Tritium handling and storage (Speedmaster 3590.50)

STANDY

Thread on dial storage.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/mem...y-info-for-the-solution-in-this-thread.12213/

gbesq

In short, tritium degrades over time and can flake off hands and indices. Superluminova does not, but it also does not develop a beautiful warm patina like tritium can.

machamp6650

Considering this as well as other feedback on storage options, do we know anything about how to minimise flaking? Does sunlight matter? Does orientation (e.g. vertical vs horizontal) or movement matter? I'd imagine in any case the parts would be safer inside storage boxes compared to work on the wrist - unless oxidation matters as well? Or am I expecting too much consistency from the wonder of radioactive decay here? 😉

gbesq

Time and exposure to light and air are the most significant factors. You won’t see too many watches with tritium lume from the 50’s and 60’s that don’t show significant degradation. Not much that you can do about any of that unless you keep the watch stored in darkness and a vacuum, but then, what’s the point? I understand that there is a process for stabilizing tritium, but the risk is that the lume will change color. It really only becomes a non-cosmetic issue if the flaking gets severe enough to get into the movement and cause problems. At that point, reluming should be considered.

Archer

I suppose it depends on what you mean by "degradation"...

I would not consider the lume shown here to be "degraded" really, as it is still intact and shows no sign of flaking:



Same with this one:



And this one:



Regarding the process to stabilize lume, it does not change the colour of the lume at all. I would hesitate to jump to reluming to be honest, as it will in many cases have a negative affect on value, compared to just stabilizing the original lume. Case in point are these SM300 hands:





These cracks can't be seen with the naked eye, and to relume these hands is completely uneccesary, when they can be stabilized and still used without issue:



The colour did not change one bit when I stabilized these...

For the OP, for storing the dials you are sorted, and Jim has posted one example of how hands are stored during service. I use the system Jim shows sometimes, but Omega sells hands in kits, and those come in special packaging. as I have replaced more and more full sets of hands, I have accumulated these kits, and the containers are ideal for storage:

The advantage of this is that the soft foam part keeps the hands stationary, so they don't rattle around. For longer term storage, I would want to use something that keeps the hands from moving around too much. I realize you won't have one of these storage devices, but using some foam to sandwich the hands between, then tape them up in a plastic container would be what I would suggest.

Cheers, Al

mac_omega

quote: The advantage of this is that the soft foam part keeps the hands stationary, so they don't rattle around. For longer term storage, I would want to use something that keeps the hands from moving around too much.


Plastics are known to contain plasticisers and other substances that can be released over a long period of time. I am afraid that these substances could interact with the luminous material and change it if the hands are kept in these containers for a long time. What do you think about this risk?

gbesq

Thanks, Al. It was always my understanding from what I’ve read that the risk to stabilizing tritium lume was a possible change in color, so I appreciate your correcting me on that point. As for what I call degradation of tritium lume, I’m referring to something like this (referring to the hands in particular), which I generally thought was a function of age and exposure to air and light which I’ve seen in a number of older Speedies, including my father’s. If the cause is something else, please feel free to elaborate. Thanks!