A series on how different dials indicated different kinds of Lume that Rolex uses. Dials with <25 on the dial use Tritium. Dials with -Swiss- utilize Luminova, and dials with -Swiss Made- use SuperLuminova. There is now SuperLuminova 2007 that is reported as being much brighter, but it has not been used on Rolex as yet. This photo was found on the Internet.
The breakdown on the dial indicators and what they represent are as follows:
Letters SWISS
luminous material Radium
used until 1960
radioactive
Letters SWISS - T < 25
luminous material Tritium
used from 1960 until 1998
radioactive, radioactivity less than 925 MBq (25 mCi)
Letters T SWISS T
luminous material Tritium
used from 1960 until 1998
radioactive, radioactivity less than 277 MBq (7,5 mCi)
Letters SWISS
luminous material Superluminova
used from 1998 until 2000
not radioactive
Letters SWISS MADE
luminous material Superluminova
used from 2000
not radioactive
