1958 Seamaster Special Relumed Hands?

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This is my first foray into the world of vintage Omega. It’s a 1958 2975-SC1. I think it has radium lume and based on my research, it makes me nervous to wear. I’ll ultimately end up selling or trading it for a similar model without lume. I did notice, however, that the hands glow faintly at night, which makes me suspect they were relumed at some point. Is there any chance that the original lume would still glow? Or is the faint glow due to a relume?

 
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I, personally, have very good night vision, and I can see '40s watches and clocks glow when completely night-adapted.

There is usually enough radiation for centuries but the paint oxydizes and doesn't glow very well.

So, yes, it's possible original lume is still visible.
 
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This is my first foray into the world of vintage Omega. It’s a 1958 2975-SC1. I think it has radium lume and based on my research, it makes me nervous to wear. I’ll ultimately end up selling or trading it for a similar model without lume. I did notice, however, that the hands glow faintly at night, which makes me suspect they were relumed at some point. Is there any chance that the original lume would still glow? Or is the faint glow due to a relume?


Good question, perhaps you can find a place that has a Geiger counter to measure it. You could try a physics department at a universiity or an environmental testing lab.
 
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The radium would still glow after all these years.

It's my understanding, that it's safe to wear the watch, as long as it's not 24/7/365 days a year. It's more critical how many, and where they are stored. I keep mine in a safety deposit box when not wearing and generally don't wear for more than 2 weeks at a time.

"The study stockpiled 30 watches with radium dials into a small, poorly ventilated room, where they found the amount of the gas given off by them was well over 100 times the recommended safe level. While it has been suspected for a while, this was the first time it had been tested under scientific conditions.
So, while it may be perfectly safe to wear your vintage piece, it certainly pays to take care where you keep your collection."

Some historical reading for you:
https://beckertime.com/blog/radioactive-rolex/
 
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There's not enough radium on the dial to affect you in any way. You are not going to grow a second head, a third eye or wake up and find your dick and balls glowing in the dark.

If you don't want the watch anymore. Sell it and move on.

DON
 
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DON DON
There's not enough radium on the dial to affect you in any way. You are not going to grow a second head, a third eye or wake up and find your dick and balls glowing in the dark.

If you don't want the watch anymore. Sell it and move on.

DON

Well if it isn't my radium watches, why are my dick and balls glowing?
 
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For the OP, I have two watches with golden-brown radium hands and dial that still glow effectively in the dark.