# Are tritium watch hands replaceable? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 6, 2010, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tritium-watch-hands-replaceable/542120 "2010-06-06T01:40:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tritium-watch-hands-replaceable/542120/1 "2010-06-06T01:40:41Z")
One of my watches has tritium capsules on the hands. (There’s a nuclear trefoil on the face, and ‘DISPOSE OF RAD WASTE’ on the back of the case.) I’ve had it for probably 15 years, and eventually the hands aren’t going to glow. (I haven’t worn it in a while, so they may be faded now.) I don’t know if Stocker & Yale are still making the watches. Can tritium capsules be replaced? If so, where? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tritium-watch-hands-replaceable/542120/2 "2010-06-06T02:25:08Z")
Any military Dopers have access to a Watch, Wrist, General Purpose Mechanical, Ty II, Class 4, NSN 6645-00-066-4279 at the PX? I’d like to have a spare. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tritium-watch-hands-replaceable/542120/3 "2010-06-06T02:48:33Z")
Try these guys [http://www.countycomm.com/Watches.htm](http://www.countycomm.com/Watches.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tritium-watch-hands-replaceable/542120/4 "2010-06-06T02:57:20Z")
Thanks, **Rick**. Email sent. BTW: That Navigator watch looks pretty nifty! ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tritium-watch-hands-replaceable/542120/5 "2010-06-06T03:24:01Z")
Is this different from other watches that have glow-in-the-dark hands? I have a watch that belonged to my Grandfather that’s gotta be 40 or 50 years old and the hands still glow in the dark. I’m not sure what tritium is, but I assume it’s something like radium and I’m pretty sure that I’ve read that radium was once used to make things like children’s books of bedtime stories glow in the dark, and that it’s use was discontinued when it was discovered that they could cause radiation poisoning. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tritium-watch-hands-replaceable/542120/6 "2010-06-06T03:31:36Z")
> [@jasonh300](#): > > Is this different from other watches that have glow-in-the-dark hands? > > \ > > I’m not sure what tritium is, but I assume it’s something like radium and I’m pretty sure that I’ve read that radium was once used to make things like children’s books of bedtime stories glow in the dark, and that it’s use was discontinued when it was discovered that they could cause radiation poisoning. [Here’s what **Rick** ’s link says about tritium](http://www.countycomm.com/Tritium.htm). As noted, tritium is popular for gun sights and is still being used. It’s encapsulated, and I’m pretty sure the particles won’t pass through glass. Radium markings were painted on, and I’ve heard workers used to lick their brushes. I believe radium markings have been banned for quite a long time. Incidentally, I’ve looked at my watch in a dark room and they are barely visible. Time for new tritium! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tritium-watch-hands-replaceable/542120/7 "2010-06-06T04:16:55Z")
It looks like my OP is moot. [Link](http://www.timezone.com/library/archives/archives0043) > [@](#): > > It’s important to note that, like the Swatch, this is essentially a disposable watch. There’s no way to open the case to service the movement. And if you can’t remove the movement, you can’t take off the face and hands. > [@](#): > > If you want a quality timepiece that you’ll be able to pass on to your grandchildren, look elsewhere. However, if you’re just looking for a rugged, inexpensive “knockabout”, and would prefer a mechanical alternative to the ubiquitous Timex or Casio, the Stocker & Yale line merits consideration. Which pretty much sums up why I bought mine. Dad had JetSkis, and I wanted a ‘knockabout’ watch that was cheap and I wouldn’t mind banging up. And I like mechanical watches.