Dive Watch Markers???

[mksmith713]

I have a few dive watches and I have the same issue with all but one.
They're analog and only one has the glow in the dark material on the bezel at zero.
It's not a big deal but I would like to be able to read elapsed time while on a night dive with my light off.

Does anyone know where I can get the paint or whatever they use so I can put a marker on my watches?
If itis paint, how does it last and hold up to saltwater?

[fanatique]

I own a couple of dive watches myself, was into dive watches long before I was into diving. What you are talking about is the light-sensitive material on the watch face. Depending on the brand of the watch, it's called tritium or lumibrite or any one of many other patented names.

You can actually buy the paint to self-relume your watches if you are DIY savvy, otherwise you can visit some watch enthusiast forums like quartzimodo to find someone to do it for you.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by fanatique

I own a couple of dive watches myself, was into dive watches long before I was into diving. What you are talking about is the light-sensitive material on the watch face. Depending on the brand of the watch, it's called tritium or lumibrite or any one of many other patented names.

You can actually buy the paint to self-relume your watches if you are DIY savvy, otherwise you can visit some watch enthusiast forums like quartzimodo to find someone to do it for you.

Tritium is the radioactive material used in certain SELF-luminating watches, mostly by the military. It literally glows all the time, regardless of light "charge", because it's mildly radioactive. It resides in little tubes of the material, so you only ever get hash marks (and/or watch hands) that self-illuminate, not the entire watch face, and no rounded objects (like numbers).

There are a number of military-esque waterproof watches that would serve fine as a dive watch that use tritium. And a small handful of stupendously expensive high-end dive watches that do, as well. (IIRC)

But for the most part, the "glow" on analog watches has to be charged by a light, and lasts for a varying amount of time (a minute to perhaps 20 minutes for the best ones) before dimming back down to unreadable, and needing another zap with a light to recharge it's glowiness.

If that's good enough, perhaps fantatique is right and you can get ahold of the glow-in-the-dark paint. You'll need a good jeweler to properly open your watch for access to the face for painting, and then re-seal it to maintain it's waterproofing.

[mksmith713]

I don't need it inside the case or on the face.
I need it on the bezel where the "Zero" mark is.
The face is fine and I can read them fine.
That's no help if you can't read the start time.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by mksmith713

I don't need it inside the case or on the face.
I need it on the bezel where the "Zero" mark is.
The face is fine and I can read them fine.
That's no help if you can't read the start time.

Oh, gotcha, that should be pretty easy then if you scrounge up the paint. Buy enough that you can touch it up periodically, because it'll wear off regularly, depending on how much you dive and how often it gets wet.

[FoxHound]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

Tritium is the radioactive material used in certain SELF-luminating watches, mostly by the military. It literally glows all the time, regardless of light "charge", because it's mildly radioactive. It resides in little tubes of the material, so you only ever get hash marks (and/or watch hands) that self-illuminate, not the entire watch face, and no rounded objects (like numbers).

There are a number of military-esque waterproof watches that would serve fine as a dive watch that use tritium. And a small handful of stupendously expensive high-end dive watches that do, as well. (IIRC)

But for the most part, the "glow" on analog watches has to be charged by a light, and lasts for a varying amount of time (a minute to perhaps 20 minutes for the best ones) before dimming back down to unreadable, and needing another zap with a light to recharge it's glowiness.

If that's good enough, perhaps fantatique is right and you can get ahold of the glow-in-the-dark paint. You'll need a good jeweler to properly open your watch for access to the face for painting, and then re-seal it to maintain it's waterproofing.

Dont mean to sound condesending or anything like that just want to point something out. Tritium doesnt actually glow, tritium is used to make phosphorous paint glow. (military optics tech )

Getting phosphor paint shouldnt be too bad but be very careful in applying it, having a jeweller do it isnt a bad idea at all. then all you would have to do is shine a light on it a bit before use and a few times during the dive.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by FoxHound

Dont mean to sound condesending or anything like that just want to point something out. Tritium doesnt actually glow, tritium is used to make phosphorous paint glow. (military optics tech )

Details, schmeetails. The Tritium tubes self-illuminate. Better?

[FoxHound]

i like it haha

[scubadiver888]

I wonder if they make glow in the dark marine paint. It would be more durable than regular glow in the dark paint.

[clararhb]

Ask and you shall receive!! Super bright and marine versions both talk about underwater. They even make it for autos. Couldn't you see mixing some of that up with a regular color. Driving down the street and your entire car glowed.