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Has anyone ever seen this in a minute marker?

Horologist
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I have noticed on many vintage seamasters with different styles of minute batons, some usually have a black marker or onyx centre piece. In particular especially amongst some of the earlier gold constellation models.

As I mentioned in a previous thread I was looking for a vintage seamaster possibly reference 165.009 or a 14761 and found one with minute markers as commenting above, However I noticed that it was a Matt brown colour as in the image. It is a 1961 Seamaster 14761 ! It is the first time I have noticed this! Has anyone ever seen this as it is a first for me?? I checked archives of this forum but found no topic on this ! Just curious
 
2C5E0357-BE90-47BD-B4FE-43FA06766313.jpeg
Davidt
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These markers can be found with both onyx or luminous inlay.
Here’s one of mine.

CA70B88C-0AE8-4236-A396-5CBB07B91344.jpeg
 
gbesq
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I’m wondering if any of our resident watchmakers might have an idea of what the inlay material is? @Archer?
 
Archer
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gbesq gbesq
I’m wondering if any of our resident watchmakers might have an idea of what the inlay material is? @Archer?

Nope - sorry!
 
Jones in LA
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For questions like these, it's helpful sometimes to try a process of elimination. Given the suspected year of manufacture, I'd wonder if there is any Radium involved. A handy-dandy $150 pocket Geiger Counter can help.

IMG_2193.jpg


I only own two watches with confirmed Radium content, but I've had plenty of good clean fun testing what turned out to be non-Radium watches, getting at least $150 worth of entertainment value in the process.
 
chrisinohio
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First guess would be some sort of colored epoxy or other resin-like substance. Second would be a semi-precious stone.
 
X350 XJR
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It's crystalized honey, the watchmaker is supposed to lick it after they snort the radium from the hands.
 
gbesq
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Following Norm’s theory, I’m gonna go with fossilized amber. Probably some dinosaur DNA in there too. 😁
 
SOG53
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I have 2 watches with similar red brown filler on indices
14761-61 Ribbon dial
IMG_9428.jpeg IMG_8973.jpeg


And 14700
IMG_9296.jpeg IMG_0602.jpeg


Both from 1961-62 both with lozenge markers both light up with UV light
I think it’s radium lume fill. But I don’t have Geiger counter.
 
MSNWatch
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SOG53 SOG53
I have 2 watches with similar red brown filler on indices
14761-61 Ribbon dial
IMG_9428.jpeg IMG_8973.jpeg


And 14700
IMG_9296.jpeg IMG_0602.jpeg


Both from 1961-62 both with lozenge markers both light up with UV light
I think it’s radium lume fill. But I don’t have Geiger counter.
Likely given that the hands are lumed.
 
X350 XJR
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SOG53 SOG53
I think it’s radium lume fill

That's always been my assumption too.
 
nzshadow
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Davidt Davidt
These markers can be found with both onyx or luminous inlay.
Here’s one of mine.

CA70B88C-0AE8-4236-A396-5CBB07B91344.jpeg

Good lord, that is a stunning watch.
 
watchyouwant
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X350 XJR X350 XJR
It's crystalized honey, the watchmaker is supposed to lick it after they snort the radium from the hands.

This !
 
Horologist
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SOG53 SOG53
I have 2 watches with similar red brown filler on indices
14761-61 Ribbon dial
IMG_9428.jpeg IMG_8973.jpeg


And 14700
IMG_9296.jpeg IMG_0602.jpeg


Both from 1961-62 both with lozenge markers both light up with UV light
I think it’s radium lume fill. But I don’t have Geiger counter.

By the overwhelming responses here for such an interesting topic, I was enticed to see my retired watchmaker this afternoon who resides in the same block where my brother in law works. . I asked him to have his take on this. I showed him the image and he recalls on one of his final jobs having removed some of these from the battons. He could not remember exactly what it was but it was breaking upon removing into a semi coarse powder almost like light brown rust. I am certain this would point to radium from the colour he described. Interesting how they managed to put it in those slots as it would have been quite difficult to gain consistency!!!
 
gbesq
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Horologist Horologist
By the overwhelming responses here for such an interesting topic, I was enticed to see my retired watchmaker this afternoon who resides in the same block where my brother in law works. . I asked him to have his take on this. I showed him the image and he recalls on one of his final jobs having removed some of these from the battons. He could not remember exactly what it was but it was breaking upon removing into a semi coarse powder almost like light brown rust. I am certain this would point to radium from the colour he described. Interesting how they managed to put it in those slots as it would have been quite difficult to gain consistency!!!
The only problem with this theory is that I have the same material in the inlays on my 1961 Seamaster 14761 and it neither reacts to UV light nor to a Geiger counter. Since radium has a 1,600 year half life, the Geiger counter would pick up more than just background radiation if the inlay material was radium based lume and it should also react to UV light exposure. Negative for both with my watch.
1757075-04b064b2bff7c150669c05b0614ab595.jpg
Edited:
 
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