To replace radium, Rolex switched to tritium as the go-to luminescent material for its dials. Like radium, tritium is also self-luminous, however, it is a low-grade radioactive material, therefore not nearly as dangerous. Rolex used tritium on its dials until the mid-1990s.
In this post
What are Rolex dials made of?
brass
Aside from some special dials made from materials such as meteorite, mother-of-pearl, and hard stones, Rolex dials are made from brass, while the dial markers are fashioned from 18k gold (also made in-house at Rolex’s own gold foundry) to prevent tarnishing.
What are Rolex watch faces made of?
Depending on the era that they were made, Rolex watches can either have acrylic (a.k.a. plastic) crystals or sapphire crystals. First came acrylic (Polymethyl methacrylate), which is a transparent thermoplastic that was used as a shatter-resistant alternative to glass.
Is Rolex white dial good?
Used well (and Rolex invariably does), white dials can add a very special quality to design, something that grabs attention but not in an overt way. While it could be argued that white dials are not quite as versatile as their opposite number, the cleanness of them acts as a refreshing blank canvas.
What material are watch dials made of?
Watch dials are made of metal, such as brass or titanium, and then a finish is applied to them.
What is a tritium dial?
An isotope of hydrogen that is used to make watch hands and indices glow in the dark. Until a few years ago, hands and indices were often painted with tritium paint. But because tritium is mildly radioactive, and feared by some to be a health hazard, tritium paint is no longer used on dials.
What metal does Rolex use?
OYSTERSTEEL
OYSTERSTEEL. A Rolex watch must work perfectly and maintain its beauty even in the harshest environments. That is why Rolex uses Oystersteel, a steel alloy specific to the brand. Oystersteel belongs to the 904L steel family, which is particularly resistant to corrosion and acquires an exceptional sheen when polished.
Can you scratch a Rolex face?
Wearing and using your Rolex watch will result in scratches. However, there are steps you can take to avoid scratching. For instance, you can lay your Rolex on a soft cloth or in its box at night.
Does Rolex glass scratch easily?
Yes, a Rolex sapphire crystal can both shatter or scratch. While a sapphire crystal is extremely hard and durable, it can scratch, and even shatter.
What is mother-of-pearl dial made of?
Mother of Pearl is a material that is sometimes used in making the dials of luxury watches. The material is found in the outer coating of pearl, which is why it is named so. Its most distinguishing feature is its iridescence, which makes it appear to change colour when viewed from different angles.
What is the most popular Rolex dial color?
Black Rolex Dials
Black Rolex Dials
Topping off the list of most popular Rolex dial colors on is black. This comes as no surprise, as many popular Rolex models – including the Submariner, Datejust, GMT Master, and Explorer – all come available with a sleek black dial.
What is white dial?
A white dial is sporty and contemporary when paired with a professional series watch. At the same time, a dress watch with a white dial offers a timeless and traditional take on the classic aesthetic. No matter your preference, white dial Rolex watches are perfect for any season and any occasion.
Which watch dial color is best?
Overall, black is the right watch dial colour for practicality — for the simple fact that watches with black dials often come with white or luminous or hands that make it easier to tell the time in conditions of low light and poor visibility.
What are watch dials painted with?
Radium dials are watch, clock and other instrument dials painted with luminous paint containing radium-226 to produce radioluminescence.
What is enamel watch dial?
Enameling is the process of applying a thin coat of finely ground glass (made of silica, red lead, and soda) to a metal. When heated to a high temperature, the glass melts and fuses to the metal which creates stunningly beautiful dials.
What is a lacquer watch dial?
Lacquered finished dial have similar appearance as enamel finished dial (which is used in high-end watch making). Instead of using enamel powder, a lacquered dial is produced by spray-painting a few layers of lacquer (or enamel paint) on the base dial (normally made of brass).
Why did Rolex stop using tritium?
Whilst tritium is also radioactive, it has a much lower level of radiation. Tritium has good luminous characteristics and glows rather strong, but an issue is that it has a 12-year half-life (due to the Lowe level of radiation), which means it will stop glowing.
When did Rolex stop using tritium?
1998
When did Rolex stop using tritium? In 1998 once the use of tritium paint was banned. They have been using Luminova instead.
How long does Rolex tritium last?
Rolex adopted Tritium as a safer alternative to Radium (another radioactive material); however since Tritium is significantly less radioactive than Radium, it only has a half-life of approximately 12.5 years.
What is white gold made of in Rolex?
Rolex has its own in-house foundry to ensure the quality and purity of all precious metals used in the manufacture of their watches. Rolex uses palladium in its white gold, so no rhodium plating is required.
Is stainless steel better than white gold?
Stainless steel, in its soft, fully annealed state is about 155 Vickers, but at full hardening can reach 390 Vickers, which is 70 percent harder than platinum or white gold. This means that stainless steel will resist wear, dents, dings, and scratches better than either white gold or platinum.