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Omega Seamaster Lume Question

W
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Good day,

I just picked up on a whim my first vintage omega seamaster day date from a vintage fair and wanted to appease my paranoia. After purchasing, I have read countless articles and forums regarding the early lume substances and its negative effects to ones health. Just wanted to confirm if the watch in question was or could have been manufactured with radium or tritium.

All the details that I’ve researched about the watch are as follows:
Omega Seamaster Day Date
Circa 1968 (from omega vintage website)
Calibre 752
166032/168023 reference
27xxxxxx
Most of these seems to line up with each other

The watch dial has lume plots and hands that glows and stays on for >15 seconds when shined with my phone flashlight. The dial appears to be redialed due to the lack of “swiss made” script (doesn’t bother me). Had the case back opened at a local mall watch repairer to inspect and take photos right after purchasing.

All info leads to it being tritium however is there a chance that this may be radium? Is the dial/model/movement known to have been made with radium or when omega was using radium?

I know that a geiger counter would answer most of my question, I may be able to hire one from ARPANSA at a cost, but only a gamma type. What sort of reading should I expect using that?

Ultimately, should I be concerned or just sell the watch?

1747619488427.webp 1747619517174.webp 1747619557651.webp
 
SOG53
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Its tritium. Omega stopped using radium in around 1963. What you describe is typical for tritium. With radium the glow disappears instantly. Dont worry about radiation exposure its trivial. I wouldnt bother with geiger counter. Virtually none will escape the sealed watch. Lots of threads about radiation if you search here on OF.
Enjoy the watch. If the small radiation issue bothers you then you can sell it, but most collectors don't worry about tritium, in fact many like the patination of tritium and seek it out as a plus.
 
W
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SOG53 SOG53
Its tritium. Omega stopped using radium in around 1963. What you describe is typical for tritium. With radium the glow disappears instantly. Dont worry about radiation exposure its trivial. I wouldnt bother with geiger counter. Virtually none will escape the sealed watch. Lots of threads about radiation if you search here on OF.
Enjoy the watch. If the small radiation issue bothers you then you can sell it, but most collectors don't worry about tritium, in fact many like the patination of tritium and seek it out as a plus.
Hi Sog,

Thank you so much for your prompt reply. Puts me at ease having confirmed my research. This a bit off topic but would you say that the dial, hands, and watch head in general are period correct? The reference as per omega vintage says that it should be some kind of solid gold, however this one i believe is gold plated. Is it common for omega to have different case material under a similar reference number? Thanks.
 
Davidt
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The picture is quite poor, which restricts being able to give a definitive answer. Can you take a picture in natural light?

Anyway, even with the poor picture I think the dials original and as above, this reference came well after radium was halted. No chance it’s radium.
 
W
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Davidt Davidt
The picture is quite poor, which restricts being able to give a definitive answer. Can you take a picture in natural light?

Anyway, even with the poor picture I think the dials original and as above, this reference came well after radium was halted. No chance it’s radium.
Hi David,

Thanks for joining in on the thread. Here’s another photo i took while wearing it. Don’t have a photo in natural light since as soon as I was unsure of the material I placed it in the spare room and not touched.

1747635336765.webp
 
KaiseRRuby
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Even if its radium, you shouldn't be too concerned. Its in a case, its just a little on the markers and its protected by the glass.
 
Davidt
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Well it’s not radium. To be honest I don’t wear radium watches either. Everyone says they’re safe and I’m sure they are but I like to open my watches up, sometimes at the dinner table etc so I don’t want to run the risk and there are plenty of nice vintage watches with tritium or no lume to keep me happy.
 
KaiseRRuby
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Davidt Davidt
Well it’s not radium. To be honest I don’t wear radium watches either. Everyone says they’re safe and I’m sure they are but I like to open my watches up, sometimes at the dinner table etc so I don’t want to run the risk and there are plenty of nice vintage watches with tritium or no lume to keep me happy.
That is also completely understandable. My reaction was primarily intended to indicate that people might be worrying somewhat unnecessarily. Ultimately, we are talking about radium-containing paint. Its special ingredient is radium-226, which subsequently decays through various steps into non-radioactive lead. As a result of the decay of radium and its decay products (daughter products), alpha, beta, and gamma radiation are emitted, whereby the alpha radiation is completely shielded by the watch case. However, due to the emitted gamma radiation, there is some radiation exposure when wearing a radium watch, albeit minimal.

Over time, old paint in radium watches can become brittle and detach. When opening a watch, this can cause small pieces of paint containing radium to be released. The UMC Utrecht (a hospital in the Netherlands) has calculated that the potential internal contamination after opening several dozen watches, and the resulting radiation dose, is estimated to be low, even when considering 'worst-case' assumptions. To put the exposure into perspective, undergoing just a single CT scan of the abdomen delivers a much larger radiation dose. Within the framework of the ALARA ('As Low As Reasonably Achievable') principle in radiation hygiene, it is important to avoid exposure to ionizing radiation as much as possible, in order to keep the possible long-term risk of illness as low as possible. It is therefore advised not to open radium watches. Based on this, my advice was: don't make it a bigger deal than it is, since we are not talking about opening these watches.

But since this watch is not even radium, forgive me this epistel about radium.. 😀
 
Passover
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W WeatherPepper14
The dial appears to be redialed due to the lack of “swiss made” script (doesn’t bother me).
Looking at this picture, the script on the dial doesn't look bad at first sight.

1747661843978.webp


If you like please post a better daylight picture.

the watch band mounted right now seems to be 18mm, if you like get yourself a 19mm one 😉
 
W
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Davidt Davidt
Well it’s not radium. To be honest I don’t wear radium watches either. Everyone says they’re safe and I’m sure they are but I like to open my watches up, sometimes at the dinner table etc so I don’t want to run the risk and there are plenty of nice vintage watches with tritium or no lume to keep me happy.
I feel the same way as you David, despite not working on the watches myself apart from changing straps, I just don’t like the idea of radioactivity hanging over my head. Makes me feel uneasy and anxious. Such an unnecessary risk for a watch. Like you said plenty of “safer” ones out there.
 
W
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KaiseRRuby KaiseRRuby
That is also completely understandable. My reaction was primarily intended to indicate that people might be worrying somewhat unnecessarily. Ultimately, we are talking about radium-containing paint. Its special ingredient is radium-226, which subsequently decays through various steps into non-radioactive lead. As a result of the decay of radium and its decay products (daughter products), alpha, beta, and gamma radiation are emitted, whereby the alpha radiation is completely shielded by the watch case. However, due to the emitted gamma radiation, there is some radiation exposure when wearing a radium watch, albeit minimal.

Over time, old paint in radium watches can become brittle and detach. When opening a watch, this can cause small pieces of paint containing radium to be released. The UMC Utrecht (a hospital in the Netherlands) has calculated that the potential internal contamination after opening several dozen watches, and the resulting radiation dose, is estimated to be low, even when considering 'worst-case' assumptions. To put the exposure into perspective, undergoing just a single CT scan of the abdomen delivers a much larger radiation dose. Within the framework of the ALARA ('As Low As Reasonably Achievable') principle in radiation hygiene, it is important to avoid exposure to ionizing radiation as much as possible, in order to keep the possible long-term risk of illness as low as possible. It is therefore advised not to open radium watches. Based on this, my advice was: don't make it a bigger deal than it is, since we are not talking about opening these watches.

But since this watch is not even radium, forgive me this epistel about radium.. 😀
I do understand where you’re coming from Kaiser, and at this point we can be sure that it is tritium. I am just paranoid when it comes to health and stuff, and risk-averse, I am just wired that way. And I like to think I am giving myself the best chance everytime. To each his own, i suppose.
 
W
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Passover Passover
Looking at this picture, the script on the dial doesn't look bad at first sight.

1747661843978.webp


If you like please post a better daylight picture.

the watch band mounted right now seems to be 18mm, if you like get yourself a 19mm one 😉
Thanks for joining in Passover, the lack of “swiss made” makes me think that it is, the minute markers are pretty well spaced out however there are some that are shorter than others. I am really not bothered if it has been redialled since it looks well done. Apart from the omission of “swiss made”.

And yes that is an 18mm strap that I had lying around. If ever I keep this watch I’ll probably put in some shiny dark brown croc strap. I think that will fit in nicely.
 
W
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I appreciate all of you taking the time to respond to this thread. I am more at ease now with this watch. However, still unsure if I am going to sell it and find a non-lumed or newer model. All this reading about radioactive lume and the idea of cross contamination on vintage watches made my paranoia go on overdrive.
 
Dan S
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Looks fine, and tritium not radium. I suspect there is a T Swiss T at the bottom hidden by the incorrect crystal ring. If you don't like the watch, then sell it, but there is nothing wrong with the watch and there is no radiation above background levels.
 
KaiseRRuby
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W WeatherPepper14
I appreciate all of you taking the time to respond to this thread. I am more at ease now with this watch. However, still unsure if I am going to sell it and find a non-lumed or newer model. All this reading about radioactive lume and the idea of cross contamination on vintage watches made my paranoia go on overdrive.
Well, if your mind is not as easy, just sell it. There are plenty of watches out there to wear with a better feeling.
 
padders
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W WeatherPepper14
Hi Sog,

Thank you so much for your prompt reply. Puts me at ease having confirmed my research. This a bit off topic but would you say that the dial, hands, and watch head in general are period correct? The reference as per omega vintage says that it should be some kind of solid gold, however this one i believe is gold plated. Is it common for omega to have different case material under a similar reference number? Thanks.
I won't weigh in on the topic of Tritium as that has been comprehensively answered (definitely Radium here) but to address you question about case material, the leading CD material code on the case number indicates that the case has Yellow gold cap 14 ct. The case number can be the same between different materials, but the leading material code if present wont be.
 
W
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padders padders
I won't weigh in on the topic of Tritium as that has been comprehensively answered (definitely Radium here) but to address you question about case material, the leading CD material code on the case number indicates that the case has Yellow gold cap 14 ct. The case number can be the same between different materials, but the leading material code if present wont be.
Thanks padders for that information.
Just to be clear you meant definitely tritium?
 
padders
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W WeatherPepper14
Thanks padders for that information.
Just to be clear you meant definitely tritium?

Oops! Yes you are quite correct. No chance of radium. Sorry to add more mud to the waters!
 
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