowing in the dark after exposure to strong light.

 

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southard

·Sep 20, 2018

Seaborg

My 105.012-66 and my 145.012-67 (faintly) glowing in the dark after exposure to strong light.

That is impressive. Now, I'm kicking myself for not getting the Ball Night Train III at the special price.

 

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Foo2rama

·Sep 20, 2018·Nowhere near as grumpy as he used to be...

Assume working amounts are gone after about 8 years. It has nothing to do with storage. Storage can affect what type of patina it develops.

Tritium as used by omega can normally take a brief charge but is basically unusable after 45 seconds at best.

 

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Cipolla

·Sep 20, 2018

Mine too, Short glowing then it dissapears

 

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Walviskroket

·Sep 20, 2018

My tritum watch from 93 stopped glowing, so I don’t think a onder one will. Who needs a glow anyway 😀

Ps. get a radium watch if you want a vintage watch to glow, my 43 Officer still does

 

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Cipolla

·Sep 20, 2018

Take care with Radium, i Went with my 30t2 to a testbench and check for radiation.- just for fun.
The guys Start Kidding me until they got the meassurement.
Its safe as Long the Radium stays inside the Watch. But Should never Serviced By your own.

 

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Foo2rama

·Sep 20, 2018·Nowhere near as grumpy as he used to be...

Walviskroket

My tritum watch from 93 stopped glowing, so I don’t think a onder one will. Who needs a glow anyway 😀

Ps. get a radium watch if you want a vintage watch to glow, my 43 Officer still does

98-99 was the last Tritium speedies.

 

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mr_yossarian

·Sep 20, 2018

Cipolla

Take care with Radium, i Went with my 30t2 to a testbench and check for radiation.- just for fun.
The guys Start Kidding me until they got the meassurement.
Its safe as Long the Radium stays inside the Watch. But Should never Serviced By your own.

nonsense post. No one asked for radium.

 

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watch_collector

·Sep 20, 2018

Thanks so much guys, great info. This answers my questions completely. Seaborg... really appreciate the visual reference. Great photo!!!

 

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ck77

·Sep 20, 2018

This is my 69 when flashed with uv torch.
Last for seconds only though.

 

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Vintagewtchzilla

·Sep 21, 2018

Delbok

It really depends on how the watch has been stored and serviced, even if it is true tritium glow passes over time, some examples are luckier than other.

Max nonsense theory

Tritium doesn’t give a ... about storage regarding the activity. There is no 5years or 4245 glow cycle rule

 

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Vintagewtchzilla

·Sep 21, 2018

Foo2rama

Assume working amounts are gone after about 8 years. It has nothing to do with storage. Storage can affect what type of patina it develops.

Tritium as used by omega can normally take a brief charge but is basically unusable after 45 seconds at best.

Absolutely correct

 

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paulw

·Sep 21, 2018

My neither my Seamaster or Geneve from the early 70's has any glow left at all, even after exposure to very bright light.

Paul