Rolex Sub Model 14060.

[traffman]

I am , getting a very nice 1996 Rolex Submariner non date .

I have recently realised that it has the Tritium lume on the dial.

Really my only question is , does the tritium fade over time? If so i dont really mind , i just thought the much older model's had a certain patina thus coming from the lume breaking down?

Am i off track here?

[PJ S]

Nope, spot on. Tritum based lume does age, and ends up looking a dirty off-white colour.
It will be weaker, so glowing won't last as long or be as bright as it was for the first lot of years since applied.

[38911]

PJ S said:

glowing won't last as long ... as it was for the first lot of years since applied.

Tritium doesn't work like that.

Tritium is a radioactive substance that glows continuously for several years until the radioactive material decays. Once it has decayed, thats it - it doesn't glow any more. It's half-life is around 12 years so that on a 1996 Sub will have expired a long time ago.

It's not like Superluminova type lume which is 'charged' up by light and then glows for a few hours.

The 14060 is a nice watch. Do you mind me asking 'how much'?

[38911]

PJ S said:

glowing won't last as long ... as it was for the first lot of years since applied.

Tritium doesn't work like that.

Tritium is a radioactive substance that glows continuously for several years until the radioactive material decays. Once it has decayed, thats it - it doesn't glow any more. It's half-life is around 12 years so that on a 1996 Sub will have expired a long time ago.

It's not like Superluminova type lume which is 'charged' up by light and then glows for a few hours.

The 14060 is a nice watch. Do you mind me asking 'how much'?

[traffman]

Thanks for the replies , im not overly concerned about the glow . Its the watch as a whole i admire greatly.

£3700.00.

[TheBMWDriver]

wow thats strong money you can get a date for just a little more.

Did you not like the 14060M more?

[traffman]

I did a trade with my Breitling Superocean , i did prefer the older model.

It was actually 3650.00.

I shall pop up a pic when i receive it.

[FarmyardPants]

Half life means just that. If the HL is 12 years, then half of it has decayed after 12 years. After 24 years there's a quarter left, and an eighth left after 36 years. To say it has "expired" or long-since decayed is a bit misleading but yes, it will be much less than it was.

[PJ S]

38911 said:

Tritium doesn't work like that.

Tritium is a radioactive substance that glows continuously for several years until the radioactive material decays. Once it has decayed, thats it - it doesn't glow any more. It's half-life is around 12 years so that on a 1996 Sub will have expired a long time ago.

It's not like Superluminova type lume which is 'charged' up by light and then glows for a few hours.

You're right, brain fade moment - but with a half-life of 12 years, it'll be 1/4 of its original level. Not completely glow-free, but rather dim nonetheless.

[Nigel_O]

You could get a new 114060 for not a lot more - worth speaking with Dom Hackett (DomH on this forum)

I too was prevaricating over a couple of pre-owned no-date Subs back in January. Dom stepped in with an offer I simply couldn't refuse and its been on my wrist since the day I got it

Wifey still hasn't noticed....

[TheBMWDriver]

Yah that was a lot to pay, I have my sub date up for sale at £4.2k and to be honest thats quite a lot to ask for it.