Miranda[PuristSPro Moderator]
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One of the greatest post ever on Purists, and I have more implications
Nov 11, 2015,07:55 AM
Health and Safety....
you see if there is risk, albeit even the smallest of risks, can a manufacture service a watch with potential health risks. Further, what happens if you send the watch in for service, could a potential law prevent them from returning the watch because of risks in transit?
in other words, are these watches unserviceable now?
what about auctions? will they be banned from auction houses?
all hypothetical of course, until someone complains to the relevant HSE
Best
Imran
Comments:
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Watches and radiation risk
By: Baron - Mr Red : November 9th, 2015-05:32
Medical science is fairly clear on the subject. Smoking cigarettes seriously damages one’s health. It is estimated that approximately half of all smokers die from a smoking-related illness. Long-term smokers live approximately 10 years less than non-smoke...
This is a great article.
By: TheMadDruid : November 9th, 2015-06:26
I hope it is read by many people. As for sellers' disclosure: it will take law suits to highlight the injuries and the causative factors before anyone will post a warning. Just look at the history of thalidamide-use; asbestos-use; etc.
Yes.
By: TheMadDruid : November 9th, 2015-08:39
Let's hope you are not railing the wind.
Great article, Baron!
By: blomman Mr Blue : November 9th, 2015-07:47
Very informative! Guess I am happy I don't sleep with my watch on.... Best Blomman
H......
By: Baron - Mr Red : November 9th, 2015-08:34
.....I would want to know for sure how much radiation a watch that I owned emitted. If a watch was produced between the 1920s and 1960s, then yes, absolutely, find out how much gamma it is emitting. Either buy or borrow a Geiger counter.
Great post Joe
By: Ray Nicol : November 9th, 2015-12:41
I would also like to know how much Radiation my watch is emitting, but I want to know what type of radiation is coming from my watch there is not a machine out there that gives you that reading the nearest we have is a Geiger counter what many collectors ...
Thanks Joe
By: Ray Nicol : November 9th, 2015-13:13
...
Agree. Different people have different watch-wearing habits.
By: Ruffian : November 10th, 2015-14:42
I was stating a principle we use in radiation protection, that of different radio-sensitivities of different body organs, and applying it to the subject at hand. If I had a gamma-emitting watch, I would put it in a lead-lined box and only take it out occa...
Yes..agree 100% with this...in fact...
By: Baron - Mr Red : November 11th, 2015-01:37
.....this is what I am really trying to get collectors to ask. How radioactive is my watch? If there is low levels, then who cares. However, if emission rates are high, then just don't wear it as its simply not worth the risk.
The other thing to consider is the lead-time
By: Ruffian : November 9th, 2015-18:46
That is, radiation needs several years to cause cancer, because the changes it causes to DNA needs this time to manifest as cancer. So, for example, children and teenagers have the highest risk of developing cancer after exposure to radiation as they will...
Ruffian, I take a different view on this point....
By: Baron - Mr Red : November 10th, 2015-01:35
The workers exposed to radiation at Chernobyl saw exposure levels of around uSv 6 million. Regardless of age, these workers were dead within a month. The level of exposure is pivotal in determining how quickly the ionisation process occurs in the body. Of...
There are still a lot things we don't know about radiation risk.
By: Ruffian : November 11th, 2015-03:33
Perhaps 'lead-time' was the wrong phrase. 'Latency period' is probably the correct term. Regardless, if you google 'radiation-induced osteosarcoma', you will see that most of these cancers (a bone cancer) developed 10 years after radiation. You are right ...
Very interesting post
By: dylan61 : November 9th, 2015-21:47
And I thank you for taking the time to write this report. I would be interested to know how this might change collectors practical habits. It is not always possible to check a watch with a Geiger before purchasing, given that many dealers trade online. Wo...
Good questions....
By: Baron - Mr Red : November 10th, 2015-01:44
If i was buying a watch from the pre-tritium era (i.e. 1920s to 1960s), I would never buy it online without seeing the watch unless it was from a dealer i knew very well who would let me return it if i had a problem with it. So, from this sense, I find it...
Any watch pre luminova or superluminova carrys some risk
By: fatboyharris : November 10th, 2015-03:16
Whilst Tritium is a low Beta emitter and does not produce any Gamma radiation its use came to an end in the late 90's. Tritium was first seen as a relatively safe radiating material, it exists in many areas naturally in the water table. Tritium produces a...
I look forward to the follow up article
By: fatboyharris : November 10th, 2015-04:30
The points I made with regard to servicing and ensuring any tritium watch is as clean and dust free as possible and my preference of an automatic watch over a manual watch applies equally to a Radium watch to help educe the exposure and risks of inhalatio...
Interesting....
By: Baron - Mr Red : November 10th, 2015-04:50
.....I am getting asked whether I have any radium-226 watches in my collection. The answer is also no.
Great article!
By: KMII : November 10th, 2015-11:51
Meticulously researched, written in an easy to digest way - thanks a lot! And as you correctly point out, quite some people are completely oblivious to the risk, so pointing it out is very important. If someone decides that they find this acceptable, fair...
That is exactly right....
By: Baron - Mr Red : November 10th, 2015-12:07
.....i don't mind making errors, but i hate doing so blindly.
Once again
By: KMII : November 10th, 2015-12:12
Very grateful to you for the article and the eye opening effect it has had!
One of the greatest post ever on Purists, and I have more implications
By: Miranda : November 11th, 2015-07:55
Health and Safety.... you see if there is risk, albeit even the smallest of risks, can a manufacture service a watch with potential health risks. Further, what happens if you send the watch in for service, could a potential law prevent them from returning...
No, they will change parts with luminova parts.
By: amanico : November 11th, 2015-08:06
For example, you have a Geophysic, you send it for a service or a change of hands, they will change them with luminova hands. Same for Rolex, same for Panerai...And for many other brands, I guess. Best, Nicolas
Great read and very informative,
By: Warrenjared1 : November 13th, 2015-07:07
I would really like to know more about the dangers of the T dial watches are you planing on doing any follow ups which would go over them?
Yes....
By: Baron - Mr Red : November 13th, 2015-08:45
....i think other materials like strontium and tritium need to be addressed. It takes time to do the research, but it is something that I will do.
Thank you Joe!
By: i_am_Sam : November 15th, 2015-02:05
For all the effort and research on this matter. I think it's truly important to know, especially because there's a lot of exposure as some of these watches might be worn regularly . To me as long as we understand the risk, exposure to ourselves, as long a...
Very interesting read
By: Arie - Mr Orange : December 17th, 2015-09:29
Thank you for all the time invested!