Hi everyone, I'm looking at picking up my first speedmaster and am quite settled on the 3572.50 for the Hesalite + Sapphire caseback (with correct wording) I am still considering the 3573.50 just for the practicality of the 3572 but from forum members views and the looks of it, i prefer the hesalite without the 'grey ring' around the crystal. I am looking on eBay and have some listings I am watching including this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Polished-OM...225869?hash=item4afd7a3a4d:g:EnIAAOSwlfxXFhR1Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network and this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Polished-OM...588214?hash=item4afddb4f36:g:YJQAAOSw4T5XHf8GPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network They are both the 3572.50 but one of them seems to have a tritium dial and one with the newer superluminova. I do like a lumed watch but am considering the tritium dial because of the patina it has and will continue to get. Just wondering if the patina will stay the way it is, or whether the tritium dial is likely to degrade & darken further in the future? I like it as it is but am not too keen on a flaky dial and hands if the tritium degrades to that point. Overall, which dial is more desirable amongst collectors? I have done my research but nothing conclusive has come up so far, mostly posts talking about the tritium dials being used in transitional models. Thanks for the help everybody!
You want tritium because the patina it has and will continue to get. You want tritium because the patina it has but you don't want it to continue.
I suppose the TS wants to know if there is a chance that a currently attractive tritium patina will develop into unattractive, flaked patina in the future. The answer, I would say, is yes but it depends on the environment and usage of the watch (e.g. if moisture can get in).
I prefer the tritium(got a 3592.50)as I think it looks nicer & less harsh,but yes I guess it's a bit of Russian roulette how the aging continues,as there are 1960's speedy's with varying amounts of degradation,some like more patina than others on their watches.
I don't think you can lose either way on this reference, I actually quite like both tritium and luminova on them.
Thanks for the replies everybody. Thats precisely what I was trying to figure out. I love the patina for example, on this example: But not too keen on something this degraded or flaky as shown on the Right (personal preference) If i'm looking at an example from 1990's, it wouldn't degrade to that state so soon would it?
There's really no way to tell exactly how the tritium will age, but if you take good care of that watch it will most likely not look like the watch in the second photo for a long time.
Particularly as that one's radium I think you have to go with whichever feels right to you, everyone has their own preferences but at this time I don't believe there's a discernable value difference between the two. So it makes sense to buy for you, instead of a future market
FWIW, before I was interested or knowledgeable about vintage watches, my reaction to yellowed tritium was often "yuck." I have certainly grown to appreciate the look (especially on some watches more than others), but whether you want it for yourself or not is something only you can decide.
Both of those @illition on the bottom of your post are both from the late 50's and Radium if I am not mistaken. Most post 70 watches that have not had water intrusion do not seem to flake and look like the first one you posted.
Thanks everybody! Thats very reassuring and from what i've read it also depends on the amount of sun exposure v safe keeping. I am quite set on looking for a tritium dial and will set out to do that now This is the exact look I am going for
Update: Just won this auction on the bay, getting it shipped over from Japan http://www.ebay.com/itm/311594641220?_trksid=p2060353.m2748.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:ITPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
Very nice. I think tritium not only ages nicely but, as it was phased out approx 20 years ago (1997), I believe that the TT dials will be appreciating as time goes by.
Naw the c3 man not stepped and high S has to be one of the more rare dials. I'm not saying that just because I own one it's the new DON!
Very different looks and I was very undecided for a long time between the superluminova dials and the trium. This photo tipped me over the edge
T R I T I U M but I'm biased lol. Look for a 3592. They are quite scarce. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
LOL! Sure enough though a C3 dial! So that would be mid 76 only on those right? Since early -76 had the stepped dial, and late 76 and 77 on, had the Long S? I proclaim that the domed Short S is the new DON+220!!!! AKA the DSS!!!!! Come on its more rare then the DON, and must be up there with the 220 bezel... Its just a tad more subtle. I can make this a thing right? Just noticed there are 3 dials in the group picture http://speedmaster101.com/145-022-71-74-76-78/ Or maybe the left and right have a difference and there is 4... Mine for reference.