How concerned are you with wearing radium watches?
I'm an amateur watchmaker and I've recently picked up a 1960 Omega Seamaster to restore. However, this is the first time I will be working with a radium dial and hands. I've got a Geiger counter coming in the mail and I plan to take several precautions when working on it, but I'm curious to hear how concerned others are with radium watches. There doesn't seem to be a definitive answer on if they are "safe" to wear.
For me, I'd be ok wearing a radium watch on occasion (as long as the Geiger counter reading isn't super high). My main concern is when I'm working on them. If there are any fellow watchmakers with tips on working with radium, I'd love to hear them.
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Marcus
Amateur Watchmaker
Fort Worth, TX
Member since
Last active: 3 hrs ago
5.75” / 14.61 cm
I've been trying to find someone who specializes in radium removal from vintage dials for a while now. If you find someone or know of someone, please let me know.
https://www.watchcrunch.com/JBird7986/posts/radium-removal-19071
https://www.watchcrunch.com/JBird7986/posts/calling-all-crunchers-community-assistance-required-14685
In before a certain esteemed member tells us that light radioactivity within a case is benign. I think I rate my health concern on the matter lower than aspartame but higher than extra large french fries. I wouldn't recommend either on the daily.
In before a certain esteemed member tells us that light radioactivity within a case is benign. I think I rate my health concern on the matter lower than aspartame but higher than extra large french fries. I wouldn't recommend either on the daily.
I'm with @OscarKlosoff on this one...
Also with @OscarKlosoff . Before you work with the watch, I'd def wait for the Geiger meter to come and gauge your comfort with it beforehand, so at the very least you can make an informed decision for yourself... or be like Large Fries, where ignorance is bliss.
I mean they banned the application of radium paint due to the dangers to the applicators rather than the public. If you are in and around the dial, i.e. working on them, wear mask and gloves with dust suppression in place, wash hands, avoid inhalation and swallowing - you want to avoid getting it into your system. If you really don’t want to court the risk, avoid all vintage with lume.
Not at all due to the fact I don't own any😜
Don't lick the dial or snort the dust off it and you will be fine. Oh, and don't sleep with the watch strapped to your head/neck.
Also with @OscarKlosoff . Before you work with the watch, I'd def wait for the Geiger meter to come and gauge your comfort with it beforehand, so at the very least you can make an informed decision for yourself... or be like Large Fries, where ignorance is bliss.
Nah. Radium has a half life of 1600 YEARS.
Don't need a Geiger to tell you it is still hot.
I'd be careful not to ingest any of the stuff, beyond that, I think you're fine. Wear a mast while working on it, clean up well, and enjoy your watch.
It's good for you. Like cocaine.
@MarcusDLG looks awesome🤩,have fun with it!
My Geiger counter arrived today and I can confirm this thing's still hot! It's a little higher than I was hoping, I would have liked to see it under 500 CPM. I'm guessing the majority of that is coming from the hands since there is quite a lot of lume on them. I think I'm going to replace the hands, even though that will probably anger some Omega collectors. There're pretty beat up already, and that should hopefully lower the radiation level.
On another note, although I thought this was the first radium watch I would be working on, the Geiger counter has revealed that this is not the case. I've got an old Hamilton that I used for practice which is reading at 1800 CPM. I didn't take any precautions when I worked on that one since I assumed it was Tritium, so I guess there's a chance I've got some radium in my bones now...
Oh well, there's nothing I can do about it now. I guess the moral of the story is if you're planning on taking old watches apart, you should probably invest in a Geiger counter.
My Geiger counter arrived today and I can confirm this thing's still hot! It's a little higher than I was hoping, I would have liked to see it under 500 CPM. I'm guessing the majority of that is coming from the hands since there is quite a lot of lume on them. I think I'm going to replace the hands, even though that will probably anger some Omega collectors. There're pretty beat up already, and that should hopefully lower the radiation level.
On another note, although I thought this was the first radium watch I would be working on, the Geiger counter has revealed that this is not the case. I've got an old Hamilton that I used for practice which is reading at 1800 CPM. I didn't take any precautions when I worked on that one since I assumed it was Tritium, so I guess there's a chance I've got some radium in my bones now...
Oh well, there's nothing I can do about it now. I guess the moral of the story is if you're planning on taking old watches apart, you should probably invest in a Geiger counter.
Another update: I've been playing around with my Geiger counter some more and discovered something interesting. While the reading from the dial side is around 1800 CPM on my Omega, the back of the watch only measures about 200 CPM. The movement and the case back seem to block most of the radiation from reaching your wrist.