1970s gold Gevene - radium or tritium?

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ktb

·May 18, 2024

I’m trying to find out more about my 1970s Omega Genève. It was given to my great grandfather in 1973, but it could have been produced prior to that.

I think it might be a reference number 131/2 5412, and I believe it uses a 609 movement. The case is 34mm, and it is made from solid (9K?) gold.

It appears to have lume on the hands and indexes, and so I wonder: Is it radium or tritium lume?

 

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Tony C.

·May 18, 2024·Ωf Jury member

neither. It's not lume, but rather "inserts". At one time, and in higher end models from various manufacturers, onyx was used. But at some point, that was replaced by cheaper materials. I'm not sure about your model.

 

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mac_omega

·May 18, 2024

The hallmark looks like a squirrel, so not 9K but 14K gold.

Can you show the caseback in a clear photo without the loupe?

And provide a good view of the crown side. This would help us to decide if it could be opened regularly with a knife or if it is a front loader which is more difficult to open... and we could judge if the crown is original or a replacement

 

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gbesq

·May 18, 2024

As others have said, it’s not lume, but if it was, it would have to be tritium as Omega phased out its use of radium lume in the 1961-1962 timeframe.

 

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ktb

·May 18, 2024

Thank you for great answers! The crown is likely recplaced, but I think the rest of the watch is original.

I know little about lume and materials used in indexes, so I have to ask: Does that mean the material isn’t radioactive?

I’ve been reluctant to open the caseback for that reason, but I might give it a try then.

Here are some more pics of the caseback and sides:

 

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gbesq

·May 18, 2024

Correct. This model has no radioactive material.

 

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Dan S

·May 18, 2024

K ktb

I know little about lume and materials used in indexes, so I have to ask: Does that mean the material isn’t radioactive?

As noted above, there is no lume at all. Just decorative black inlay material. Obviously it's not radioactive.