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Using lume color as a dating tool?

Danimals
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Hi all!

I'm looking to pull the trigger on a ref 3520.50 MK40 (triple date) speedmaster. I'm interested specifically on the early years (~1995) as a) I really like the look of the yellowed lume and b) want as close to birthyear watch as possible.

Quick question: when browsing listings, can I assume that dials with completely white lume = later Super-LumiNova, and yellowed lume = older tritium? Or is it possible to find tritium dials that still look white after ~30 years?

Will obviously verify via serial numbers to compare to production dates before buying, but looking to save the effort of digging into every listing / messaging every vendor on serial number if there's a quick visual on if its the correct one or not (and generally curious on if its possible that tritium could still be white after this long).

Thanks!
 
Dan S
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If it's yellow, it's tritium, but the opposite isn't true. Tritium doesn't always age so much. However, Omegaluminova does have a distinctive look that you can learn to recognize, and obviously the two paints respond totally differently to UV.

However, if you like the look of yellowed lume (and I agree), I suggest using the color to screen the watches that you consider. Would you actually buy a less appealing watch with white lume just because it's tritium? Be patient, and buy the watch that you want. These are not rare.
 
Danimals
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Dan S Dan S
If it's yellow, it's tritium, but the opposite isn't true. Tritium doesn't always age so much. However, Omegaluminova does have a distinctive look that you can learn to recognize, and obviously the two paints respond totally differently to UV.

However, if you like the look of yellowed lume (and I agree), I suggest using the color to screen the watches that you consider. Would you actually buy a less appealing watch with white lume just because it's tritium? Be patient, and buy the watch that you want. These are not rare.
Thanks, great advice and interesting to hear that not all Tritium turns the same yellow / at a similar rate!
 
Dan S
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Danimals Danimals
Thanks, great advice and interesting to hear that not all Tritium turns the same yellow / at a similar rate!
It really depends on the conditions it is exposed to.
 
DON
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My Panerai is tritium and still look white. I think it would look aged like others, but not.

Could be the result of the mix. Little too much binding liquid or too little. Who knows
 
Danimals
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DON DON
My Panerai is tritium and still look white. I think it would look aged like others, but not.

Could be the result of the mix. Little too much binding liquid or too little. Who knows
Oh interesting, what's the age of your Panerai? Would love to see pictures if you have any handy!
 
M'Bob
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Never worked for me. Flowers always got a better response…
 
Larry S
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M'Bob M'Bob
Never worked for me. Flowers always got a better response…
Well done!
 
Majork
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M'Bob M'Bob
Never worked for me. Flowers always got a better response…
I was thinking the same.
How the fυck is someone chasing tail using the lume of their watches
 
DON
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Danimals Danimals
Oh interesting, what's the age of your Panerai? Would love to see pictures if you have any handy!
Model is from 1999 before the changeover mid ‘99
Danimals Danimals
Oh interesting, what's the age of your Panerai? Would love to see pictures if you have any handy!
model is from 1999 before the changeover midway through the year

IMG_0402.webp
 
Danimals
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DON DON
Model is from 1999 before the changeover mid ‘99

model is from 1999 before the changeover midway through the year

IMG_0402.webp
Wow yeah those don't look yellowed at all even after 25+ years, interesting!
 
DON
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Danimals Danimals
Wow yeah those don't look yellowed at all even after 25+ years, interesting!
The s/s one on the right is from 2005 and a L model
 
padders
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Regardless of how it behaves on other brands, you can pretty much depend on 1990s Omega tritium to fade to yellow/pumpkin so yes I do think you can use it as a very blunt age guide. I’ve not seen many that have stayed white at all from this era. If it’s pure white it’s 98 on, if it’s not, it’s earlier. Usually.
 
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