For vintage freaks, the “right” luminous material for a watch is a decisive buying criterion. Over the years, Rolex, and also other manufacturers, used various types of luminous material on the dials, the hands, and the luminous dots of the bezel. It is important for a collector that the illuminant used corresponds to the year of the watch and that, if possible, the same luminous material is available for the dial, hands and bezel – and, if possible, still in the same color. Since the previously used luminous material ages severely (i.e., is yellowed and crumbly), the hands are exchanged during a repair at Rolex and often the dial is replaced, too. Meanwhile, there is even a statement from Rolex that the dial and hands coated with tritium must be replaced and disposed of because of the health hazards of watchmakers. This instruction applies to Rolex itself as well as to all concessionaires who carry out repairs. The risk is therefore very big of getting the watch back with new dial and hands if a repair is done.
In preserving the value of a vintage watch, this is not beneficial to the existing value. Anyone prefers to decide for himself whether to send the watch to Rolex or a concessionaire with a note like “do not change dial, pointer and bezel” (with the risk that a repair is then rejected) or whether he will accept the exchange. It depends on the use of the watch (tool watch or collector’s item). If Rolex rejects a repair, if a dial and pointer can not be exchanged, the only alternative is to go to a small watchmaker who does not have to follow any instructions from Rolex.
By the end of the 1950s, radioactive and self-luminous radium was used. It was then replaced by tritium, which was weaker in radioactivity. From 1998 onwards, Superluminova, which is non-radioactive, was introduced.
The advantage of the early phosphors was their self-luminous capability, but coupled with this was the disadvantage that this declined rapidly after a few years due to radioactive decay. Today there are only a few watches, which were manufactured late, which still glow even dimly. Most watches do not light up. Luminova or Superluminova always shines, but it must be charged before it glows by a light source. This luminosity diminishes over time in the dark.
On the basis of the dial printing, it is easy to recognize which illuminant was applied to the dial:
SWISS | ![]() | Leuchtmasse Radium Anwendung bis ca. 1960 radioaktiv luminous material Radium used until 1960 radiactive |
SWISS - T < 25 | ![]() | Leuchtmasse Tritium Anwendung ca. 1960 bis 1998 radioaktiv, Strahlung geringer als 925 MBq (25 mCi) luminous material Tritium used from 1960 until 1998 radioactive, radioactivity less than 925 MBq (25 mCi) |
T SWISS T | ![]() | Leuchtmasse Tritium Anwendung ca. 1960 bis 1998 radioaktiv, Strahlung geringer als 277 MBq (7,5 mCi) luminous material Tritium used from 1960 until 1998 radioactive, radioactivity less than 277 MBq (7,5 mCi) |
SWISS | ![]() | Leuchtmasse Superluminova Anwendung 1998 bis 2000 nicht radioaktiv luminous material Superluminova used from 1998 until 2000 not radioactive |
SWISS MADE | ![]() | Leuchtmasse Superluminova Anwendung ab 2000 nicht radioaktiv luminous material Superluminova used from 2000 not radioactive |
SWISS MADE | ![]() | Leuchtmasse Chromalight (blau) Anwendung ab ca. 2008 (Deepsea) einfließend nicht radioaktiv luminous material Chromalight (blue) used from approx. 2008 (introduced with Deepsea) not radioactive |
There are two further printings on dials that are not related to the luminous material but to the material of the hour indicators:
o SWISS o o SWISS MADE o | ![]() | Indexe aus Gold golden hour indicators |
- T SWISS T - | ![]() | Indexe aus Stahl Leuchtmasse Tritium Anwendung bis 1998 radioaktiv steel hour indicators luminous material Tritium used from 1998 radioactive |
Cover picture: Rolex