Wrong message !!!

Feb 09, 2011,12:59 PM
 

From my point of view the danger associated with the handling of watches with radium dials is heavily underestimated by laymen. Therefore your answer may be sending out the wrong message.

Many watch makers refuse servicing or repairing these watches in our days because it requires a vacuum decontamination chamber to conduct such work safely. In order to protect your health and the health of your family never ever open the case of an old watch with an aged radium dial at home! Radioactive dust may already be evaporated if you just remove the cover from the movement.

Heinrich

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Radium in old watches

 
 By: aroma : February 3rd, 2011-06:50
I have an old WWW Omega with radium hands and hour markers and although I don't feel threatened by the prospect of having radioactive elements in the watch, I just wondered what you guys thought about the health hazard represented by radium lume in old wa... 

Not problem for your health.

 
 By: amanico : February 3rd, 2011-07:10
I own several radium watches, and I'm still here able to write these lines. And I wear them a lot! Just don't touch the radium parts of your watch, and it will be ok. Best, Nicolas.

I own one and was pointing out the effects last night

 
 By: mrsnak : February 6th, 2011-18:42
to one of of my friends, who was showing me the 1930s vintage Omega he had inherited from his father. It also displayed the same "burn" marks from where the hands had remained stopped for years. This message has been edited by mrsnak on 2011-02-06 18:43:5...  

Wrong message !!!

 
 By: Heinrich : February 9th, 2011-12:59
From my point of view the danger associated with the handling of watches with radium dials is heavily underestimated by laymen. Therefore your answer may be sending out the wrong message. Many watch makers refuse servicing or repairing these watches in ou... 

not bad for you...

 
 By: aaronm : February 3rd, 2011-08:04
but bad for the watchmaker. The main problem with radium isn't the radioactivity, Ra is an Alpha emitter, but that it is taken up by the body and incorporated into bones (to cells, it "looks" like Calcium. Any sort of ingestion or inhalation is therefore ...