Should I remove the lume from this watch?

afaw34 · Jun 15, 2020

Ok this will be my LAST thread regarding my radium paranoia.

Here's a vintage seamaster I recently bought. I love this piece but the radium in the hands & dots make me paranoid to enjoy this watch as I normally would. I know the risk is MINIMAL but I'm generally paranoid and irrational when it comes to stuff like this.. I

So I thought... why not remove the lume. The lume is hardly visible anyway in real life because it's a 33mm watch.

I know it's going to destroy the value but I bought this one to enjoy wearing it for decades and not to flip.

Any thoughts? Should I remove the lume? If I do, I won't relume it because 1. I don't really care about lume. 2. It's not going to be noticeable. and 3. There's no good relume service in my city (Vancouver).

ALSO, is there any chance that the watch will still be radioactive after I remove the lume? Can the watch become radioactive by itself after being in the presence of radium for 50 years?

OmeGez · Jun 15, 2020

By removing it, do you mean you’d leave the hands hollow?

I think leaving the hands in-filled would ruin the look.

If you will enjoy the watch with peace of mind, then I’d do it - it’s your watch.

Sherbie · Jun 15, 2020

I really respectfully suggest that you grow a pair, and stop worrying

Unless you remove the dial and digest or inhale all these lume plots, there is Absolutely NO risk to you

if you are still paranoid, sell the watch as is and buy a new watch with SuperLuminova

Every watch company has done vintage re-issues with Luminova over the past few years, so you can still get a watch with a vintage vibe

CJpickup57 · Jun 15, 2020

I vote for leave it alone and research a little bit more to hopefully put your mind at ease about it.

afaw34 · Jun 15, 2020

Sherbie
I really respectfully suggest that you grow a pair, and stop worrying

Unless you remove the dial and digest or inhale all these lume plots, there is Absolutely NO risk to you

if you are still paranoid, sell the watch as is and buy a new watch with SuperLuminova

Every watch company has done vintage re-issues with Luminova over the past few years, so you can still get a watch with a vintage vibe

I'm not sure about you but I don't want to jeopardize my health for the sake of wearing a watch. You can not say that there is absolutely no risk because no one knows for sure. In fact, it would be ridiculous to just flat out say that there is absolutely zero risk when some vintage watches seem to emit more than 10 microSieverts per hour, which is far above the acceptable radiation dose.

There has been no controlled studies done on the effect of wearing radium watches long-term. I know realistically, the chances are low, but I don't even want to take that chance.

There's also the radon gas to worry about. Again, I don't want to be in a position where I need to keep my watches locked in a air-tight container and take it out only when I'm outside. If something like that is necessary, I sure as well don't want to wear that thing on my wrist for 8 hours a day. Also, radon gas decays into radium that still gives off radiation. I don't want my watch container to be coated in microscopic radium dust and be opening it every day.

And let's talk about the "Unless you remove the dial and digest or inhale all these lume plots."

You seem to forget that these vintage watches are NOT air tight. And these lumes are also incredibly fragile. It might chip and flake randomly one day and some particles of dust WILL escape the watch even if it's not opened.

Sure, I can go and hunt for a modern piece instead but why do that when this one's already perfect if it's not for the radium? I also doubt I can find a 34mm modern dress watch for less than $800.

afaw34 · Jun 15, 2020

CJpickup57
I vote for leave it alone and research a little bit more to hopefully put your mind at ease about it.

Since yesterday, I read pretty much every thread that's been made about radium dials on this forum and watchuseek. My mind is still not at ease. I know the risk is minimal... 0.00001%. But nothing's really going to change the fact that the potential danger will forever be on the back of my mind if I keep this watch as is.... I don't want my hobby to be a source of anxiety and stress.

watchyouwant · Jun 15, 2020

Sell it. You will never enjoy it. Kind regards. Achim

CJpickup57 · Jun 15, 2020

A afaw34
I'm not sure about you but I don't want to jeopardize my health for the sake of wearing a watch. You can not say that there is absolutely no risk because no one knows for sure. In fact, it would be ridiculous to just flat out say that there is absolutely zero risk when some vintage watches seem to emit more than 10 microSieverts per hour, which is far above the acceptable radiation dose.

There has been no controlled studies done on the effect of wearing radium watches long-term. I know realistically, the chances are low, but I don't even want to take that chance.

There's also the radon gas to worry about. Again, I don't want to be in a position where I need to keep my watches locked in a air-tight container and take it out only when I'm outside. If something like that is necessary, I sure as well don't want to wear that thing on my wrist for 8 hours a day. Also, radon gas decays into radium that still gives off radiation. I don't want my watch container to be coated in microscopic radium dust and be opening it every day.

And let's talk about the "Unless you remove the dial and digest or inhale all these lume plots."

You seem to forget that these vintage watches are NOT air tight. And these lumes are also incredibly fragile. It might chip and flake randomly one day and some particles of dust WILL escape the watch even if it's not opened.

Sure, I can go and hunt for a modern piece instead but why do that when this one's already perfect if it's not for the radium? I also doubt I can find a 34mm modern dress watch for less than $800.

You shouldn’t have bought this particular watch then. I mean, no offense, but the way you are describing your fear(s) I’m surprised you even let it be in your house let alone you actually bought it.

Personally, I say sell it so that someone can enjoy it in its original form that isn’t worried about it as it looks great for its age and then you can research and find a different watch that does not present any danger to you. That would be a win win in the mind of any collector. Someone gets a watch they want, you are free to find a suitable replacement, and a vintage watch stays the way it belongs.

afaw34 · Jun 15, 2020

watchyouwant
Sell it. You will never enjoy it. Kind regards. Achim

I will never enjoy it with the radium on... but I'm pretty sure I will enjoy it without it.

killer67 · Jun 15, 2020

Read up on the subject matter and if you don’t like or believe what you read then sell the watch
to someone that will enjoy it with original lume. You can find post 1963 watches for $800.

afaw34 · Jun 15, 2020

CJpickup57
You shouldn’t have bought this particular watch then. I mean, no offense, but the way you are describing your fear(s) I’m surprised you even let it be in your house let alone you actually bought it.

Personally, I say sell it so that someone can enjoy it in its original form that isn’t worried about it as it looks great for its age and then you can research and find a different watch that does not present any danger to you. That would be a win, win in the mind of any collector. Someone gets a watch they want, you are free to find a suitable replacement, and a vintage watch stays the way it belongs.

Yes I shouldn't have bought it. I'm new to vintage watches and only became aware about radium paints after I bought the watch. When I bought it, I didn't even know it had radium lume.

speedb · Jun 15, 2020

Surely you could trade with another OF member for a similar non-radium or tritium piece?

CJpickup57 · Jun 15, 2020

A afaw34
Yes I shouldn't have bought it. I'm new to vintage watches and only became aware about radium paints after I bought the watch. When I bought it, I didn't even know it had radium lume.

And that’s okay, we have all been the new guy and some of us have paid far more “noob tax” than others. I’m not trying to be rude. I’m just trying to help you come to a decision that would possibly benefit two people (yourself and another collector) and save a vintage piece from being de-lumed is all.

Walrus · Jun 15, 2020

Well if it’s causing you grief why not. I like the other guys ideas of just selling it and getting a vintage you feel comfortable with. It looks nice but if it is bothering this much I would just do that which will bring you more peace. I do buy dangerous things at discount prices but I assume all liability and will send you a letter releasing you of any legal responsibility. So walrus hazardous waste is always an option for you, I’m very nice like that. Many here have helped me I’m willing to do the same..

Whichever route you choose I hope you enjoy whatever you move to make. I came close to getting stabbed at work last week radium wouldn’t concern me but we all have certain things that bother us that others snicker at but everyone has something that gets to them.

It really is very nice looking, so clean and sharp.

Scarecrow Boat · Jun 15, 2020

A afaw34
I know the risk is minimal... 0.00001%.

But yet that 0.00001% is just about causing you to lose sleep. Just sell it. Don’t bother skeletonizing the the hands because you are “seeing” them as they are now- easier to read as they are filled. Say you hate it when they are stripped and you have a harder time reading it. Now you just took a dive on resale.

btw- just 2 cents but you are far more likely to have your life altered by something else in the world than this micro amount of paint. Every major store in the US have small signs warning of cancer causing agents. Am I likely to get cancer entering a grocery store or shopping at target? No and I don’t let those signs control my life.

jsducote · Jun 16, 2020

Something fishy about this. Like maybe a <200 member who wants to sell a watch by getting people to offer to take it off his hands?

bubba48 · Jun 16, 2020

I own about 50 watches with radium dial and I don't worry. I'm still alive and in good health.
My grandfather wore radium watches for a lifetime and unfortunately died when he was 89.

obstando · Jun 16, 2020

You clearly cannot live with the thought of a radium dial (although I have yet to see any mention that you have tested it in any way). If you bothered to test the watch (or have it tested for you) you may actually find that the readings are no higher than acceptable background levels. If (as you have made clear on many occasions) you cannot wear it then it is your choice whether you sell the watch as it is or whether you have the radium fully removed. The latter choice will have an impact on the value of the watch as you have lost the originality and therefore the desirability to another collector. If you do have the radium lume removed how will you know that there is no residual radium left? You could end up removing it, losing the value and then finding the readings are still higher that what you perceive as safe. Take the watch to someone to get it tested and make an informed decision that you can live with either way