So is the opposite of radium burn...

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...radium bleaching? Serious question, what might have caused the discolouration of my late-40s 2175-12? Not that I mind, along with the red sweep hand (original?) it adds some interest to this small watch. Still wear it in the rotation now that I've got a decent 16mm strap, but should I be worried my hand will grow extra fingers?

 
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Btw, have you measured the emissions of this watch? It seems that radiation discolored the dial: Notice the round dots how perfectly are rounded.
 
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Smoking owner and the sitting in a smoke filled environment has caused a very similar colour of patina on many a watch from this era.
 
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Smoking owner and the sitting in a smoke filled environment has caused a very similar colour of patina on many a watch from this era.

Radium 1 - Smoke 0!
 
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It's a specific type of radium emission, a particle know as the "snark" - that is causing this phenomenon. 馃憤
 
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Lol. Maybe put the dial in an x-ray machine and bombard it for an hour. Instant dial restoration.

Yes I am Kidding.
 
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Interesting topic. I recently bought a circa 1953 Datejust with similar traits.

You鈥檒l notice the halo effect around the applied Rolex letters as well (which is void of radium)?

 
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It's a specific type of radium emission, a particle know as the "snark" - that is causing this phenomenon. 馃憤

Understood. The pigment "had softly and suddenly vanished away".
 
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An older thread, but my '52 Rolex fits right in here..... similar to the original post in fact, but mine also has ghost hand marks.