Re: I have a watch that contains 14 'Borosit glass capsules' that glows....

My guess is that the glowing of the glass capsules uses radioactivity 
as the source. It is quite common to use an isotope of hydrogen, H-3 
also known as tritium, mixed with a fluorescent substance to produce 
a glow that lasts for years. The beta particles given off by the tritium 
as a result of its radioactive decay have enough energy to excite the 
fluorescent material and make it glow, but not enough energy to get 
out of the glass capsules. The half-life of tritium is about 12 years, so 
after about 25 years the capsules will only be one quarter as bright. 
The capsules are safe as long as they are not broken, and even then 
you have have to eat or breathe the stuff to get it inside you where it 
might do you some harm.