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Which dial is more desirable for a 3572.50? Tritium or Superluminova

  1. illition Apr 26, 2016

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    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!
     
  2. STANDY schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collector Apr 26, 2016

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    You want tritium because the patina it has and will continue to get. :thumbsup:

    You want tritium because the patina it has but you don't want it to continue. :thumbsdown:

    ::confused2::
     
  3. dialstatic Apr 26, 2016

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    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).
     
  4. immustard A condiment that loves to chive to thyme songs Apr 26, 2016

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    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.
     
  5. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Apr 26, 2016

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    I don't think you can lose either way on this reference, I actually quite like both tritium and luminova on them.
     
  6. illition Apr 26, 2016

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    Thanks for the replies everybody. Thats precisely what I was trying to figure out. I love the patina for example, on this example:
    upload_2016-4-26_14-39-38.png

    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?
     
    P5240062.jpg
  7. sky21 Apr 26, 2016

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    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.
     
  8. 72c Apr 26, 2016

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    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
     
  9. cimo Apr 26, 2016

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    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.
     
  10. Foo2rama Keeps his worms in a ball instead of a can. Apr 26, 2016

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    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.
     
  11. illition Apr 26, 2016

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    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 ;)
    upload_2016-4-27_1-32-10.png

    This is the exact look I am going for
     
  12. illition Apr 27, 2016

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    cpl and sky21 like this.
  13. sky21 Apr 27, 2016

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  14. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Apr 27, 2016

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    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.
     
  15. Foo2rama Keeps his worms in a ball instead of a can. Apr 27, 2016

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    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!
     
  16. tyrantlizardrex Apr 28, 2016

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    My 2001/2002... The glow...

    image.jpeg
     
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  17. illition Apr 28, 2016

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    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
    upload_2016-4-28_8-15-13.png
     
  18. cpl Apr 28, 2016

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    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
     
  19. Foo2rama Keeps his worms in a ball instead of a can. Apr 28, 2016

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    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.

    210636-e88e338bdf534e2b447f2e2f28c2cefd.jpg
     
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  20. STANDY schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collector Apr 28, 2016

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    Go the glow

    image.jpeg
     
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