Radium Dialled Pocket Watches

[Leanne D]

Hi,
I'm not sure if I'm bringing up an old topic but I was wondering if anyone knows if there are still risks today surrounding Radium numbered dials?

I have recently come by a Ulysse Nardin pocket watch, Swiss made, circa 1910's, enamel dial with radium numbers. ( exact same pocket watch as the one on page 153 of Warman's Watches Field Guide by Dean Judy 2005, it has the same back ingraving except for the number and it is in a lot better condition)

I was just curious if anyone would possibly know if there is a potential health risk involved with having such a watch in a collection (not for everday use?

and

If handling it will still expose you to the radiation?

Thanks for your time in advance

Leanne

[Leanne D]

Hi,
I'm not sure if I'm bringing up an old topic but I was wondering if anyone knows if there are still risks today surrounding Radium numbered dials?

I have recently come by a Ulysse Nardin pocket watch, Swiss made, circa 1910's, enamel dial with radium numbers. ( exact same pocket watch as the one on page 153 of Warman's Watches Field Guide by Dean Judy 2005, it has the same back ingraving except for the number and it is in a lot better condition)

I was just curious if anyone would possibly know if there is a potential health risk involved with having such a watch in a collection (not for everday use?

and

If handling it will still expose you to the radiation?

Thanks for your time in advance

Leanne

[crsides]

My understanding from previous posters is that the radium is only a problem if ingested.

In the past, women painting watch dials would touch the bristles of the brush to their toungue to sharpen the point, and this cause some severe medical problems.

You should be ok to own/carry a watch with Radium on the dial.

Charlie

[Leanne D]

Thanks for that information Charlie.

I looked on the Elgin webpage and it tells you the past problems involved with making the dials, hands and numbers etc. and about the radium girls. They licked their paintbrushes to get a fine tip and that was said to make them ill or even cause death, but it has been found that only a small percentage got sick in this way because it passed through their bodies so quickly.

The worst risk is inhalling the radium particles or the daughter particles that attach to dust because it can permenantly stay in your lungs and that is bad news.

I have found this out but i'm still unsure of whether these risks still apply today. Radium has a long half life of around 1600 years, but the paint used was mixed so I am unsure.

If these risks apply,I was wondering if servicing this watch is quite dangerous.

Thanks
Leanne

[Kent]

Leanne:

This is a topic that has been discussed before. You can view the thread(s) by performing a search of our message board. A search can be done by using the “Find” button at the top of the thread and then choosing “Advanced Search” to open a page that lets you specify keywords, forums, dates and authors. Use "Radium" as a “Search Word:” and select "Pocket Watches" as the "Search by: Forum."

You should come up with a number of old ref::Old Posts on the Subject.

Good luck,

Good luck,