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Thoughts about this 1958 Seamaster?

t_kermi
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Hi again fellow Omega collectors. I have this 1958 Seamaster locally available and considering purchasing it.

But I'm not that knowledgeable about this model, so thought to ask here if you guys see any red flags. It's supposed to be all original (except buckle, but that I have in my collection).

PSX_20260502_063534.webp PSX_20260502_064321.webp PSX_20260502_063826.webp PSX_20260502_063946.webp PSX_20260502_064130.webp
 
JimInOz
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Nice original example.
Wear your lead lined undies though, looks like enough radium to send your Geiger counter berserk.
 
t_kermi
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JimInOz JimInOz
Nice original example.
Wear your lead lined undies though, looks like enough radium to send your Geiger counter berserk.
Thanks, yes, I have a decent geiger counter (GQ GMC-500+) which I use to get a rough, comparative idea how much radiation each radium watch emits.

Most of my vintage watches are without or with Tritium lume. So when I rotate them this one isn't going to burden me much even though it probably will be quite high emission specimen.

Interestingly I have noticed that there's quite a lot of variation in radium "potency" as well. Seems that as a rough rule of thumb, older the watch the higher radiation radium lume it has. So being from late -50s this one might not be that high radiation, will see. Though my currently highest radiation watch is 1960 Longines Flagship 30LS.

I can report back about this aspect too when I get the watch.
 
t_kermi
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Thanks everyone for your comments. I just finalized the purchase and will get the watch next week. If someone is interested the price ended up being 1400€ or $1640.

I will post a wrist shot and that radiation info when I get it. Oh and I too think that the lume has aged nicely without getting black burn or greenish tint.
 
JimInOz
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t_kermi t_kermi
Oh and I too think that the lume has aged nicely without getting black burn or greenish tint.
Not only that, but the dial hasn't suffered radium burn like so many vintage watches have due to being stored with the hands constantly in the same position for months, even years.
 
jffoo
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Super mint! Someone wore it but also took really good care of this watch
 
gbesq
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I have quite a few Omegas from the 1950s and most of them are radium. Many of mine are in great condition, but yours is as good or better than everything I have. Congrats on a very nice catch.
 
t_kermi
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gbesq gbesq
I have quite a few Omegas from the 1950s and most of them are radium. Many of mine are in great condition, but yours is as good or better than everything I have. Congrats on a very nice catch.
Thanks, I will take very good care of it.
 
ScDevon
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Wow, nice one, OP!

It's a shame that most people have never seen radium paint in all of its glory. When I was a kid (1960s) my family had commercial fishing boats and my grandfather's boat had a radium dial compass. Probably made in the 1950s. The thing was a torch at night. Just magical. Mesmerizing to a 7 year old kid.

I've seen a few radium watch dials when I was young that were still highly active too. No wonder the stuff was so popular. It was beautiful.
 
t_kermi
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ScDevon ScDevon
Wow, nice one, OP!

It's a shame that most people have never seen radium paint in all of its glory. When I was a kid (1960s) my family had commercial fishing boats and my grandfather's boat had a radium dial compass. Probably made in the 1950s. The thing was a torch at night. Just magical. Mesmerizing to a 7 year old kid.

I've seen a few radium watch dials when I was young that were still highly active too. No wonder the stuff was so popular. It was beautiful.
Yeah, radium lume definitely has impressive and intriguing glow when at it's prime. I'm myself mid -80s kid, so don't remember seeing it elsewhere, but my father had a military issued compass with back then still active radium lume. That compass is now held by my brother, but of course lume is now dead.
 
t_kermi
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Here the promised measurements and "wrist check".

So yeah, this is by far my most radioactive watch. My 1960 Longines Flagship peaks at 1300 CPM on this meter.

From the backside the reading is quite a lot lower.

But like said, this is now part of my rotation of many watches. So total exposure won't become problematic. I must say I wouldn't wear this 24/7, just to be on the safe side (but I'm not a specialist on this field, just my own thoughts).

PSX_20260506_213446.webp PSX_20260506_212816.webp PSX_20260506_213125.webp
 
myouss
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t_kermi t_kermi
Here the promised measurements and "wrist check".

So yeah, this is by far my most radioactive watch. My 1960 Longines Flagship peaks at 1300 CPM on this meter.

From the backside the reading is quite a lot lower.

But like said, this is now part of my rotation of many watches. So total exposure won't become problematic. I must say I wouldn't wear this 24/7, just to be on the safe side (but I'm not a specialist on this field, just my own thoughts).

PSX_20260506_213446.webp PSX_20260506_212816.webp PSX_20260506_213125.webp
Stunning pickup.

On a side note I now have an urge to get the equipment to measure the radioactivity of all of my watches.
 
Dan S
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myouss myouss
Stunning pickup.

On a side note I now have an urge to get the equipment to measure the radioactivity of all of my watches.
FWIW, the actual dose, e.g. in µSv/h, is the measurement to focus on. Even then, the absolute dose measured will depend a lot on where and how it is measured. But it will give you a useful ballpark.
 
t_kermi
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Dan S Dan S
FWIW, the actual dose, e.g. in µSv/h, is the measurement to focus on. Even then, the absolute dose measured will depend a lot on where and how it is measured. But it will give you a useful ballpark.
Yep, the CPM is only something you can use for comparisons when using the exact same geiger counter model (or more precisely ones using the same tube sensor type).
 
t_kermi
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myouss myouss
Stunning pickup.

On a side note I now have an urge to get the equipment to measure the radioactivity of all of my watches.
Thanks. And yeah, while not the most important thing in the world having a geiger counter to measure your own watches is very interesting. It can also be used to check for redials for earlier than 1960 watches with lume, because they used radium. At least I'm not aware of any redials using radium lume.

The counter I have is what I would recommed and costs about $140. Unless really wanting to take a deep dive in to radiation measurements as a hobby, then something more expensive might be worth it.

I also have this "FS5000" Chinese geiger counter and it does work well. Not as accurate or fast as GQ GMC-500+ but servers as an entry level option at cheaper price point.

Screenshot_20260507_150835_com.alibaba.aliexpresshd_edit_3008868855056503.webp
 
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