Calling Our Omega Vintage Dial Experts

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aprax

·Feb 15, 2024

This is a 14700 of mine with indeterminate inlays - of a reddish-brownish hue - which have started to flake away and created a residue at the edge of the dial. The hands have what appears to be radium but it is inert (as are the markers). I don't know if those are onyx inserts on the markers but they look similar to the op's.

 

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gbesq

·Feb 15, 2024

Whatever mine are, they are not radium. They do not respond to UV light at all and a Geiger counter registers only background radiation. I have several watches with radium lume. They all register on a Geiger counter.

 

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CBM1590

·Feb 15, 2024

gbesq

Whatever mine are, they are not radium. They do not respond to UV light at all and a Geiger counter registers only background radiation. I have several watches with radium lume. They all register on a Geiger counter.

I’m not even going to ask about the Geiger counter…😁

 

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gbesq

·Feb 15, 2024

CBM1590

I’m not even going to ask about the Geiger counter…😁

It’s a good thing to have for watches with radium lume, some of which are “hotter” than others. Omega stopped using radium in watch lume around 1961, but the stuff is highly radioactive and has a 1,600 year half life.

 

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CBM1590

·Feb 15, 2024

gbesq

It’s a good thing to have for watches with radium lume, some of which are “hotter” than others. Omega stopped using radium in watch lume around 1961, but the stuff is highly radioactive and has a 1,600 year half life.

You just prompted me to take a quick look at the availability and cost of such…who knew? And I call myself a scientist…

 

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Gabguzro

·Feb 15, 2024

Yeah, I've one of those Geiger counters on my Amazon cart, but haven't pulled the trigger yet. They are useful if you deal with a lot of vintage pieces.

 

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hoipolloi

·Feb 15, 2024·Vintage Omega Connoisseur

Omega used radium to fill the markers and on some dials, they deteriorated badly and look ugly.

Then the guy cleaned them off and used a black pigment mixed with glue or something to refill them.
He did not do a good job and now some start to flake off.

Well, the second part is my speculation but I hope it helps you feel better.

 

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gbesq

·Feb 15, 2024

I’ve decided that I’m going to just live with it. The watch has a spectacular dial and handset. The defect in the marker is essentially invisible to the naked eye and it doesn’t affect the overall aesthetic of the watch. It’s good enough for me.

 

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Gabguzro

·Feb 15, 2024

When you read threads of 12-hour markers being misaligned by 0.001 micrometers, it puts you in perspective and makes you realize that maybe we get a bit too OCD about certain things, lol.

Enjoy that beautiful watch and never get a loupe close to it again 👍