Any Ball watches without tritium or with few tritium tubes?
The replacement costs for tritium tubes seem high, and with other lume a re-application job costs a lot less. So any Ball watches without tritium or with less tubes?
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sportello
Pretty new to watch collecting. Like textured dials, divers with unique bezel colors, and watches under 40mm.
Berkeley
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Last active: 3 months ago
I'm not aware of any modern Ball watches that don't have tritium tubes—after all, that is what they're known for. I'm fairly certain any Ball will have at least 14 tubes (one for each hour index + minute and hour hands). Regarding tritium tube replacement, 1) they will last 20+ years, which should put the replacement cost into perspective, and 2) you don't have to replace the tubes when they eventually die. At that point, it would simply be a watch without lume. So, that isn't an expense you're obligated to incur.
I'm not aware of any modern Ball watches that don't have tritium tubes—after all, that is what they're known for. I'm fairly certain any Ball will have at least 14 tubes (one for each hour index + minute and hour hands). Regarding tritium tube replacement, 1) they will last 20+ years, which should put the replacement cost into perspective, and 2) you don't have to replace the tubes when they eventually die. At that point, it would simply be a watch without lume. So, that isn't an expense you're obligated to incur.
14 tubes is not too bad. At $20-30 per tube plus labor that might be a $300-$500 service which is okay once every 10-20 years. And I guess I could let the tubes fade away. Hmm, that's pretty convincing. On paper, everything else about Ball watches is convincing. I might just go for one. Thanks for the insight!
14 tubes is not too bad. At $20-30 per tube plus labor that might be a $300-$500 service which is okay once every 10-20 years. And I guess I could let the tubes fade away. Hmm, that's pretty convincing. On paper, everything else about Ball watches is convincing. I might just go for one. Thanks for the insight!
No problem! Ball watches are a great value, especially since you can get them new from ADs for a discount (feel free to PM me for an AD recommendation). A lot of people are deterred by the whole tritium tube thing, but IMO it's a shame to give up 20+ years of enjoying the unique lume of a Ball watch simply because the tubes will fade over time.