The Breitling Watch Source Forums

So I've read and done some research... besides the obvious signs (patina, markings on dial) but another way to distinguish the two? Maybe something that's observable through the loupe?

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"I don't got the bright watch I got the right watch" -Jay Z

To the best of my knowledge it's just a colouration thing - unless you have a geiger counter of course

True!

would a geiger counter actually pick up the tritium? the amount is so minute though... on a side note... I did find on the internet that some say that through a loupe tritium has a grainy effect and that Luminova tends to be smooth...

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"I don't got the bright watch I got the right watch" -Jay Z

I'll have to get the loupe out and check - can't say that I have really tried.

Geiger counter would certainly pick it up if up against the hands, but no idea whether there would be any ability to measure through a crystal.

I'd say it would probably be highly unlikely. Tritium emits very low energy particles that don't travel very far in air, and can't even penetrate clothing or human skin. In that respect I'd not expect the particles to be able to penetrate through the crystal.

Tritium is generally extremely safe unless ingested or inhaled.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Yeah, that's what I suspected, just didn't know enough to say for sure. Of course that didn't stop the US government from threatening legal action against Breitling (and others) for trafficking in resticted materials!

Typical way of thinking, if you ask me.

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- This is Ghost Rider requesting a fly-by. - Negative Ghost Rider. The pattern is full.

My favourite watch florescence is used by Luminox watches check it out on there web page http://www.luminox.com/ if all watches used this technology well it would be cool I also think Ball watches uses the same stuff to !!!! l think its great not having to charge your florescence. these watches are bright for 25 years. I have had a Luminox color mark for several years ( great watch for a quartz .)

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Veni, vidi, vici

Well, sort of.

A lot of companies use Tritium, but 'bright for 25 years' isn't really true. Tritium has a half life of just over 12 years so after 25 years the remaining lume will be less than 25% of what it was new, and it's not as bright as SuperLuminova when it's brand new.

I have a couple Colormark series Luminox. Nice watch for a couple hundred bucks and I do like the tritium gas-filled tubes, which Luminox uses very sparingly on the dials.

Many Ball watches bug the heck out of me because they are so obvious and a bit over the top on the use of the tritium tubes as a DESIGN element. I'm glad most high end companies don't use those. I'd rather see them stick with the paint.

Only takes a few seconds in the sun to fully charge Luminova (a few more seconds with a UV flashlight). I can still see the time in the dark on all my watches by 5am when the alarm clock rudely announces the new day.

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SHARKMAN