• Master
    25 May 2010, 4:20 p.m.

    When the attic got cleaned out my first watch appeared, after being lost for many years. It is a 30 mm Avia from 1960. I chose it out of three models presented to me for my birthday. The choice was made quickly and without doubt. Looks kind of familiar, doesn't it. It is a hand-wound, and it still works. It still fits my wrist and is feather light. The back states: Steel back, Waterproof, Antimagnetic, Shockprotected. No. 5510. It got a rough boys life, but it survived well, I think. I tell you, this one will not get lost again.

    Kind regards,
    Paul, wearing slightly familiar rose gold VC Portuguese

    i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj79/BloemenPA/DSCN0654.jpg

    i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj79/BloemenPA/DSCN0658.jpg

    i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj79/BloemenPA/DSCN0662.jpg

  • Connoisseur
    25 May 2010, 7:20 p.m.

    wow..what a vintage look! I like it (nt)

  • Master
    26 May 2010, 9:15 p.m.

    Were the hands originally that green? nt

  • Master
    26 May 2010, 9:25 p.m.

    Yes, they were

    Everything is original, as far as I remember it got never repaired. It still runs, a bit fast. All the lume is dead.

    The bracelet is magnificent, very handy, and super speedy size change.

    Kind regards,
    Paul, wearing steel VC Portuguese

  • Master
    27 May 2010, 1:10 a.m.

    Were the hands originally that green? WARNING !

    Great vintage here Paul - and probably the answer to the question being asked here is "Yes - 100% radioactive - countles isotopes and guaranteed to keep glowing for the next 1000 years !" What movement is in that watch?

  • Master
    26 May 2010, 9:15 p.m.

    The half-life of 262Radium is 1,602 years...

    but the radiation emitted by one watch is hardly dangerous since the amount o Radium in the paint is very small. The real danger was for those painting many watches per day.
    There may be some degradation to the other components of the paint but the hands may still have some luminescence. I have some vintage aircraft instruments for the 1940s and they still glow all night. Check under complete darkness.
    The MoD of the United Kingdom changed the lume of the Mark 11 in the early 60s to Tritium because it discovered that many watches in storage emitted radiation that was potentially harmful to the people working there.

  • Master
    27 May 2010, 5:25 a.m.

    OOPS! It is 226Ra, not 262Ra...

    Dyslexic before the morning coffee. :-))

  • Master
    26 May 2010, 12:25 p.m.

    So good you found it Paul

    you are right about the resemblance too.

    Argiris

  • Master
    27 May 2010, 7:10 p.m.

    Great story Paul & I like that watch! nt

  • Master
    28 May 2010, 10:55 p.m.

    Great Story!

    I'd get the crystal buffed and the case cleaned up just a bit and wear it from time to time!

    Tracy (Honolulu)

  • Master
    29 May 2010, 7:40 a.m.

    Some answers on radio activity and other topics

    When I was 16 or 17 years old we had a Giger counter in physics class, and sure enough my watch produced quite some noice: champion of the class. I remember me not feeling quite well about it, but I kept on wearing it without another thought until I graduated and got my second watch, a steel Omega Seamaster De Ville, my absolute favourite those days. I just checked the lume, also the hands don't emit any light anymore.

    The watch is very small with 30 mm, the pictures don't show it. The scratches on the plexi glass are there, but are very small indeed. I would like the dial cleaned up a bit, there seems something like a water leaking smudge at the top right, although I am not sure. The case is scratched in a funny way, I wonder if the case is steel or chrome plated. Playing around with schoolmates between sand and stones, bricks, and later on fooling aroung with my big and young dog, all left marks. Maybe I will ask for a careful cleaning job, leaving it for the rest as it is: it has character like it is.

    About the movement I don't know. It must be simple and cheap, but it ran without problems for 8 years, and it runs now again after more than 40 years of inactivity. Who needs an expensive movement?

    Kind regards,
    Paul